11. Mer - Happy Kappy

The next Monday after practice, Lucy ran up to me, a shy smile on her face, and handed me a homemade birthday invitation.

“I hope you can make it,” she said with a sweet smile. Her shiny eyes held so much hope and they reminded me so much of Colt’s that it took my breath away for a second.

“Thank you so much,” I told her before she dashed off to the pro-shop with another homemade invitation dangling from her hand.

Taking in the cute crayon drawing and crooked letters, my heart swelled. While I wanted to go to the party for her, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to face anyone else who’d surely be present.

For one, there was the matter of Colt. I think the two of us called an unspoken truce, choosing to prioritize Lucy’s skating over our past.

But I wasn’t ready to see Lucy’s mom… or his mom. I shivered at the thought of seeing Catherine Conover again.

Yeah… No. That wasn’t going to happen. I was in charge of my own peace, and there was no reason to allow toxic people– like Catherine– into my life ever again. I’d have to say my thanks, but decline.

But as soon as I spotted Lucy in the lobby, I noticed the guy bending down to unlace her skates was not Colt.

I immediately ducked behind the nearest vending machine. I couldn’t guarantee that he didn’t hate me too, and my heart couldn’t take another confrontation like the last one that ended with me holding that stupid $100 bill. I’d just have to decline the invite after our next lesson… But I had to cross in front of them to reach the coaches locker room.

With a deep breath, I gathered my courage, then started swooshing away in my coach sweatpants like they were on fire.

I should’ve known Kappy wouldn’t let me get away.

“Mer Bear?!” he called out.

I cringed at the old nickname that only he ever used. Mentally preparing myself for the worst, I slowly turned to face him.

He stood there with his hands on his hips, a huge grin on his face. He was so much bigger, and more muscular, compared to the young version of him. Gone was his trademark mullet, and his dark hair was now parted in the middle and floppy. It was shocking that his eyes still held mischief, like they were frozen in time, permanently existing as a kid who’d just gotten away with trouble.

In an instant, he stalked toward me and wrapped me up in a big hug, pulling me off my skates.

A shocked laugh popped out of me. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the hug. Maybe it was the bittersweet nostalgia of seeing an old friend, or maybe I was just touch-starved, but my eyes stung a little.

I always liked Kappy. Sure, he was a troublemaker, but he was a strategic one. He caused trouble to make his friends forget their own troubles, at least for a little while.

He dipped his head to look at me closer. “Mer Bear, are you crying? Don’t cry.” He chuckled and pulled me in for another hug, squishing me against his chest.

My cheeks hurt from grinning. I wiped at the corner of my eye, feeling pathetic. “It’s just… It’s good to see you. Thank you for… not hating me.”

“Nah,” he drawled. “No one hates you, Mer.”

I swallowed hard and nodded, filing away his words for later.

“It’s so good to see you, too. I couldn’t believe it when I heard you were coaching here. You and–” He cut himself off and swiftly backed off, holding his hands up in innocence. “Wait, Piper the Viper’s not around, is she?”

A laugh bubbled out of me at his old nickname for her. “No, she’s in Montreal for the rest of the week, so you can relax.” The two of them were always at each other’s throats when we were kids. Sometimes I wondered if there was something more to the hate between them.

His hands went to his hips. “Ah, still doing the twirl routine with ‘ol Patty boy, eh?”

I nodded.

His eyes drifted up and down me and he rubbed his jaw. “Wow, you look almost the same.”

“You do not.”

He mock-gasped. “You’re gonna hurt my feelings, Mer Bear.”

“No,” I laughed, “I mean, you’re… you’re so much bigger. When did you get these man muscles?”

His face split into a huge grin. “I knew I always liked you,” he said, wagging a finger at me.

“What happened to the mullet? Thought you said you were never cutting it,” I said with a laugh.

“Eh,” he smoothed his hands over his hair, “might come back again for playoffs. Been thinking about it. What do you think of the ‘stache?” He smoothed his fingers over the beginnings of a mustache.

I shook my head at him in amusement, knowing Piper would absolutely roast him for it.

His eyes drifted to the invitation in my hand. “You coming to the party?”

“Oh, I don’t think so.” My face heated up. “I was coming to say thank you, but I don’t think I should–”

“Oh, c’mon Mer Bear.” His troublemaker eyes flashed. “You were never one to back out of a party.” But he must’ve noticed how my shoulders tensed, because then he asked, “Why not? What’s up?”

Swallowing hard, I choked out, “Who’s all going to be there?”

He looked thoughtful for a second. “I think the mini twirl girls,” he gestured to Charlotte and Sophia and their moms, “and myself, Colt, and JP, and probably a couple other guys from the team and their kids. And Hans, pretty sure Lu made him an invitation as well.”

“What about Lucy’s… mom?”

“Oh.” His face fell. “She’s…”

“I’m sorry, this is too weird.” I cringed. “I shouldn’t have asked.” I started walking away, but he quickly caught up to me and held my shoulders.

“No, it’s not weird, Mer. I just feel like it’s not my place to say,” he said with a grimace on his face. “She’s unfortunately not around.”

“Oh.” Now my heart was more confused than ever. “I thought…” I shook my head, immediately feeling bad for Lucy and Colt.

“So, you’ll come?”

“What about…” I cut myself off and closed my eyes. At least it was easier to say this to him than Colt. “Mrs. Conover?”

“Always thought that’d be you,” he said with a wink, rocking back on his heels.

But that wasn’t funny. It hurt.

His face dropped. “No, don’t be upset. I didn't mean that in a mean way. I was just kidding. I didn’t think you’d care. I’m sorry. I really am, Mer Bear.”

I shook my head. “Doesn’t matter.”

He was quiet for a second. “I think it does.”

I rubbed my forehead. “Well, what about his mom?”

He shrugged his large shoulders. “I’m sure she’ll make an appearance, but I’ll run interference. Colt’s place is big, we won’t even see her if you don’t want to. C’mon, it’ll mean a lot to Lu. She’s been…” his eyes cut over to her on the bench with the other girls, “struggling with friends and stuff, and she really likes you.”

My heart squeezed in my chest for her. I knew what that was like. But I also knew what it was like to be saved by the three of them. I was glad she had them in her corner. They made a huge difference in my life, and I hoped they knew that.

I must’ve momentarily lost my mind because I felt myself nodding. “Okay, maybe.”

“Let’s go!” he whisper-yelled, pumping his fist. “ You think about it,” he patted my head, “And I’m gonna go get the twirl girl home.” He waved his fingers at me as he jogged back to Lucy and the other girls.

I leaned against the locker room door, watching them for a minute. Kappy made Lucy and the other two girls giggle the whole time he was taking her skates off. Kappy could make any girl laugh– except for my best friend.

When he finished drying her blades, he slung Lucy’s pink skate bag around one big shoulder, then picked up Lu and threw her over his other shoulder to carry her out of the rink.

Her giggles echoed in their wake… While the name Mrs. Conover echoed in my head.