Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 119680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
“It’s not the same.”
“Doesn’t mean it won’t impact your choices and decisions.”
Dad comes into the kitchen and kisses Mom on the cheek. He glances between us. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. S’all good. We should get to the rink. I picked up a couple of lessons this morning and booked some personal ice time.”
Mom frowns. “When did you do that? I thought you were taking the day off.”
“I’m taking the day off from Adele, not from being on the ice.”
“You need to give your body a break. And I’m pretty sure you didn’t get much of one last night.”
“Annnnnd I’m peace-ing out of this conversation. Dad, I’ll meet you in the truck. Mom, I love you, but there are lines.” I turn down the hall.
“If you’d locked your door, this morning would have gone a lot differently!” she calls after me.
I don’t catch my dad’s reply, but I’ll be a captive audience on the ride to the arena, and I’m sure he’ll have wisdom to impart.
A few minutes later, he sets two travel mugs in the cup holders and climbs into the driver’s seat.
“I’m ready. Say whatever you’re going to say,” I tell him.
He’s quiet as we pull out of the driveway.
I wait a minute, and then finally cave. “Are you upset with me?”
“No, son. Just gathering my thoughts.” He taps on the steering wheel. “I see a lot of parallels between you and Winter and your mom and I when we were dating. Grandma Iris raised her on her own, and Iris didn’t make the best boyfriend choices. She worried your mom would do the same. She sure didn’t like me at first.”
“Really? Why not?” These days Grandma Iris and Grandpa Tim adore my dad. Tim loves to talk hockey and sports in general.
“Because your mom’s biological father was an ex-hockey player who probably fathered countless children he never took responsibility for,” Dad says darkly. “And your grandma Iris didn’t want what happened to her to happen to Lily. She said a few things to your mom that left some marks. That was a long time ago, though, and they’ve worked all that out.” He pauses. “But back when we were first dating, I didn’t think I could be what your mom needed, mostly because me and your grandpa Randall are a lot alike, and he…wasn’t a great dad or a great husband. He’s cleaned up his act, and we have a better relationship now, but back then, it made me want to avoid relationships. And then your mom came along, and she turned my world upside down. I was such a fucking dumbass. Some of the stupid shit I did… I’m lucky she’s such a patient woman.” He shakes his head. “Anyway. Here we are. But back then, your mom was living in a tiny two-bedroom apartment in Guelph. Her life wasn’t easy, and there I was making millions of dollars a year, getting all the chances I could to succeed. Your mom, she’d lost her opportunity to go to the Olympics and still looked on the bright side of things.”
“You saw Mom in Winter, and you didn’t want her to lose her chance,” I say.
He nods. “If there’s anything I regret with your mom, it’s not pushing her to try for that dream again. I could have helped her get there, but she seemed so at peace with her choices.” He clears his throat before he continues. “Winter’s life has been hard—harder than I think either of us can realize or fathom. Your mom sees it very clearly. What I’m about to say…it comes from a place of perspective that you might not have yet. Although you’re far more astute and self-aware than I was at your age.” He glances at me. “Be careful with her, okay, son? She’s tough. And resilient. But she’s been taught to sacrifice her own needs and that her wants should not be a priority, and that’ll take some time to undo.”
“I think I understand what you mean.”
“Just check in with her to make sure the things she says yes to aren’t because she feels a sense of obligation, but because it’s what she genuinely wants.” He pulls into his reserved spot and settles a hand on my shoulder. “It’s the first time in years that I’ve seen you passionate about anything other than skating. I don’t know what the future holds for the two of you, but I think you’re good for each other.”
“I think so too.”
23 I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT THIS THROUGH
BJ
Winter messages later to let me know she’ll be pretty late getting home. She’s going to an escape room in Lake Geneva with a bunch of her teammates, and it doesn’t start until eight. So when Lovey invites me to go to the movies with her, Lacey, and Rose, and promises we’re not seeing a rom-com, I say yes. It’s been a hectic couple of weeks, and Lovey’s summer schedule is always ridiculous, as is mine, so we haven’t had much time to hang out. I message Winter so she knows where I am, and I get a range of gifs in return, a couple with FOMO when she finds out what movie we’re seeing, followed by: