Page 4 of You, Again

I listened for her footsteps to recede, then the telltale sound of the door closing behind her before turning my full attention to the text message thread on my screen.

You’re coming home this summer? That’s awesome! I could use your help.

I’m not working at the diner, Ronnie, I typed.

Ha. It’s not my diner, it’s Nolan’s. And Nolan still hates you. But he might give you a job as a busboy. Text me when you get here. I’ll have beer ready.

I signed off with a thumbs-up and tossed my cell aside to scratch my nuts. I had a to-do list a mile long, bags to pack, and a few friends to say good-bye to, but as I headed for the shower, my brain took a sharp left and spiraled down memory lane.

Nolan still hates you.

Fuck.

I had to fix that. I wasn’t sure how, though.

Truth was…Nolan was always somewhere in the back of my mind, fluttering like a butterfly I couldn’t decide if I wanted to set free or capture. I hadn’t seen him in seven years now.

Second truth…I’d avoided Elmwood like the plague.

It had been easy to do.

During the holidays, I’d fly my dad to cities with museums he loved—New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago. Or I’d have him join me in Seattle and set him up in style in my box to watch one of my games.

Ronnie came with his dad a few times too…years ago when Mr. M was still alive. But not Nolan, and I understood. We were…complicated.

Maybe it would always be this way between us. If so, I’d have to live with it.

You know, I’d thought I could stay away forever, but the day I announced my plans to retire, I knew it was time to go home. And every day afterward, the pull was stronger than ever. So I bought a house on the outskirts of town through a private trust under an alias and had it furnished, so it would be ready for me. The only person who knew I was coming was Ronnie. I wasn’t sure how long I’d stay, and I didn’t want any fuss.

I just wanted…fuck, I didn’t know what I wanted. I didn’t know what my next step was. I’d had one goal in life, and I’d achieved it.

Now what? My agent had lots of ideas. “You’re still popular. You gotta cash in on your legacy, Kimbo.”That was probably smart, but I had money and I’d made good investments. I didn’t need millions more. I needed a reset and time to think, away from corporate expectations and exes who wanted to swap our celebrity status to further our brands.

The folks I knew in Elmwood didn’t think that way. And the people I was closest to liked me for me.

Except for Nolan.

Yeah…this could be interesting.

2

NOLAN

“You’re kidding.”

My brother shoved his hands into the pockets of his hoodie, unfazed by my deadpan tone and testy stare. “Nope. This little stroke of good luck will do wonders for our enrollment. Not to mention our chances of getting to state next year.”

“Are you high? If so, pass along your happy juice. You’re running a youth program in the boondocks, and our best players just graduated. That dickhead isn’t gonna help you out.”

“Sure, he will.” Ronnie flashed his signature happy-go-lucky grin, scowling a moment later at whatever action was unfolding behind me. “Protect the puck, Anton. Don’t let it get behind you.”

I inhaled deeply and blew out a frustrated breath. “Vinnie is a flake. You don’t need him. You can—”

“Idoneed him, Nol,” Ronnie intercepted. “I’ve got bills to pay, and I can’t afford to hire another coach. I have too many teenagers running things as it is.”

“You have me too, asshole.”

“And I’m grateful for that, little bro. You know that. But you have a restaurant to run, and I need some new ideas. C’mon…look at that bunch of bananas.”