Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Robin fiddled with his glasses, his freckled nose twitching as he fixed me with a suspicious once-over. “Why?”
“Because…I need to talk to him,” I replied irritably. “Please.”
He studied me for a long moment. “Sorry. I can’t tell you. I promised confidence, and I always keep my word.”
I dropped my head and knocked it against the door. Patience, Ty. Patience.
“Okay, I respect that. Could you…take me to him?”
Robin frowned. “Ah, a loophole. Well done, Mr. Czerniak. While I applaud your cunning, I’m afraid I can’t in good conscience interrupt Walker’s interview with the curling team.”
“Curling. Cool. Thanks.”
“They aren’t at the rink,” he called as I reached the bottom porch step.
I reclimbed the steps with a dramatic sigh. “If I were just any ol’ guy looking for the curling team today…where would I find them?”
He shook his head and made a zipped lips motion. “I won’t tell.” Groan. “However, your utter desperation matches my friend’s uncharacteristic malaise, so I’m going to bend the rules.” Thank fuck! “To do so, I’ll require a prop. Bear with me while I fetch my things.”
Robin’s things were his camera bag and a stack of posterboards and markers he handed over while he relocked the door.
“What’s all this?”
“I told you…a prop. Walker was supposed to bring the posterboard for the team to write a note of thanks to family and friends. He forgot, and I was on my way to bring these items to the quad when you unceremoniously showed up on his doorstep and—”
“I’ll do it. Thanks, Robin. You’re a lifesaver!”
“Wait!”
No chance.
Five minutes later, armed with a stack of blank posterboards and a bag of markers, I marched to the quad. It was even busier now. Students congregated on benches in twos and threes under bare trees or on the ledge of the fountain. A couple tossed a frisbee near the hedges and others jogged or speed-walked along the crisscross pathway.
I spotted Walker chatting amicably with a group I assumed were Smithton’s curling team. I hadn’t even known we had a curling team. No doubt they were awesome, but I didn’t spare them more than a passing glance. My heart was doing that thing where each beat echoed throughout my body. I could feel it with every step I took and in the steady whoosh in my ears.
Fuck, I was nervous.
Very nervous.
I had a speech—something about taking a chance and going for it—but better. I could hardly hear myself think let alone process original material.
“Walker.” I tried again, louder. “Walker!”
Someone tapped his shoulder and gestured my way. He turned, his head cocked and brow furrowed.
Christ, he was so beautiful. One of a kind, extraordinary, and mine…mine.
This was my cue to make my move. I could waltz up to the group of curlers, ask for a private word with Walker. I could smile, I could be charming. They wouldn’t mind the interruption and once I had him alone, I’d tell him…
Fuck.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. And now, he was staring. No, he was stepping forward. He was coming this way.
I panicked and put my hand out like a stop sign. Then I dropped a blank posterboard on the grass, fished a marker from the plastic bag, and wrote in big, bold capital letters…
I LOVE YOU.
I raised the sign over my head.
Walker froze.
I decided that wasn’t good, so I kneeled on the grass and wrote another, and another. Flashing them in succession.
I’M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
Someone started clapping and I was sure I saw a few cell phones aimed my way. I didn’t care. I had more posterboard.
YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND.
IT’S ME.
PS-I LOVE YOU.
I KNOW I SAID THAT ALREADY. IT’S TRUE.
WALKER + TY
Applause, catcalls, and more blood rushing in my ears.
I dropped to my knees again, and this time, he was next to me.
“What are you doing, Ty?” he whispered.
I scratched my head and met his gaze. “Too much?”
Walker’s eyes welled. “You know what I mean. We talked about this. We said—”
“No, you talked and I didn’t say anything I should have, and I’m sorry for that. Because if I’d been thinking straight, I’d have told you that I wanted more than part of this summer too.”
“What do you want, Ty?”
“I want fall, winter, and spring, and so on and so on. I don’t care who your family is. I’m not here for them, I’m here for you. I love you, Walker. I love you. And if you love someone, you stick around for the tough parts and you figure out how to make impossible situations feel like a piece of cake.”
He brushed his thumb along my cheek. “I told you…I’m bad for your career.”
“No.” I held his face between my hands and pressed our foreheads together. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. Hockey can handle us. Trust me. Do you trust me?”
“Yes.” Walker pounced into my arms. “I love you, too.”