Page 12

SILAS

T he rest of my night didn’t go as planned.

I got back home after midnight to change out of my suit and into my jeans and found my brother sitting on the bathroom floor, sweaty and pale, holding his stomach.

He’d been sick most of the evening. It sounded like it was a reaction to something he ate, or maybe it was the new meds.

I made a note to call his doctor, then I texted my teammates and told them we’d go out another time.

I heated up a bowl of bone broth since it was good for the stomach and offered it to Jo along with a bottle of Gatorade. Thankfully, Josiah managed to keep that down and he fell asleep an hour later. I cleaned up the bathroom, threw his PJs in the wash, and made myself a sandwich.

By three a.m. I was still wired, so I checked my emails and immediately opened the one from Damien about summer training camp.

The fee was two thousand dollars. I lived frugally, no new clothes or anything, unless it was hockey related.

It would mean taking on an extra shift at Verdant or possibly another job, but I’d manage.

I filled out the form and paid for the deposit with my credit card right then and there.

I was confident that I’d get a spot since no one else on my team had applied this fast. Who else was applying in the middle of the might? Only me. My teammates were probably partying at Ethan’s or fast asleep.

Tired, but restless, I did some prep work for my upcoming finals and logged off two hours later. Next thing I knew, I woke up at the kitchen table with a sore back, the smell of coffee, bacon, and toast teasing me.

I sat up and blinked, and my brother smiled back at me.

“You okay?” I asked him.

“I’m better,” he replied. “What about you? Falling asleep in that chair is not smart, bro.”

“At least I slept.”

I sat up, stretched, and shoved my hands in my hair, which was a tangled mess. Glancing at my phone, I realized it was already ten. Shit. I had to be at the tattoo shop by noon.

Josiah placed a mug of coffee in front of me and a stack of toast piled high with crispy bacon.

“Thanks. Did you eat yet?” I asked him as I took a grateful sip of java.

“Toast and a banana,” he said as he sat down beside me. “I think it was that stupid burrito I had at River’s last night.”

“You’re sure it’s not your meds?”

He shrugged. “Doubtful.”

“You know what the doctor said, you have to watch certain foods.”

“I know, but sometimes I can’t help it,” he replied. “I want to be normal like everyone else. Eat what I want, when I want.”

He’d missed out on a lot so I couldn’t blame him. I’d be the same.

“Take it easy today, plain foods, and lots of liquids.”

“Yep.”

I reached over and ruffled his hair. “And no bacon.”

“Ugh, no kidding. I made it all for you.”

“Thanks. I’ve got to be at work by noon. You’ll be okay?”

“Yeah, I’ve got a project to finish for English. I’m going to work on that and play some video games.”

“Speaking of school?—”

I started and took another sip of coffee.

Shit, I should’ve discussed the camp with Jo before booking it.

“Banning’s offering a summer training camp in June and July, three days a week. I’m hoping I get a spot, but we should talk about it.”

“What’s there to talk about?” Jo replied. “I’m in school until mid-June, so it’s a couple of weeks. And if you want to do it, go for it. It sounds cool. I’m going to start a summer job anyway.”

What? “Where?”

“The local driving range.”

“The one River’s grandfather owns?”

“Yup.”

“That won’t be too strenuous for you?” I asked.

“All I can do is try. If I get a flare up, I’ll find something else. Something remote. I’ve been working on a graphic design course online.”

“All right. But you tell me if it gets to be too much,” I insisted.

“Stop worrying.”

“Not gonna happen.”

“You better hurry up and eat,” Jo insisted. “You don’t want to be late.”

I quickly ate my breakfast, downed another mug of coffee, and hit the shower. Once I was dressed, I grabbed my backpack and keys and headed for my truck.

The drive to Burlington was the relaxing kind, no traffic jams. With the windows down and the tunes blasting, it was just me and my music.

The only time, except for sleep, that I had entirely to myself.

I wondered how many more drives like this I’d experience.

Once I got drafted, I’ll probably live in a big city, and all this would be a distant memory.

My mind began to whirl at full speed. I’d have to move my father with me, and Josiah too.

Then again, my brother only had a year of high school left, and then hopefully, college.

If his health continued to improve, he’d be moving out on his own soon.

When I arrived in Burlington an hour later, the parking lot near Verdant Ink was almost full.

After I opened the shop, I disinfected each station, I made sure the room supplies were stocked, did some inventory, and checked the bookings.

I was replying to emails at the front desk when the door opened, and familiar faces appeared. Henny and Coulter were the co-owners of the shop, a couple in their thirties who were as colorful as their tattoos. Coulter carried a tray of coffee, and Hen, a box that I recognized from a local bakery.

“Maple cream donuts and blueberry Danish,” Hen announced with a flourish and popped the box on the counter. “You look like you need both, Silas.”

“And coffee,” I muttered.

“No question.” Coulter chuckled and placed the tray beside the box. “Help yourself.”

“Thanks,” I replied with a yawn and grabbed one of the cups.

“Partying too hard?” he asked me. “I remember those days.”

“You mean, last week?” Hen quipped.

Her husband gave her a knowing look, raising one pierced eyebrow.

“What?” She laughed and stuck out her tongue. “It’s the truth.”

“I was at that fundraising event for the firehall last night,” I replied. “When I got home, I found out Jo was sick, then I was up doing school stuff until the early morning. Fell asleep at the kitchen table. Do not recommend.”

“You should’ve texted,” Hen insisted. “You’re entitled to a sick day.”

I shook my head.

“Nah. I need to keep busy or I think too much.”

“Tell me about it,” she replied with a smile. “What’s the calendar like?”

“Fully booked today, Tuesday, and Thursday.”

“Awesome, we better get ready then.” She started walking past me and paused. “Oh, by the way, Darby’s going to be late.”

I nodded but said nothing in response. I didn’t think Hen or Coulter knew about me and Darby hooking up occasionally, but gossip in this place wasn’t unheard of. Not that I was worried. If it didn’t interfere with the shop, no one here would care.

“Jo turns eighteen in September, and he’s decided he wants a tatt,” I announced.

“Cool,” Coulter replied and grabbed a donut from the box.

“You okay if I bring him in for a consult?”

“Of course, you don’t need to ask. His first one is on the house.”

The phone rang, and I got busy with bookings and answering questions. Clients arrived, then another one of the shop’s tattoo artists, Zephyr, came in for his shift, followed by Darby an hour later.

Darby looked like he’d had the roughest night of any of us. His long black hair was tied back in a messy braid, and his green eyes were bloodshot. When he walked up to the counter, I finally noticed the swollen lips and beard burn.

At least someone around here got lucky last night.

I thought maybe I’d feel… something, anything, but I didn’t. No jealousy or anything like that. Why should I? We didn’t have any kind of arrangement, only a casual one.

“Morning,” he muttered and plucked out a Danish, shoving it in his mouth with gusto.

“Afternoon,” I corrected.

Darby swallowed a bite and sighed. “Man, I should’ve cancelled my bookings today.”

“Hungover?”

“No.” He smirked. “I didn’t get any sleep.”

“Was it worth it?” I asked.

“Oh, yes.”

I chuckled as Darby stalked around the desk to head down to his station.

“What are you doing later?” he asked.

I looked over my shoulder. Darby looked like he had barely enough energy to work, never mind fool around.

“I’ve got to get back to Sutton. Jo was sick last night.”

Truthfully, Jo was okay now. But I wasn’t in the mood for a hookup. Not today.

“Right. Of course.” He sighed. “I don’t know how you do it.”

I stopped typing, turned around, and crossed my arms. “Do what?”

“Look after a kid at your age. Or at any age.”

“He’s my brother. And not so much a kid anymore.”

“Good. You need to make time for your own life.”

His comment pissed me off.

“I’m doing exactly what I need to for my family,” I replied. “I have a life. I have school and hockey.”

Maybe to Darby that wasn’t much, but it was all I needed.

“Relax, Si, I’m just saying?—”

“Your first appointment is arriving in ten,” I snapped. “You better get ready.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out, expecting Josiah.

Instead, it was a text from Damien. My irritation morphed to anticipation.

Banning: I got your application, but at three in the morning? Hockey players need sleep LOL.

Silas: Sleep is for other people.

Banning: Congrats, you’ve got the first spot for the camp.

“Oh my God!” I shouted.

Everyone in the shop came running out of their stations, concerned looks on their faces.

“Sorry,” I offered with a wave of my hand. “I, uh, I got accepted to a hockey training camp this summer. I’m a little pumped.”

“Phew. I’ve never heard you yell like that before,” Coulter replied with a grin. “I thought for sure something was wrong.”

I chuckled. “Nope, for once, everything’s right.”

My colleagues headed back to their work, and I typed out a response to Coach’s text.

Silas: Thank you.

Banning: No thanks needed. And you won’t be saying that a month from now when I’m working you hard.

My heart kicked off like crazy. Probably too much caffeine.

Silas: Are you kidding? Anything you can give, I can take.

Fuck, I didn’t mean to write that .

Delete. Unsend.

Did Damien read that before I unsent it? Holy shit.

Banning: I’ll remember that. Don’t forget our team gathering is next week.

Silas: Wouldn’t miss it. See you then.

“Silas, does training camp mean you’re only available part time this summer?” Hen walked out of her station, snapping on her gloves.

“I can work Tuesdays, Thursdays, plus Friday evenings, and the weekend. Probably a few hours short of full time.”

“That’s means you’re on the go seven days a week.”

“Yeah, but you know I need the income, Hen.”

“It’s not that. You can have all the hours you need. I worry about you, that’s all.”

“I appreciate your concern, but I’m good. I can handle it.”

“All right.” She paused when she spotted the phone in my hand. “Is hockey the only reason you’re smiling like that?”

“Of course,” I replied quickly. “There’s nothing else.”

My pounding heart told me I was a liar…

“It’s not someone you’re hung up on?” she teased.

“Me? No. No way. Of course not.” I scoffed and put my phone in my back pocket. “Pfft. Never.”

“The longer you talk, the more I don’t believe you. But that’s okay, we all have secret crushes at some point.”

“Secret crushes? You’re supposed to tattoo the ink, not inhale it,” I snarked.

“One day, Silas,” she announced as she walked off, calling out over her shoulder. “One day you’ll be like the rest of us. It’ll hit you before you even know it.”

“The only hits that happen to me are on the ice,” I called back.

My ass began to vibrate. I mean, it was my phone again. Was Damien texting me?

Why did that make me breathless? I was lightheaded too.

Eat a donut, you need carbs.

Banning: And a reminder, don’t bother clearing out your stall.

Silas: Right. Of course. Thanks.

I was about to ask him how the press coverage for the camp went after the fundraiser, but the door of the shop opened, and I had to get back to work.

Damien’s introductory speech that night had been one of the few I listened to.

His words and delivery were so eloquent, but also mixed with his dry sense of humor.

Not many people could combine both. I could listen to him talk all day and night.

My hand itched to ask him questions, but I stared at my phone instead.

Exactly. He’s all that. He’s got his shit together. You’re his student. Why would he want to talk to you?

Two of our returning customers stepped inside, so I put my phone back in my pocket and did what I always did.

I got down to business.