Once I was finished with the treadmill, I headed to do some leg work on the old weight machine that had been here since I was in high school.
Mia was scrolling on her phone but looked up to see what I was doing.“Need help?”
I wanted to say no, but I could use her assistance to adjust the weights.Fitch had refused to add as much as I wanted, worried about me overdoing it.But by this point in my career, if I didn’t know when I was pushing too hard, I had bigger problems than a cast on my right hand.
I explained what I wanted.Mia narrowed her eyes before grilling me on my usual routine, any cautions I’d been given, and if I’d done this before.We finally reached a compromise and I started a few sets.
My head kept turning in her direction.I finally asked, “Are you bored?”
She looked up from her phone.“No.I’m doing research on hockey camps for Arne.I promised him I would, and I haven’t had time yet.Do you mind?”
I shook my head.“I might still know some people around here involved in the lower-level hockey programs.Maybe I could talk to them, see if they’d be willing to help?”
I was surprised that Mia wanted to be a hockey mom.Which was stupid of me—just because she’d dated and broken up with a hockey player didn’t mean she was no longer a fan of the sport.I had no information about her husband.Maybe he played or was a big fan.Maybe he was the one taking his son, and Mia was just helping.I didn’t know if she and her ex got along.
She shook her head vehemently.“No, please don’t.I’ve already heard there’s a spot in one camp his best friend is going to, but I’m afraid to even mention it.”
“Is it because of me?”
She stilled.“No.I haven’t tried to keep my son from playing hockey because you do.”
I felt like an idiot.A vain one.
She averted her gaze.“I don’t have the time or money to put him in hockey during the year.I probably can’t afford a summer camp, though at least then it’s not at stupidly early hours in the morning.”
If she was already stressed money-wise about fixing her car… “Then why are you looking up camps?”
She shrugged.“I hate to disappoint him.”
I got that.Kid batted those big eyes at me and now my cast was looking like a kindergarten project.“I could—” Her head jerked sideways and her eyes glared at me.Yeah, expected she’d refuse to even consider it.
“Maybe if he tried it, he wouldn’t like it.”Her expression proved she knew how unlikely that was.
“His dad?”He should be able to help, right?
“No.”
I desperately wanted to know why, but she wasn’t talking.I focused back on my reps and left her alone.
When I was done, I went upstairs for another shower.After, I found her in the kitchen.She’d gotten out some quinoa and had it boiling in a pot.
“I looked up lunch ideas beyond sandwiches.Quinoa is high in protein, and I can add proteins and veg for a Buddha bowl.”
“Thank you.”She was going above and beyond what I’d expected.But it didn’t surprise me that she excelled at whatever job she was assigned.
“This is also something I can leave in the fridge for you to throw together on weekends when I’m not here.”
Right.I’d have some days on my own.Didn’t look like food would be a problem.
She checked her recipe and turned the stove knob.“Okay, this can just finish cooking with the heat off.Did you want to do the boxes?”
“Yeah.Thanks for getting everything ready.”
She shrugged.“I can only spend so much time looking up hockey camps.I’ve checked out enough of them that I know they’re out of our price range.”
I felt bad for the kid.Hockey had been so great for me, I hated to think he might miss out.It didn’t have to be a career.It could just be for fun.
Not my problem.I wasn’t here to get involved in Mia’s life.If I offered to pay again, she’d shut me down so fast my head would spin.I followed her back down the stairs.