Page 97 of Home Ice

When we get back to Kasen’s house, sweaty, happy, and exhausted from training and the game, my heart wants to explode. I want to give him a hug goodbye, or at least tell him how much that meant to me, but I lock it up and match his energy.

“That was fun,” I say.

“Yeah. Still think you cheated on that last goal, but I guess we can give handicaps to the over-thirties.”

“My ancient knees thank you.”

His eyes light up like he’s amused, but refuses to show it. “So … want me to tell Gran to come out and see you?”

Fuck. No. Never. The change of topic takes me a second. Why can’t I just take Kasen, and she’ll find out once we’ve been gone for a couple of days? “I’ll come in.”

That’s the polite thing to do, isn’t it? Even if it feels like I’m walking to my last meal.

It’s fine. I’m an adult. She’s an adult. We can be reasonable. Probably.

And I will not let my temper get the better of me.

I follow Kasen into the house. The front door leads directly into the living room, which is covered with pictures of Amelia, Kasen, and Carly. My gaze catches on one that can’t have been taken too long ago, and this deep sadness sweeps over me.

She hadn’t changed.

I’m so grateful to know Kasen now, but I hate that it came at the cost of what happened to her.

“Gran, you have a visitor!” Kasen shouts, disappearing into the house. I almost want to drag him back here and use him as a shield, but I shove that urge down. I can do this.

“Oh.” Amelia pauses in the opposite doorway to the one Kasen left through. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Sorry for just stopping by.”

She nods to the couch. “Would you like a drink?”

I take the seat but not the offer. “Thank you, but I won’t be here long. There’s something I wanted to run by you.”

Her blue eyes are wary as she lowers herself into the armchair across from me. “What is that?”

“I’m heading home to St. Louis over the weekend. Just from Friday to Sunday. And I was hoping to take Kasen with me.”

She reacts exactly like I thought she would. Her face pulls tight. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. He’s never so much as left the state and⁠—”

I hold up a hand, and her words cut off. “It’s a big ask. I know. I get it.” And I will not get annoyed because I want this so fucking badly. I need her on my side. My voice drops to a whisper. “I’m not trying to take him away from you.” And I mean it. “Kasen loves you. I know that. And I know we won’t always see eye to eye, but I think we owe it to him to try to get along.”

The fight leaves her. “He’s all I have left.”

“And he’s all I’ve ever had.”

She presses her fingers to her lips for a second, like she’s struggling to keep composure. A long sigh leaves her. “What if something happens to him?”

“I won’t let it. I don’t know if Kasen has told you that his coach was my best friend when I was younger; he’s coming too. So we’ll both be looking out for him.”

“I don’t understand why you can’t get to know him here. Planes are dangerous and …”

“I have to go home for a wedding, and I don’t want to give up the little time I have to spend with him. You said it would take longer than the summer to know him, and you’re right. Please give me this.”

“Why are you even asking? It’s not like you need my permission.”

I have no idea if that’s true or not with her being his temporary guardian, but Amelia’s making it clear she wouldn’t have fought me on it. I’m sick of fighting in general though. “Because I want you to respect me. I would have done everything I could to be here if Carly had told me. Everything. And we got off on a bad foot, but I’m hoping we can fix it. It’s the best thing for Kasen.”

“I know it is,” she says. “And for the record, I’ve never not respected you. But your friend pointed out everything that I already knew, and that’s if you fight me for custody, you’ll win. I can’t compete. Then I’ll lose my daughter and Kasen and …”