The tears Quinn had been blinking back rimmed and spilled. “Not all on my own, Dad. You set the bar high, and that was the best thing you could’ve done for me. It gave me something to shoot for, something to prove.” He paused and smiled. “And maybe it’s better you didn’t butt in.”
His dad laughed, and the mood lightened, lifting an old, toothy wound out of the way. The air was clearer, sweeter, as father and son continued their chores, exchanging stories and bantering about this and that.
“What are you two yukking it up about out there?” Quinn’s mom called. “And why wasn’t I invited?”
“Nothing, Mom. We’re just giving Ronan a ration of sh—crap behind his back.”
His dad laughed low. “She’s really got you buttoned up with the swearing.”
“She’s been training me for a while. I guess it’s sticking, which is too fucking bad because swearing is so goddamn … liberating.”
“Amen to that.”
Quinn’s mom appeared around a corner, surprising them both. “I heard that.”
“Of course you did.” His dad winked at her. “We said it for your benefit.”
“So what were you saying about Ronan?”
“Nothing interesting because Ronan’s not interesting,” Quinn quipped.
“Did you know he whisked Jen away for a romantic, us-only staycation?” His mother’s eyebrows bounced.
“Hadn’t heard that. What motivated him?” Quinn imagined a showdown where Jen threatened to leave the douchebag.
His mom shrugged. “Beats me. He said something about how lucky he is, and how he needed to step it up. Apparently, he’s got it in his head she might walk out on him some day, and he doesn’t want that. Wonder who planted that bug in his ear?”
He listened? “Who knows? Maybe he finally wised up.”
“Well, it was long overdue. Hopefully my youngest son will wise up too.” His mom bobbed her head as if to emphasize her words.
He gaped at her. “What does that mean?”
Gleaming, wise blue eyes darted to the ceiling and back again. “Don’t let Sarah get away.”
“I don’t want to,” he spluttered. “But that girl has a mind of her own, and I’m not sure that mind is convinced I’m anything but a fling.”
“Give her time. Then convince her otherwise. Show her you are the man for her, just like you showed your team you’re their best winning goal-scorer.”
Chapter 38
Boys in the Bubble
Sarah and Lily sat on the couch, eyes glued to the TV, where the Blizzard played Arizona in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals. The Blizzard were up three games to one, and a win tonight would move them to the Conference Finals. But the teams were locked in a heated two-two tie, and the clock was winding down on the third period.
In the background, Daisy danced with Blizzard pom-poms while Archer turned circles at her feet.
The buzzer sounded, and Sarah and Lily let out a collective groan. “Overtime,” Lily groused. “Anything can happen.”
“Let’s clean up the kitchen while we wait,” Sarah suggested.
“Okay. At least it’ll keep my mind off whether I’m flying to Canada tomorrow or not.”
Players had been living in COVID-19 “safety zones,” or “the bubble,” since arriving in Canada two months ago. No contact with people outside the bubble, including families, had been allowed, but that was all going to change for the teams headed to the Conference Finals, and Lily’s excitement was palpable.
Sarah rinsed dishes while Lily scoured the counters. “I don’t know how much longer I can wait, Sarah. Assuming I do go to Canada, I’ll have to quarantine in the bubble for four days before I can be with him.”
“Even if they don’t win tonight, they still have a good chance of winning game six. And if they lose the whole enchilada, he’ll be coming home. Either way, you won’t be separated much longer.” Unlike Quinn and me. They hadn’t seen each other since their breakup, though they’d texted a few times. Except for one message where Quinn had said he was having “Sunshine withdrawals,” their comments had remained on safe subjects firmly planted in the friend zone. And it felt all wrong.
“I know. I just miss Gage so much.” Lily inspected the counter, huffed, and immediately went back to scrubbing. “Quinn is sure looking good tonight,” she threw out casually.
“Mm-hmm.” Hell, he’d been looking good the entire playoffs, and not just in his play. Sarah had kept herself busy trying to forget just how good by helping Lily get the main house settled and continuing her job hunt, though her enthusiasm waned with each passing day. Not that she wasn’t getting offers or a shot at some really interesting positions, because she was—all from out of state. Somewhere along the way, she’d fallen into a funk where she couldn’t muster excitement. Consequently, she kept putting off potential employers. She’d have to shit or get off the pot pronto. Being stuck in limbo wasn’t any way to live.
Lily bumped her hip. “That wasn’t a very enthusiastic response. I expected more from you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Quinn. Looking good. You miss him, don’t you?”
God, yes! “That full-of-himself pain in the ass?”
“I knew it!” Lily cried in triumph.
“Knew what?”
“Something did happen between you two, didn’t it? Gage said Quinn’s been grumpy ever since you moved out, and Quinn’s never grumpy.”
“Gage said that?”
Lily leaned against the counter and parked a fist on her hip. “Don’t worry. Gage doesn’t suspect a thing. So tell me what’s going on.”
“If I tell you, you’ll tell Gage, and I’m not ready for that.”
“I’ll eventually tell him, but I’ll give you a chance to tell him first. Fair enough?”
Sarah matched Lily’s posture and narrowed her eyes. “How long is ‘a chance’?”
“A couple of weeks? Wouldn’t you rather he hear it from you than Quinn anyway?”
“I don’t think Quinn’s going to tell him. Team chemistry and all that. Plus, Quinn’s fear of being spit-roasted slowly over an open fire.”
Lily giggled. “Gage doesn’t have it in him. If he weren’t so forgiving, I wouldn’t
