Chapter 21 #2
“Their place is smaller,” I add, filling the quiet. “The boys like having room. Stretching out. Josh’s already talking about building a backyard rink this winter.” I let out a small laugh, trying to lighten it. “He’s got plans.”
More quiet.
Yeah. Definitely something there.
“Anyway,” I push on, “I think you and Maria will hit it off. She wants to be a lawyer, remember?”
“I remember.”
Her tone is neutral now.
“If you want the place to yourself…” I start, already knowing I don’t love the idea of asking them to leave.
“No,” she cuts in immediately. “Of course not. I’m not about to kick them out because I’m visiting. I don’t want to mess up your life, Chucky.”
I nod, even though she can’t see me. “You won’t.”
Across from me, Nicklas is watching again, but this time the heaviness from earlier is gone. His grin is back, easy and familiar, like he tucked everything else away, hiding it where no one can touch it.
“Tell Kate I said hi,” he says.
“Who was that?” Kate asks.
“Nicklas says hello.”
“Nicklas,” she repeats, laughing. “The one I’m supposed to stay away from?”
“Yes. Exactly that one.”
“Tell him I said hi back.”
“No.”
“Chucky…” she laughs, dragging it out just to annoy me.
I hear voices in the background—my parents, no doubt hovering like always. “Mom and Dad say great game,” she adds.
“Tell them I’ll call tomorrow. We’re just getting to the hotel.”
“Okay, big brother. See you soon.”
“Yeah. Bye, Kate.”
I hang up and slip my phone back into my pocket. The bus hums. The city rolls by outside in streaks of light. I should call Maria. I want to call Maria.
But I don’t.
Not with Nicklas sitting across from me, watching everything a little too closely.
So instead, I lean back in my seat…
And wait.
A few minutes later, we spill off the bus into the cool night air, the city humming low around us. Nicklas nudges me with his shoulder. “Grab a beer?”
I glance at him, at the way something quieter sits behind his usual grin. “Nah, I’m beat. I’m going to call it a night.”
That same flicker of loneliness crosses his face, and for a second I still, ready to change my mind. But then Gunther slings an arm around his shoulders. “Come on, Rookie.”
I linger just long enough to see Nicklas let himself be pulled along, laughter starting to replace whatever was weighing on him. When I’m sure he’s good, I turn and head for the elevator.
It’s packed—voices, colognes, flashes of phones. I tuck myself into the back corner, hoping to disappear, but that’s a joke. A couple of selfies later, the doors finally open on my floor. Quiet greets me as I step out, the noise falling away behind me.
Inside my room, I kick off my boots and let myself fall back onto the bed. The silence settles in, and it’s too quiet. I miss the boys, Marbles, the noise… I stare at my phone, turning it over in my hand, my thoughts circling.
Should I? Shouldn’t I?
I exhale sharply. Screw it.
I hit her name.
It rings once. Twice. Three times. I’m just about to hang up when—
“Hello?” she answers, a little breathless.
Everything in me eases at the sound of her voice. “Hey.” I sink deeper into the pillow, tension slipping out of my shoulders. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“No,” she says softly. I hear movement, the faint rustle of something being set down. “Everyone just left and I was tidying up. Couldn’t find my phone.”
I smile to myself, picturing her moving around the house. “Did you have a good night?”
There’s a pause, then the quiet click of a door closing. Her voice shifts—softer, more private. “It was a lot of fun, Tuck. Especially when you got the winning goal.”
Something warm spreads through my chest at that. Pride, yeah—but not the kind I get from the guys. This is different. This is hers.
“The boys in bed?”
“Yeah. They stayed up in their rooms and watched. We could hear them yelling all the way downstairs.”
I let out a quiet chuckle, imagining it. “Where are you now?”
“In my room.” A beat. “Well…your room.”
My grip tightens slightly on the phone. The image hits, and I love the idea of her in my bed, tucked into my space. Whether I’m there or not.
“How did Josh make out with his geometry?”
“He did good. Thanks for helping him.”
“Anytime.”
“Lucas cleaned up the leaves today,” she adds, her voice drifting, softer now. “The trees are almost bare.”
“Yeah?” I smile, staring up at the ceiling. “Guess that means we can finally put in that rink.”
She goes quiet.
I frown slightly, shifting. “What?”
“Tuck…that’s too much.”
“Not if he’s helping,” I say gently. “And besides, I can teach him a few things.”
There’s a pause, then, quieter, “Okay.”
I close my eyes, letting that settle between us. “I’ve got a few days off when I get back. We could start it together.”
“Okay,” she repeats, her voice even softer.
“You want me to let you go? You sound tired.”
“No,” she responds quickly and something in my chest tightens. “I’m just going to close my eyes for a bit.” A small exhale. “I like hearing your voice.”
My breathing slows as well. “Yeah…me too,” I admit.
The line goes quiet after that, but not empty. Just…shared quiet.
I don’t remember falling asleep. But the next thing I know, I’m blinking awake in the middle of the night, my phone still resting against my chest. For a second I don’t move, just listen.
Her soft, even breathing comes through the speaker.
I swallow, something deep and unfamiliar settling in my chest. Carefully, I set the phone on the nightstand, like I might disturb her if I’m not gentle, even from miles away.
I strip out of my clothes and slide back into bed, the sheets cool against my skin. Maria is miles away, but with the quiet sound of her breathing filling the room, it feels like she’s right beside me. I like that. Probably far too much for two people who are temporarily playing house.