Chapter 30
thirty
Jeremy
August
My baby brother is in love. I never thought I’d see the day.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.” Joey pokes my leg. “It’s written all over your face.”
“And this is why I haven’t brought her up.”
“What do you mean? You brought her up the second you met her.”
“I did not.”
“Jere, she’s the mystery girl you met outside of PT. You texted me about her that night.”
“And then I didn’t tell you I ran into her again and that we went on a date and—”
“Or that she has a son. A son that you’re already doing family stuff with.”
“It was one hockey game.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“And dinner after we left the rec center. And maybe a movie. But that’s all.”
“Your first date was two weeks ago, Jeremy. That’s a lot in two weeks.”
“I don’t know why I told you about any of this. This also isn’t why you’re here, so.”
“I’m here to be a supportive big sister, which is exactly what I’m doing.
” She crosses her arms. “I’m not saying it’s wrong for things to be moving this fast with Tristyn; it’s clear you’re in love, so I would expect this.
Especially because she has a kid, so she’s definitely not playing around when it comes to dating. ”
“Then why are you giving me so much shit?”
“It’s what big sisters do.”
“I like who I am when I’m with them. Not that the guys make me feel different, or that you guys do, but when I’m with her, I feel normal.” I scratch the back of my head. “She didn’t know Jeremy Moore, the hockey star. She just knows Jeremy Moore. It’s nice.”
Joey smiles.
“What?”
“It’s nice seeing you like this.”
I don’t have a chance to respond before there’s a gentle knock on the door, and then it swings open.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” Dr. Franklin scans through my chart. “How are we feeling today, Jeremy? How’s the pain?”
“It’s been a lot more manageable,” I reply. “Once I started getting more feeling in my legs and the phantom feelings subsided a bit, things have been good. I don’t need to take my pain meds as often as the bottle tells me to.”
“That’s good news, but we don’t want to overdo it, okay?”
“I’m not. I promise.”
“It’s good to see you like this, Jeremy. It’s this positive attitude of yours that’s helping with your healing. I’ve never seen a recovery like this in such a short period of time.”
“I’ve put a lot of hard work in.”
“Trust me, son, I know. You’ve moved to forearm crutches in PT, if I’ve heard correctly.”
“Yeah, Lacey’s putting me through the wringer.”
“I thought—”
“It’s a long story. My path keeps leading me back to Lacey for PT. Seems like she might be my long-term PT, at least for the time being.”
“Well, I know she doesn’t take it easy on you, so that’s good.”
“She doesn’t put up with his bullshit either.” Joey chimes in.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Dr. Franklin shakes his head.
“All of your scans are looking really good, Jeremy, and the muscle growth we’ve seen just in the short time since you started regaining feeling in your legs is truly remarkable. You’re a remarkable kid.”
“Thank you, sir. I’m just excited to get up and walk more. Even if it is with crutches and a back brace.”
“Little by little, right?” Dr. Franklin smiles.
“Little by little.”
Thanks for giving me a ride, man.”
“Anytime, dude.” Cam stops at the red light and looks toward me. “I’m happy to help.”
“I usually get a ride from Becca because her car is just the most suitable for getting in and out, but her practice is running late, and Fletcher sometimes would borrow her car, but tonight—”
“Jere, you’re all good. I promise, I’m happy to help whenever you need me.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. We’re family, right? Just because we aren’t on the ice together anymore doesn’t mean you’re out of my life. I know we aren’t close like you and the guys, but I still got you. Always.”
“I appreciate that.” I shoot him a small grin, rubbing my hands on my pants. “I know we’ve talked about this before, but I think I finally get what you meant when you said hockey didn’t need to be everything.”
“Yeah?” Cam raises an eyebrow.
“Yeah. I’ve been seeing someone, and the more time I spend with her, the less losing hockey seems to matter.”
“What’s her name?”
“Tristyn,” I begin, “we met outside of PT.”
The car begins to move as the light turns green.
“Outside of PT?” There’s a hint of laughter in his voice.
“Well, that’s where we initially met. But then I guess we met at a fair, officially, but I knew her because her son is at the rec center and—”
“She has a kid?” There’s a sadness in his eyes, but not the kind of sadness people may flash you when they think jumping into a relationship with a single parent is a bad idea; it’s something else, but I can’t read him.
“Yeah. His name’s Henry. He’s amazing. Cam, when I tell you this kid has a gift when it comes to hockey. I think you could combine all of our skills, and this kid would surpass us easily.”
“Really?”
“Really. I could only dream of being this good at his age. And he’s had no previous training, the rec is his introduction to the hockey world.”
“I might have to see this.”
“That’s a great idea.”
“What?” Cam glances at me as we pull up to the rec center.
“If you’re not busy, that is. I think it’d be great for you to come in and meet the kids, talk about hockey, and show them some of your skills. I’ve never been a goalie, so you have knowledge I don’t.”
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“You’re not. I’m inviting you in.”
“Okay.”
“Wait, seriously? You don’t have to. I don’t want you to feel obligated because you gave me a ride or because you feel bad.”
“Jere, it has nothing to do with either of those things. I think what you’re doing is amazing. I’d love to be a small part of that.”
He puts the car in park and then pats my back as he gets out.
He grabs my chair from the trunk as I adjust my crutches and lift myself out of the car.
It’s weird to be back in this position where I struggle getting in and out of the car because I got it down when I was using the chair.
Now it’s like I need to relearn it… again.
“You’re getting really good with those.”
“They’re fucking exhausting.” I groan. “And this back brace is probably the worst part, but it feels good to be moving my legs more. Only short distances at a time, though.”
I sit down in my chair, lay the crutches across my lap, and unlock my wheels.
“It’ll be especially nice to be able to move around in here.” I nod my head toward the rec center.
I know I’ve been helping these kids, but I’ve felt so restricted by the chair. I know this won’t be the same as being on skates, but it’s a lot better than what I was doing.
We round the corner of the rec center, and my pulse begins to quicken.
I love getting here and doing what I do, but one of the best parts of my day is rounding the corner every day and seeing her.
“Morning.” Tristyn smiles, tapping a stack of papers on the front desk.
“Good morning.”
“Who’s your friend?” She tilts her head toward Cam, and he reaches out his hand as we approach the front desk.
“Cam.” He shakes her hand as I lock my wheels and use my crutches to stand up.
“Tristyn.” She shakes back.
“Tristyn?” His head tilts in my direction, a smug grin growing on his face. “Any connection to the Tristyn this one’s been all giddy about?”
“Shut up.” I lean against the counter and shove Cam away once I feel balanced. “Obviously it is.”
“Just making sure.”
Tristyn chuckles.
“I’ll meet you down there, okay,” I say, and Cam wiggles his eyebrows.
“Need to talk about some important front desk stuff?”
“No.” I shake my head. “I’d like to kiss my girl in peace, so—”
“Yes, sir.”
He pats my back as he walks through the double doors.
“Thought he’d never leave.” Tristyn rolls her eyes, but it doesn’t stop her from pushing up on her toes and placing a kiss on my lips.
“I missed you this weekend,” she whispers. I was gone this weekend and then had to miss Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of practice because of my PT schedule, so even though it hasn’t been a full week, it feels like we haven’t seen each other in forever. “How was your appointment?”
“Good. Dr. Franklin says my scans are looking good. I talked about you with my sister Joey… a lot. Maybe too much.”
“Is there such a thing?”
“I don’t know.”
“How are the crutches going?”
I started using them in PT a while ago, but after my positive results with my scan, Lacey wanted me to start implementing them into my day-to-day more.
“Fucking killing me, but it’ll be worth it in the end.”
“Well, let me just say, you look super sexy. Not that you didn’t before, but they’re doing numbers for your biceps.” Tristyn dips her head down and kisses me.
“Then I guess it’s all worth it.” I rest my forehead against her forehead. “What are you up to tonight?”
“Nothing.” She takes a deep breath. “Do you want to come over?”
My heart sinks into my stomach. I stand up, trying to keep my composure.
“Oh, um.”
“It won’t be like that.” She quickly stands up. “Not that I haven’t thought about that, I have, but not now, eventually, hopefully, but I don’t mean. I don’t want to. I just thought we could watch a movie with Henry. Or Vince could take Henry out, and it can be just the two of us.”
The tension flows out of my body.
“That sounds perfect. All three of us would be perfect.”
“Okay.” Tristyn relaxes against the counter. “Good.”
“Great.” I grin.
She motions me forward with her finger, and I lean into the counter.
“Can I tell you a secret?”
“Always,” I respond.
“I like you.” She kisses my cheek. “A lot.”
I kiss her on the lips, soft and slow.
“Ditto.”