That guy. People always felt obligated to say things like that, even when they didn’t know the person. This boy would play for Danny’s team and never know him. The guys that did know him were starting to move on from junior hockey.
The boy shifted nervously as Taylor stayed quiet.
Finally, she brushed by him without a word. At the top of the stairs, she turned left and rushed by people. A few called her name, but she didn’t stop until she reached the back door. The sounds from inside were instantly muffled as she slid the glass door shut behind her.
Night had fallen, but the summer air was still warm on her skin. The only light came from the full moon overhead, but it was enough.
She slid her feet from her sandals and left them by the door before padding across the concrete to the edge of the pool.
Over the years, she spent a lot of time in that pool. When she and Sarah were on the swim team in high school, they’d spend hours out here practicing. It was large, big enough for three or four people to take laps. Danny would come home from training and cannonball in, disrupting their practice. Sarah would get annoyed, but Taylor could never be mad at Danny for long.
She lowered herself to the ground, the concrete scraping against the back of her legs as she hung her feet into the water. It was a peaceful night - in contrast to the crowd inside. Taylor had grown to appreciate the quiet, preferring to be alone most of the time than with people who felt obligated to fill the space that silence created.
She slid more of her legs into the water until her butt was on the very edge. In that moment, she knew what she wanted to do to make herself forget.
Her mom would kill her. She had spent quite a bit of time making sure that Taylor’s long brown locks were curled just right. It would probably ruin her dress, but she never planned on wearing it again anyway.
The water was so smooth against her skin. It invited her in. An invitation she accepted as she slid off the edge. There was a second of suspension before her head dipped below the dark water and the world disappeared.
The pool wasn’t deep so her feet hit immediately, the water just skimming the top of her head. She blew out, and the bubbles floated by her face before racing up towards the surface. Nothing existed while she was in the water. It had been a long time since she swam, and she suddenly couldn’t understand why. It was the one place she didn’t have to think. The only noise was the blood rushing in her ears. She could almost believe that everything would be right again when she emerged. Almost.
Before long, her lungs started screaming out for a breath. She lifted her feet from the bottom and let herself float up, gasping for air as her head broke through the water. She flipped her sopping hair out of her face and dipped her head back to let the water smooth it. Her dress floated up in a circle around her as she kicked her legs to propel her across the pool slowly.
It wasn’t until she glanced back towards the house that she realized she wasn’t alone. At first, she thought she was imagining things. Danny?
No. As she peered closer she noticed this person had a bulk to his frame that Danny always failed to achieve.
The man stood silhouetted in the dark, arms crossed and foot resting back against the house, watching her.
“Who is that?” she asked, suddenly angry at the intrusion on her solitude.
“What are you doing in there?” He didn’t bother answering her question as he took a few steps towards the pool.
“Swimming,” she said. “You can go back inside now.”
He didn’t listen to her. Instead, he kicked off his shoes and rolled up the bottoms of his slacks.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
As he moved closer, she started to make out his features. He was tall, with broad shoulders. All man, except that his face still held the roundness of youth. A mop of blond hair sat on top of his head, falling into his eyes.
He hiked his pants up further and sat down with his feet over the edge.
“You looked like you could use some company,” he finally said.
“What if I want to be alone?”
“What you want isn’t always what you need.” He gave her a sad smile. “I’m Josh, by the way.”
“Yo, Walker!”
Josh heard his name as soon as he entered the house and turned to find his old teammate, Garret, looming nearby. Josh was a tall guy, but Garret was massive. He was only seventeen when Josh left junior hockey for the big leagues and had filled out considerably.
“Hey, man,” Josh wheezed as he was wrapped in a bear-hug. The last time he’d seen Garret was a year ago at the funeral, and his friend hadn’t been doing so well. He was close with the kid who died.
“How are you, buddy?” Garret finally released him. “I saw you at the service. I’m glad you came.”
Josh shrugged, but was saved from the traditional “sorries” that he was sure Danny’s friends and family had heard constantly for the past year. He felt an arm tugging on his and looked down to find a short girl with ear-length black hair and red-rimmed eyes looking up at him. She sniffled, and Josh pulled her into a hug as Garret gave them space.
“Sarah Jones,” Josh cooed, smoothing her hair. “This is a memorial service. We’re supposed to be celebrating him.”
“I know.” A harsh laugh escaped her quivering lips. “I just can’t seem to stop crying. I’ve had to hold it together for everyone else, but I can’t stop missing him. It was easier when I was away at school, but now that I’m home and there’s someone new living in his room…”
“I get it.”
“I’m so glad you came.” She clung to him, burying her face in his shirt.
“I promised you I would.”
Josh hadn’t really known Danny. He’d met him once when he was visiting Sarah and her family. But he was there a year ago at the funeral, and he came back for this because he wanted to be there for them. Sarah was like a little sister to him. For the two years he played hockey in Portland, they housed him, or as they called it, ‘billeting’. But they were more than his hosts. They were family. Sarah was more of a sibling than his own brother, Ethan.
Sarah sniffled once more and then wiped her face. “Come on. Mom and Dad will want to see you.”
They found her parents talking to a smartly dressed couple in the kitchen. “Josh, honey,” Mrs. Jones said, holding her arms out for a hug.
He obliged before shaking Mr. Jones’s hand.
“These are the Scotts,” Mr. Jones made the introductions. “Douglas and Robin.”
The name sounded familiar, but he didn’t get a chance to think on it before a little girl came barreling by him. Robin Scott stuck out her arm and caught the back of the girl’s shirt. She squirmed and giggled.
“And this,” Robin said, “is Evie.”
“It’s nice to meet all of you,” Josh said politely.
“Coach Scott here has done wonders for the team.” Mr. Jones put a hand on the man’s shoulder. “We’re sad to see him go.”
It all clicked into place in Josh’s mind. “You’re Coach Scott?” he asked. When the man nodded, he stuck out his hand. “Let me be the first to welcome you to Columbus.”
His grip was strong, but he released Josh after a moment. “Josh…”
“Walker,” Josh clarified.
“Oh, yes. I’ve seen you play. I’ve been watching tapes of the team.” He stared at him like he was sizing him up. “You’re a smart player. Not always positionally sound, but that will come with age. It’s the smarts that are important. You’re either born with a hockey sense or not, and you were. You just weren’t born with the natural ability to always do what your brain is telling you.”
Josh rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly nervous under the critical eye of his new assistant coach.
“You don’t have the best of hands. But you’re fast, deceptively so. And you work hard. It shows in your game. I respect that. How has training gone this summer?”
“I train with a few guys in New York. It’s be
en good. I’m heading to Columbus in a couple of days.”
“I’ll see you in training camp then.”
Josh felt like he was being dismissed, so he said his goodbyes and made his exit with Sarah close on his heels.
“That was intense,” Josh said, finally able to breathe again.
“That’s just Coach,” Sarah laughed. “He can be a hard-ass, but he’s a fantastic coach and a pretty good dude. He’s probably a little off his game today. Their family hasn’t completely moved past Danny’s death.”
“Danny was a favorite, huh?”
“Well, Coach got here about the same time Danny did. It was the season you made Columbus. He was the kind of guy everyone liked, and he fell completely in love with the coach’s daughter. I had to listen to him go on and on about her. Finally, I convinced her to give him a chance. They were still together when he died. It destroyed her. She’s my best friend, but it’s like I lost her too.”
Josh put an arm around his old friend’s shoulders and squeezed her to his side. “I’m sorry.”
“Me too,” she sighed. “Getting out of Portland is probably the best thing for her, even though I’ll miss her.” Sarah turned to look at him, the light back in her eyes. “Maybe you could be friends with her! You’re perfect.”
“Sarah, I can’t just get a stranger through their grief. I don’t have superpowers or something.”
“Of course you do, Joshy. You are the best listener I’ve ever known. She needs someone to be there for her while I’m stuck here in this stupid city.”
“I don’t even know her. Maybe she won’t even like me.”
“Everyone likes you.” She levelled him with a stare. “I’m not asking you to work miracles. Just watch out for her. She’s so broken right now. You have no idea how bad the last year has been for her.”
Josh sighed at the desperation in her voice. He never could say no to Sarah.
“Fine, I’ll at least introduce myself.”
“Good, I saw her go out back a few minutes ago.”
“You want me to do this now?” He ran a hand through his hair. “Why do I feel like you’re pimping out my friend services?”
“Because I am.” She pushed him towards the back of the house. “Now go.”
“Yes, mother.”
Josh said hi to a few more people as he headed towards the back. There were a lot of people there who were trying to put on their smiles in spirit of Danny’s memory, but it only made for a strange mood. It was a relief for Josh when he pushed open the back door, letting the fresh air bathe his face.
The moon provided the only light, causing him to almost trip over a pair of sandals in the dark. The pool stood in the center of the yard, surrounded by a concrete skirt. The water rippled out from where someone had recently submerged themselves. Josh considered walking closer to check on whoever it was and then thought better of it. Instead, he leaned back against the house.
Sarah wanted him to be friends with this girl, but he wasn’t promising anything. This was going to be an important season for him, the last of his entry-level contract. If this girl was as troubled as Sarah said, he didn’t need the distraction. But, who was he kidding? Josh knew he was too damn nice for his own good. If he could do something to help her, he knew he would.
The water surged seconds before a head broke the surface, sucking in air.
She didn’t notice her audience as she kicked slowly around the pool. Finally, she stopped and looked up towards the house, her eyes finding him.
“Who is that?” her low voice called out.
“What are you doing in there?” he asked, knowing how stupid it sounded as soon as he said it.
“Swimming,” she answered, a slight tremor in her voice. “You can go back inside now.”
He almost did. She obviously didn’t want him there, and he wasn’t so sure he wanted to be there either. It would have been so easy to let her be someone else’s project. That’s what he wanted. But, that wasn’t who he was.
He walked towards the pool and she became clearer. Her long hair hung in ringlets, sticking to her face. Black lines streaked down her face, but her eyes weren’t swollen. Just the water then. No crying, he thought. Interesting.
They didn’t talk much, and Taylor was glad for that. She let everything go and just floated on top of the water. Danny was still on her mind - he always was, but she wasn’t ready to talk about him.
For months, her parents had been trying to get her talk about her feelings. They’d even sent her to a therapist. She spent an hour sitting across from a lady with a clipboard, but refused to speak.
Danny’s family wanted her to say something at the memorial service, but again she declined.
When Josh first sat down, she assumed he’d been sent by her parents to get her to say something about it, anything at all. Send the cute, unknown boy out to help her. It’d be a good tactic if she could feel anything at all. She knew she should feel guilty for everything she’d put her family through in the last year, but she couldn’t muster up even a shred of remorse.
Now this boy sat nearby, watching her but not asking her to say anything. He didn’t demand she deal with her grief like everyone else in her life did. She didn’t know him, yet she found it so comfortable to be around him. Maybe it was because he didn’t know how broken she really was.
“I’m Taylor,” she finally said.
“Hi, Taylor.” There it was again - that smile. It wasn’t full of sadness or fake celebration like everyone else in that house. It wasn’t a happy smile, either. That would have been out of place on a day like today. It just was. There were no expectations in his expression. He was just… nice.
“Do you like Portland?”
His question reeked of small talk. A year ago Taylor would have laughed at that. Now she was grateful for the lack of substance in the conversation.
“It’s okay,” she finally said. “But we’re moving to Columbus, Ohio.”
Josh smiled again. “You don’t sound too excited about that.”
“Oh, I’ve always wanted to go cow-tipping. And don’t forget the tractor shows.” She groaned, and Josh just laughed.
“It’s not so bad,” he said. “I’ve been to Columbus, and it’s actually a pretty cool city. No cow-tipping, I promise.”
“Well, at least the weather will be better.”
“I wouldn’t count on that.”
“Sounds like you know a lot about the place.”
Josh shrugged.
They continued their small talk and Taylor appreciated it. She had forgotten what it felt like to talk to someone who didn’t ask her how she was every five minutes.
The temperature seemed to be dropping as a breeze blew across the top of the water and her teeth clattered together.
“You must be freezing,” Josh said, jumping to his feet. “Hold on, I’ll go get you a towel.”
He disappeared into the house for a few minutes before returning. Taylor climbed out of the pool and let Josh wrap the towel around her shaking body. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms for warmth, but she stepped away from him as she grew uncomfortable with the closeness.
Her sopping dress clung to her legs, making walking a challenge.
“Taylor,” her mom called, appearing at the door. “We’re heading out.” Her eyes landed on her wet daughter and she sighed. “I’m so very glad I spent all that time on your hair today.” She then smiled indulgently and shook her head. “Come on, sweetheart.”
Taylor glanced back at Josh one more time before following her mom into the house.
Chapter Two
Josh’s phone rang for the third time that morning. He knew who it was.
His brother Ethan had been calling him for days. They hadn’t said more than a few passing grunts to each other in two years. Not since Ethan flew off the handle and hit his girlfriend at the time, Michaela.
Michaela was like a sister to Josh. Their families had been close for as long as he could remember. At one poin
t, Josh thought Michaela was going to be his sister-in-law. He was happy about that until he realized it meant she’d be stuck with Ethan. The brothers, on the other hand, hadn’t been close since they were kids, with Josh leaving home at sixteen to play hockey and Ethan being an all-around tool.
Michaela broke up with Ethan moments after his outburst and things spiralled out of control after that. When Josh found out, he’d confronted him. Fists had been involved, leaving Ethan with a busted face. Coach hadn’t been happy about the fresh black eye Josh was sporting when he arrived for the game, but it was worth it.
Since then, Josh avoided Ethan the few times he actually went home. His parents steered clear of the topic, so he didn’t even know what was going on in his brother’s life. Not like he cared.
Josh threw his phone in his gym bag and zipped it up. Ethan could wait another two years as far as he was concerned.
“Dude, you ready to head out?” Josh’s roommate called from the living room.
He’d lived with Grant Mackenzie since he’d made the team. Mack, as his teammates called him, was two years older and the star center-man for the Jackets. Josh, on the other hand, was third line material. Most people considered that his ceiling. Countless articles in The Dispatch told him just that. He couldn’t do any better than ten goals a year and grinder duty. That didn’t stop him though. When he was younger, people said he’d never make the NHL, not with his skill level. They were right. He didn’t make it purely because of natural talent. He was there because he worked harder than anyone else.
“Let’s go,” Josh said, slinging his bag over his shoulder and meeting Mack at the door.
They started the short walk down Front Street to the arena. Living in the Arena District definitely had its perks. For one, they didn’t have to drive to practice. All the greatest restaurants were right around them. And the bars. Mack liked that benefit.
“So, Josher,” Mack started, “You actually going to be any fun this year?”
“If by that you mean partying when we have off days, the answer is still no.”
The New Beginnings (Books #1-3) Page 34