Page 84 of Crease Collision

I feel better than I have all day as I type a response.

OSKAR: We’re flying home after the game tomorrow night, and I can’t wait to see you!

His reply comes immediately.

KAI: Come to my place? I don’t want to wait even a few extra hours.

OSKAR: Will you still be awake?

KAI: I promise I will be up… and waiting.

Fuck. It’s been so long I have to rearrange my pants before I can reply.

OSKAR: I’ll text on my way from the airport. And I’m already up.

OSKAR: Have to meet my teammates now. Take it easy today.

KAI: Have fun. See you tomorrow!

KAI: Wait! Did you take your vitamins yet?

Shit. I go back into the bathroom for my toiletry bag.

OSKAR: Taking them now, Mamma. I forgot.

KAI: You always forget. Lucky you have me to remind you.

I swallow the pills.

OSKAR: Very lucky.

The wind is sharp enough to bite. I pull my coat tighter, watching my breath fog as we walk through the ByWard Market. Carson is a few steps ahead, waving his arms as he talks about a poutine restaurant he swears is the best in Canada. Kendrick is walking beside me, not saying much.

“Seriously, Oskar, you’ve gotta try it,” Carson calls over his shoulder. “Cheese curds, gravy, and fries. It’s a religious experience.”

“If you insist,” I say. “On the condition that you try surströmming when we get back home. I’ll bring some to practice one day.”

He glances back again. “What the hell’s that?”

“Fermented herring. Delicious.”

“Holy hell,” Kendrick says. “That makes me feel like puking.”

The wind almost swallows Carson’s big laugh. “Count me in, Olly. I eat grasshoppers in Texas. Mexican delicacies.”

Kendrick makes a gagging sound. “Now I know I’m gonna puke.”

The wind picks up, making it hard to hear anything. I don’t mind because my thoughts are busy with Kai.

I keep remembering the time I watched him work on his LEGO. We fell asleep together on the couch afterward, and I woke up the next morning holding him. The city was buzzing outside, but he was fast asleep. Kai is most beautiful when he sleeps because all his shields are down.

“Earth to Oskar,” Kendrick says. “You almost walked into a lamppost.”

I blink, pulling myself back to the present. “Sorry. Too busy thinking.”

“About the mystery woman in New York, I bet,” Carson says, falling back to walk with us. “She keeping you distracted from important things like poutine?”

I force a laugh and think about Kai.