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It takes a lot longer to get up to my apartment than it used to a week ago, but with Ian’s help, I eventually arrive, and even though I shouldn’t be, I’m surprised to find Calvin sitting next to Rio on the couch.
“How did the surgery go?” Calvin asks, and I shrug.
“I was asleep for most of it, and now I’m achy all over, but I guess it could be worse,” I respond, and he chuckles.
“I hate to say hi and bye, but I have to get to my classes,” Rio says, standing to grab his backpack. “If you need anything from the store, I’m stopping there after school, so send me a text.”
I nod and hobble over to the recliner once he’s gone.
“How ’bout I go pick us up some food,” Ian offers.
Calvin might not understand what’s going on, but I know Ian is giving us some time alone to have the conversation I’ve wanted to have.
“Sounds good,” I reply, and he quickly kisses me before heading out.
As I move to make myself comfortable, I wince a couple of times, and Calvin’s face pales. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he questions. “Do you need me to get you anything?”
I let out a little laugh and wave him off. “I’m going to be sore for a while. I just have to get used to it, but there is something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Is that why Ian left so quickly?” he asks.
“Probably, but it’s not like we discussed it beforehand since we didn’t know you were going to be here.”
“I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I didn’t realize how badly I would be rattled with you having a surgery like that,” he confesses.
“It’s because we’re family, and families care when the people they love are hurt,” I reply.
“Yeah, that’s it. So, what did you want to talk about?” He tilts his head and studies me for a minute, kind of like he’s trying to read my mind and find the answers before I speak them.
“I wanted to talk about us being a family,” I start. “Growing up, you were truly a father figure to me, and after talking the other day, I figured out that just because you weren’t my father on paper doesn’t mean you aren’t still my dad in all other aspects of the word. I’ve always called you Coach, but that name doesn’t fit us anymore, and Calvin isn’t right either. So, I was wondering if I could call you Dad?”
Calvin’s brows shoot up, and he appears dazed for a moment before a soft smile spreads across his face.
“I’d like that. You’ve always felt like a son to me,” he whispers, and a rush of warmth and love fills my chest. “If I could have adopted you when you were younger, I would have, but I just didn’t have the means to raise a child.”
I shake my head. “You did more for me than you’ll ever know. I don’t care that you didn’t adopt me. At least you stayed. You loved me and did the best you could, and that’s a lot more than the people I was actually living with. You’re my dad no matter what blood or birth certificates say, and nothing will ever change that.”
Dad stands once I’ve finished my last sentence and gives me an awkward hug because of the way I’m sitting, but I cling to him, nonetheless.
“I’m never leaving you,” he whispers in my ear, and I have to fight back tears. That appears to be a new habit for me. Hopefully, I’ll go back to normal when I’m off the meds and healed.
Words like the ones he said would normally have made me scoff because everyone used to leave me, but this time, I believe them. Calvin is my dad, and he isn’t going anywhere because that’s what people who really love you do.
They stay.
This is how I know Ian will be in my life for the long haul because he loves me with his entire heart. Growing up, I had no idea what love was, but now I do, and I’m glad I found it in Ian and my dad. They are two different types of love, but both very important, and I’m done running from it. I am going to embrace this newfound happiness and love and never let either of them go. They are my family, and I’m lucky to have them in my life.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
IAN
EIGHT MONTHS LATER
Sometimes, I’m pretty sure Ben is a crazy person, but I still love and support him just the same. That’s why I’m sitting at a little rink at nine in the morning on a Saturday in the middle of September, cheering on a bunch of kids as they stumble across the ice.
After Ben recovered from his surgery, he came across a posting for a volunteer kid’s hockey coach at a local rink and immediately signed up. Even though he’s still a student and now in med school, he wanted to take on the responsibility of helping these kids out. Kind of like Calvin did for him. So, most of his free time is spent at the rink coaching these kids to be the best hockey players they can be. He’s never been happier.
When Ben first mentioned the coaching gig, I thought he was crazy, and honestly still do, but I understand now why he wanted to do it. Some of the kids on the team are terrible, but they always leave the arena with giant smiles, and I’m not sure that would be the case if they had a different coach. Ben doesn’t care how well they play, just that they try their hardest and never give up. These kids might not grow up to be NHL players, but by having a fun and supportive coach like Ben, they might develop a strong work ethic and a love for themselves. At least that’s the goal.
