“I’m definitely Team JJ, but I’ve been looking forward to what they do with the adaptation of that book.I enjoyed it.”Of course he had.I’d never heard of it.“But you’re over her now, right?”
Was I?“We kissed.”
Cooper swore.“Where is the JJ I’ve played with for the last five years?Honestly, what the actual fuck?”
“Only one time.There’s still chemistry between us.I’m not sure if that’s just from us being so close before or if I’m in real trouble.”
“Would you want to make it work now?You said your family was the reason you had to leave her behind.”
I rubbed my left hand through my hair.“She’s still tied to her family.Even if I was playing in Vancouver, she wouldn’t leave her home.”
“You could pay for someone to help out.Take care of her mom and the house.”
“The thought crossed my mind.More than once.I’d love to do that, even as a friend.But she’d refuse, and she wouldn’t leave.I can’t tell you exactly why, but I know she’d insist on staying in that house.And no way can I get along with her stepfather.”
“You’re playing with fire, JJ.”
“Maybe.But if her ex and her kid and her whole family can’t make me see reason, then I don’t think anything will.”
“You’re not going to ask for a trade to BC, are you?”
I wouldn’t worry him by sharing how I’d looked into Vancouver’s defense, and whether they’d be interested in me.I couldn’t do that to my team.And on what basis would I even consider it?One kiss?
“No.There’s no future, so I just need to deal with the past.”
But dealing with it wasn’t as easy as I’d hoped.
Mia
As I feared, being on skates had only increased Arne’s interest in hockey.But he was willing to take skating lessons before playing hockey, because Mr.Justin said so.He and Barney had an argument over it but agreed to disagree.Barney thought skating lessons on their own were boring, while Arne planned to become such a good skater that Barney would have to agree with him once Arne had a chance to play hockey.
Future Mia’s problem.Current Mia was looking up secondhand skate sales and waiting for the autumn rec schedules to come out to sign Arne up for skating lessons.
A week later, I took Justin to get his cast removed.I didn’t tell Arne his artwork was gone.Justin was pleased to have the cast off but frustrated with the muscle tone he’d lost.He must have known he’d have to work on his hand, but he tried to do things as if he’d never injured it.He’d broken a couple of mugs when his right hand didn’t have the grip strength to hold on.
I was helping him with his exercises when the doorbell rang.
“Want me to get that?”
“Would you mind?It’s probably another reporter.”
I put on my best no-nonsense face as I climbed the stairs to the main floor and straightened my shoulders to tell whoever it was to get lost.But when I opened the door, my mouth dropped open and words wouldn’t come.This was no reporter.Just Cooper, wearing a suit and a walking cast.
“JJ around?”he asked.
Justin’s voice made its way up the stairs.“Coop?”
I stood aside so Cooper could enter the house, followed by the sounds of Justin’s feet pounding on the steps as he raced up.They man-hugged, thumping backs before they stepped apart.
“Damn, it’s good to see you,” Justin said, a big smile lighting up his face.
“What’s with the beard?”
“I told you I couldn’t shave.Mia helped trim it, so at least it’s under control.”
“Not too bad.”Cooper turned to look at me.“You must be Mia.”
By now I’d regained some self-control.“Yes, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”