I know he’s talking about his scars. I hardly notice them, but I’m sure newcomers are curious.
“I’m not just saying this because you and the boyfriend are all lovey-dovey. I’m saying it because it’s true. I want you to go live your life, do your thing. My thing is right here.” He pauses for a second, then turns to Van. "You graduate in May, too?"
I wince, because we haven’t talked much about our future plans. I wanted to talk last night, but we got…sidetracked.
"Yeah," Van says. "I, um, struggle with a learning disability, but as long as I can get the same tutor I had last semester, I should be set to graduate in May. The thing is..."
I hold my breath. I did not set out to have life-altering conversations this morning, but here we are.
"I'm not planning on leaving Bainbridge. At least, not for a while."
That is not what I was expecting him to say.
“Look, Jos, A couple weeks ago, you said my future wasn't over, just different. And, like a dickhead, I went a little apeshit. The thing is, you were right. And when Coach said the exact same thing, well, it made me realize how right you were. My knee is questionable. Doc says I might recover to a place where I can play again, that's the hope. But playing pro? Even if I can get back up to speed, that's a hell of an ask, and a risk. I could easily do permanent damage. So, it's probably gonna be the rec league for me. But that's ok. It turns out, I love the strategy of hockey. And the players. I talked to Coach yesterday—after I decided tocome and grovel—and that’s when he told me there’s a coaching spot that’s mine if I want it. I'm actually...excited. I think?—"
I can’t help it; I squeeze him tight, tears in my eyes. "That's perfect for you."
"It kind of is, right? Anyway, I'm staying at BU, but I'll move out of the hockey house at the end of May. No way do I want to live with those guys and coach them. But it's not a bad drive out here, so I figure you can stay at my place sometimes and I can?—"
Levi sets down his mug. “Holy shit, are we all gonna be roommates? In that case, I’m soundproofing the walls.”
I laugh. I’m not sure exactly what the future will bring, but I know I’ll have Van by my side for the adventures that await.
Epilogue
Van
My surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, so I’m at the hockey house to grab a few things to take to my mom’s while I recover. I’d love to stay at Josie’s and let her play nurse, but I’m not sure her house is the best for recuperating.
Right now, though, my uncles and cousins are taking a look around to see what really needs to be fixed. They’re convinced the house is unstable, but it’s been standing for a hundred years. That’s got to be a good sign, right?
“Want me to run up and grab some clothes?” Josie asks.
I kiss her because it’s my favorite thing to do. “Nah, Pete left my duffle by the door. I’m all set. I just want to check in with Uncle Brian to see what he thinks.”
I don’t have to go far. My uncle is in the living room, staring up at the steps. You’d think he’d be checking them for durability, or shaking them for looseness. But he’s just staring.
And I guarantee that’s because Deano and Mickey have turned our winding staircase into a ski slope.
“What the hell are you guys doing?” I call up to them.
“It’s gonna be awesome. Just watch!”
I make my way as fast as I can to the bottom of the steps. “Stop! We’re still in season. There’s no skiing of any kind!”
Mickey rolls his eyes. “Obviously. That's why the soccer guys are here. But seriously, doesn’t it look good?”
“It looks like you threw a bunch of plywood down and held it all together with a staple gun. Then you lined it with trash bags and poured—wait is that vegetable oil?”
“That’s exactly what we did,” Deano crows. “Did you see the video, too? That guy got major air.”
I can embrace the ridiculous, but not the flat-out dangerous. And yes, yes I have grown up a lot since freshman year. “Guys, I‘m telling you, this is a bad idea. Coach will lose his shit and Santos will never speak to me again. Tell your buddies to come down. The ski slopes are closed.”
“Fine,” they grumble. One of the ‘skiers’ doesn’t get the message, though, and sets his tube on the top step and leaps onto it, sending him down the DIY path in a blaze of glory.
The guys are annoyed with me, I can tell. And I get it. We’ve pulled a lot of stunts, but this has to be the?—
I don’t even get to finish my thought because it starts raining in my living room.
