Page 134 of Offside Rules

And it does. The cabinets are installed. The floor is dry, the lights are straight, and there’s nothing hanging from my ceiling that shouldn’t be there.

I spent six weeks imagining how relieved I’d feel standing here. I’m trying to find some of that now.

Dad looks toward the oven.

"They tested everything?"

"Dan’s going through it all before he signs off today. They finished Wolf’s bathroom yesterday."

He makes a noise that tells me that he doesn’t want to even hear the name ‘Wolf’. Mom gives him a look over her coffee as if to remind him to be nice.

"At least your kitchen is nearly finished," she says.

"Good. Now you can get out of his apartment," my dad grumbles.

I glance over at my father. He’s inspecting the drawer beside the oven, apparently unaware that he’s just made my stomach hurt.

"He gave me somewhere to work."

"I know. I didn’t like you depending on him," my dad says.

"I wasn’t depending on him. I was using his kitchen."

"Because he ruined yours."

"Acutally Carson Rooksdale is the one that threw the party. Call him up to complain if you’d like."

Mom sets her cup down.

"Your father’s glad you have your space back, Baylor. That’s all that matters. We shouldn't have to hear anything about Wolf again, right?" she asks, sending me a look when my father isn’t watching that practically says, no more Ziegler jerseys.

Yeah… Got it mom.

Dad closes the drawer.

"Beau called while we were coming up. He wants us there early. Said he can meet us before he has to get ready."

"I’ll meet you at the arena."

"You aren’t coming with us?" Mom asks.

"I need to get some things from upstairs first. Ellie’s meeting me outside."

Dad nods, reaching for his jacket.

Mom hugs me before they leave. She holds on a little longer than usual, then draws back with her hands still on my arms.

"Everything okay?"

"Yep. Just a lot to get done."

Her eyes search mine, and for a second, I think she’s going to ask what happened with Wolf. Then Dad opens the door, and she lets go.

Thank God. I can barely explain it to myself.

Wolf’s apartment is quiet when I unlock the door.

He left for the rink while my parents were still downstairs. We said goodbye this morning. Several times, actually. None of them made leaving his bed any easier.