I chuckled but had to admit that her joy for the game was infectious. And the teen had skills. If she kept at it, she could easily land a college scholarship. I planned to ask Linc if he had any scouts he could get to come in and take a look at Hayden this fall.
“No better feeling than when it’s all working.”
Hayden nodded, but before she could answer, a little girl appeared at the booth. She was a mirror image of Hayden with dark hair and amber eyes. “Hay Hay, I’m hungry.”
Hayden instantly rounded the counter and hoisted the little girl into her arms. “Then let’s get you a snack.” She tickled her belly, and the little girl giggled. “Gracie, can you say hello to Mr. Colson?”
The little girl’s gaze dropped shyly, but she waved. “Hi, Mr. Colson.”
I remembered what Arnie had said about Hayden taking care of her two younger sisters a lot. That had my gut churning, but I forced a smile. “It’s very nice to meet you, Miss Gracie.”
“I’d better get her something to eat before she gets hangry on us,” Hayden said with a grin.
“Never want to unleash the hangry monster,” I said with a chuckle.
Hayden gave me a wave and carried Gracie toward the snack stand. I didn’t miss how expertly she moved with the little girl as if she’d done it too many times to count. Arnie might not be willing to talk to Fallon about her, but I would.
I turned to Luca, who was sliding the final pair of skates into their cubby. “You ready to go?”
He nodded but didn’t say a word. That tweaked my radar, but I didn’t push. There were too many people milling around the rink.
I grabbed Luca’s and my gear bags and headed toward the exit. Once I’d stashed the bags in the rear of my SUV, I helped Luca into the booster seat and checked the latch after he’d buckled himself in. He still didn’t speak.
My jaw worked back and forth as I closed Luca in and climbed behind the wheel. But I didn’t turn on the engine. Instead, I twisted in my seat so I faced Luca. “Wanna tell me what’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Luca muttered softly.
“Well, it’s not nothing. You’re too quiet for it to be nothing. You don’t have to tell me, but I hate the idea of you being sad. If we talk it through, maybe I can help.” It was the best approach I could think of, but I couldn’t help but wonder if Sutton would’ve done it better.
Luca was silent, staring down at his shoes. It went on for so long that I almost gave up and started the engine, thinking I’d drive him tothe bakery so he could talk to his mom. But then he spoke so softly it was almost inaudible. “It’s stupid.”
“It’s not stupid if it makes you sad. Sometimes, little things make me sad, too.”
Luca’s turquoise eyes lifted to mine. “Really?”
I nodded. “Like losing a preseason game or when someone says something not nice about me on the internet.”
Luca’s face scrunched. “People are mean sometimes.”
That had an invisible fist grinding into my gut. “Was someone mean to you?”
Luca shook his head quickly. “No. Daniel got a dog.”
My brows pulled together. “Daniel got a dog…” I repeated Luca’s words as if that would help me understand.
“I want a dog,” Luca whispered.
I remembered him telling me he wasn’t allowed pets in the apartment above the bakery. The only animals he and Sutton had were the bees on the building’s roof, and those weren’t exactly cuddly.
“You’re jealous,” I surmised.
Luca nodded, his gaze dropping again. “I know it’s wrong, but it’s not fair. I’ve wanted a dog forever, and Daniel just decided he wanted one last week. And now, he’s got one.”
“Hey, now,” I said gently. “I know it might not be fair, but let’s not take something away from Daniel just because he hasn’t wanted it for as long as you. I get the sense that he has a lot of pressure on him. Maybe he could use a furry friend.”
Luca’s eyes lifted at that, and he tugged on the corner of his lip with his teeth. “His mom is always yelling at him to practice stuff more. And his room always has to be likeperfect.”
“That sounds like it would be pretty hard. Your mom doesn’t do that to you, does she?”
