Page 44 of Home Ice

“Is that what she said I did?”

“No.” He laughs. “I just know you.”

The flare of anger dissipates again. “Clearly, not well. I didn’t yell at anyone.”

“Amelia loves him. He’s her family, and she’s scared you’re going to take him to St. Louis, and she’ll never see him again.”

“I—”

“I told her you don’t want that. That it’s not fair of her to judge you when you’ve met under such stressful circumstances, and that all you want is a right to get to know your son. Something that was your right since the beginning.”

“And … what did she say?”

“We both agreed it should be up to Kasen.” The grin he gives me doesn’t match his words.

“Great. So it’ll never happen.”

“What makes you say that?”

I almost want to check Barrett for a concussion. He was there yesterday. He knows exactly how Kasen feels. “He doesn’t want to know me.”

“No, he doesn’t want to want to know you. That’s a massive difference.”

“If you say so.”

“I do. Now, some more good news. I texted Derry while you were in the cafe, and he’s agreed not to ban you. I thought we could head over there, have an early dinner while we drink away most of our sorrows, and this week, when Kasen comes in for training, I’ll pass on your number and ask if I can give you his.”

“You’d do that for me?”

He screws up his face and releases it again. “I said I wouldn’t get involved, and look at that, I couldn’t help myself.” He tries for a quick laugh that falls flat. “I won’t push him into anything, but … I’m on your team.”

I can’t explain how good that is to hear. Then he keeps going.

“There’ll never be a day where I’m not.”

Chapter Fourteen

TAI

Did I kidnap my ex-best friend and take advantage of his vulnerability to spend time with him?

No. Of course not. Only a monster would do that.

But as I glance back at where he’s sitting in the booth by the far wall, surrounded by a storm cloud of conflict, I have to concede that I sort of did.

I’m determined not to fall back into bad habits with him, but Hawke has always been like this … I can’t even name it. When he’s around, I want him to be around more. Like his cells are magnetized to my cells, and we’re both too weak to resist the pull.

I’m called forward by Whitney, the new bar girl, and place my order. She tries to make conversation, and I’m polite, but the whole time she pours our drinks and takes our order, my mind is ten feet away across the bar.

I finally escape her bubbly personality and return to the warmth of Hawke’s brooding.

Amelia was a lot more resistant than I led Hawke to believe, but when I pointed out that Kasen would hold it against her forever if she kept his only remaining parent from him, she caved. So I get why he’s feeling this way.

I’m also going to do everything I can to distract him.

Because that’s what best friends do.

I stare across the booth at him for a whole minute before he notices. There’s so much going on behind his hazel eyes, and I want to pull every last thought out and shoulder them for him.