Chapter21
I Was in So Much Trouble
Mia
It wasn’t Tonya’s fault that Barney got an ear infection and had to go to a clinic.It certainly wasn’t someplace she wanted to bring Arne along.Cora was taking Mom to her doctor’s appointment and was already pissed that they’d have to take an Uber, since the car was still in the shop.Neither she nor Dorian knew how to drive a manual transmission, so they didn’t even try to get the keys to the Subaru.
I’d warned Justin that I would have Arne with me for the day.We were going to the rink for Justin’s on-ice evaluation.Arne had been distracted from hockey by his dad’s arrival, but that was already wearing off.I hadn’t wanted to get him focused on hockey again, but as Justin said, I might as well find out if it was something that seriously interested him.If it did, maybe skating lessons would tide him over for another year.Damn, I hoped he’d hate it, which wasn’t fair.He was just a kid.I wanted him to have opportunities and dreams and hope for the future.I wanted him to have everything.
He had no complaints when I told him that instead of spending the day with Barney we were going to see Justin.And when I explained we’d be at an arena, he vibrated with excitement.“Really?”
“Justin’s team want to see him on the ice.We’ll wait till they’re done, and Justin is going to ask them if we can skate.”
His eyes were blazing and his smile almost split his face.“Maybe someone will play hockey?”
I ruffled his hair.“I don’t think you can play hockey with just one player.”
“I bet Mr.Justin is good, right?”
“Yes, he’s very good.”Something I knew firsthand.“It’s important to be able to skate well if you want to play hockey.”I was preparing him for a year of skating.
“Can I wear the jersey?The one that was Mr.Justin’s?”
“Absolutely.”
Justin was waiting on the porch when we pulled into the driveway.He was in workout wear, something without buttons, but his broad shoulders and muscular thighs filled it out.And, well, I might have drooled.A little bit.Until Arne squealed in my ear.
Justin got into the passenger seat, sliding it back.Arne leaned forward from where he was buckled in the back.
“Hi, Mr.Justin!”
Justin turned with a smile.“Hi, Arne.Nice jersey.How are you doing?”
“I’m good!My friend Barney is sick so I get to come today.Are you going to skate?”
Justin shot a glance at me.“Yeah, along with some boring stuff.”
“You’re a good skater, right?Mom said so.”
He shrugged.“You can’t play hockey if you can’t skate.”
Arne was quiet for a moment, and I checked him in the rearview mirror.His brow was furrowed as he thought.“Is it hard to learn?”
“It’s different for everyone.”
I backed out and headed toward the arena.Justin kept talking.
“I don’t remember, since I started when I was younger than you.But I think some people learn quickly and some find it harder.You won’t know till you try.”
Arne shot me a glance.“Mom says we might skate today.”
My heart twisted.“We’ll see what we can do.”
Arne had more questions, and Justin answered.I’d assured him he could tell Arne if he didn’t want to talk, so apparently Justin didn’t mind.Arne’s nonstop interrogation annoyed some people, but he was honestly so curious about everything that he could listen for long minutes to someone’s answer.
They were deep in a discussion of hockey skates versus figure skating skates versus speed skating skates when we arrived at the arena.I parked, and Justin looked at the building.
A rare smile tilted his lips.“This hasn’t changed much since I played here.”