Page 26

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SIX

JADEN

I seal the last box with packing tape and slap a label on it. Every second that I’m here, I’m actively working on not thinking about the guys or how they’re playing. I work especially hard not to think about Miles skating in my position.

I can count on one hand how many practices I’ve missed, and those were all because I was actively puking with some bug or the last one because I was trying to get the girl before she got on a plane to fly across the country. I have never missed a game. I’ve played through a hundred-and-three-degree fever and an active bout of puking. One game, I was so sick with food poisoning from a very shady restaurant the night before—if this literal hole-in-the-wall joint can even be classified as a restaurant—and I still played. I had to take breaks to puke, but I still made it back on the ice. I take my profession very seriously.

Coach Albright said he understood and to take the days that I needed. I know the guys are sympathetic as well, but it still kills me. But nothing is more important to me than Anna. She has very quickly become my whole world, and she needs me.

Miranda enters the room. Her auburn hair is up in piggy buns, and her face is makeup-free, making her look younger than usual. “All done?”

“All done. This was the last box,” I state.

She rocks up on her heels. “Awesome. That didn’t take too long.”

“Nope. Not bad at all,” I agree.

Anna is leaving all of the furniture and selling it with the house. She said none of it holds any sentimental value. This way, we can choose furniture for our new home together. The movers are coming tomorrow to pick up the dozen boxes or so that contain her clothes and other personal items.

“Where’s Anna?” I ask.

“She is trying to decide between two almost identical black dresses for tomorrow. She’s tried them both on about five times.” She shrugs.

“Well, it’s something she has control over. I know she’s anxious about tomorrow.”

“I know. Exactly. I just can’t wait until the funeral is over so we can get out of here.”

“So you’re really moving to Michigan? Aren’t you going to miss the palm trees, ocean, and beautiful weather? You are flying back to cold and snow.” I chuckle.

“I can always visit warm places, but no, I’m not going to miss it here. Anna is my only family. Where she goes, I go.”

“She’s lucky to have you.”

Miranda’s eyes well with tears. “I’m lucky to have her. I don’t know if Anna has told you, but I literally wouldn’t be here without her, and by here, I mean on this earth. She was there for me during a very dark time when we were kids. She’s the best person I know.”

“No.” I shake my head. “She hasn’t told me.”

Miranda swallows. “Well, there’s enough sadness around here. That’s a story for another day. Anyway.” She sighs. “I feel like I’m missing something.” She starts ticking items off on her fingers. “Movers are coming tomorrow. Everything is set with the real estate agent. Everything else work-wise we can take care of remotely. Right? It just seems like there should be more to do when moving across the country.”

“I’m sure you’ve remembered everything. You always do. But you’re right; most things can be handled online. Not many things have to be handled in person anymore. You donated her car yesterday. Anything else you need to do with that?”

“Nope. It’s going to a low-income single mother. All that paperwork has been signed.”

“That’s really great.”

“Yeah, she’s going to need a car with four-by-four and power to drive in the snow anyway, so it made sense. Not that she really drives herself that much, anyway. Her car was two years old and had hardly any miles on it.”

I pick up the box and stack it on top of another to clear some space. “The offer still stands. You can live with us. We have plenty of rooms.”

“No. I need my own space. I love Anna, and it’s great that I get to spend my days with my best friend, but at night, I want solitude. I like watching my shows and eating what I want in my own place. You know?”

“Yeah, I get that.”

“What about this one?” Anna comes into the room wearing a black dress. “There are no underlying whore vibes, are there?”

“And if there was?” Miranda stands tall and crosses her arms.

Anna shakes her head. “You’re totally right. Who cares what a certain someone thinks? Not me!”

Miranda claps her hands together. “That’s the spirit!”

“To answer your question, unfortunately, no… there are no whore vibes. It’s completely sophisticated. Not a slit of cleavage in sight.” I walk over to her and pull her into a hug, kissing her forehead.

She wraps her arms around me. “Thank you. I think I’m going to wear this one, then. It’s crazy to think that this is my last night here. Tomorrow night, I will be a Michi…”

“Gander. A Michigander,” I say.

“I like it.”

“Me too.”

Miranda takes a step toward us. “Well, now that we’re all packed up and the outfit decision has been made, I say we order some food. Should we go out with a bang and order Manuel’s empanadas one last time?”

Anna’s face lights up. “Oh my goodness. Yes!” She takes a step back from our embrace. “Manuel has this Cuban eatery a few miles away. He makes the best Cuban food, though the empanadas are the best. They come with this cilantro crème sauce that’s to die for.”

“Yeah,” Miranda chimes in. “All of his dishes are made from his grandma’s original recipes.”

Anna looks at Miranda. “It will be nice to say goodbye to him, too. He’s one of the few people I’m going to miss around here.”

“Agreed.” Miranda taps her chin. “Oh, there’s Angela from Romano’s. Her lasagna is…” She kisses the tips of her fingers. “Chef’s kiss.”

“Brooklyn and Stevie, our favorite servers from Los Tres Amigos!” Anna exclaims.

“Four-eyed Louis from Sushi Nation,” Miranda adds.

“Pippi and Freddy from Al’s Pizza,” Anna says.

“Oh.” Miranda holds a hand to her chest. “Benito from Asian Nation. I’m going to miss him so much!”

“He is the best.” Anna pouts out her bottom lip. “Oh! Jen-Jen, Frankie, and Bean from Mama Mia’s Tacos, Pizza, and More.”

Miranda shakes her head. “No, remember Jen-Jen switched over to Bubba’s Burrito’s on the corner by the Coffee Hut, and Frankie moved to San Diego with Ben. So only Bean is left at Mama Mia’s.”

“You’re right. I totally forgot, and we haven’t even tried Bubba’s Burrito’s yet.” Anna stomps her foot against the floor.

“Time-out.” I hit the tips of my fingers against the palm of my other in the classic time-out motion. “I have so many questions. First, are all of your ‘friends,’”—I use air quotes on the last word—“employees at your favorite restaurants? Why do you call your friend Louis four-eyed? And Mama Mia specializes in tacos and pizza? What’s the more? Sushi? I am so confused.”

Anna and Miranda exchange amused grins. “First of all,” Anna says. “I’m not digging the air quotes, my love.”

“I’m just saying. Are these friends like Bethy from the Italian place is a friend?” I ask.

“Hey.” Anna pins me with a serious stare. “Bethy is a friend. We have history. To answer the rest the four-eyed thing started as a joke of some sort. Something funny happened. Right?” she asks Miranda.

“Yeah. It was funny, and the name stuck, but I don’t remember what happened exactly.” Miranda purses her lips.

“Me either. Anyway.” Anna returns her attention to me. “The more at Mama Mia’s changes by the week. Sometimes it’s sandwiches. Sometimes it’s pasta. Oh, remember pierogi week?” she asks Miranda. “That was good.”

“Oh my gosh, you’re so right. Pierogi week was amazing.” Miranda answers.

“Was there another question?” Anna asks.

I shrug. “Honestly, I can’t remember. But answer this. Is there anyone in this city you’ll miss who doesn’t work at a food joint?”

She looks at Miranda and then back at me. “I don’t think so,” she says.

“That’s what I thought.” I chuckle. “So let’s go meet your bestie Manuel. I haven’t had a good empanada in a long time.”