36

"And I'd give up forever to touch you."

Joshua

The frost-kissed air nipped at my cheeks as I set out on my morning jog. The winter air was crisp and clear, and the rising sun cast a golden hue over the undisturbed town. I didn't have a clear vision of where I was headed, but it felt like my legs took charge.

I jogged past the local bookstore, stopping as a thought came to mind. Valentine's Day was approaching, and I wanted to do something special for Sawyer. We made amends and the past few months together have been blissful. I wanted to show my appreciation for her.

She'd shown me countless videos of book bouquets and gave some not-so-subtle hints of how she'd always wanted one. Getting her that bouquet would convey the depth of my love and appreciation.

I stepped into the warmth of the bookstore's cozy interior. The aging scent of books wafted through my nostrils, the shelves lined with literary treasures that could keep Sawyer busy for hours. The bookseller greeted me with a warm smile as I approached the counter.

"Good morning." I said. "Do you make book bouquets?"

Her eyes lit up with interest as a knowing smile played at her lips.

"They're one of our most popular." She said, her voice tinged with excitement.

We discussed the details, and I chose each book that I knew held a special place in Sawyer's heart. I also placed a few notes on the front pages, hoping to make her smile whenever she opened them.

I left the bookstore with a sense of satisfaction. Her expression would be priceless.

??

An uncharacteristic silence greeted me. Stepping inside, I noticed mail piled on the counter. A small envelope caught my eye. The familiar insignia emblazoned on the front.

With trembling hands, I reached for it and didn't waste a second opening it. My breath caught in my throat as I read the words. This cannot be real—an acceptance letter to the summer hockey program. I thought I'd ruined my chances with the scouts.

What changed their minds?

I stared at the letter, fearing that I read it wrong, but the word acceptance was in bold. The entire situation hit me with a wave of ambivalence. My desire for this scholarship diminished after meeting Sawyer.

Accepting this opportunity involved intense training and competition, resulting in my absence throughout the summer break. The very break I promised to spend with Sawyer before leaving for college. However, I'd made that promise when I thought my scholarship chances were fraught.

My going off to college has already put a damper on our relationship. Could we survive without one another? Was I willing to risk my scholarship? Was I willing to risk losing Sawyer? I looked down at the letter in my hands, knowing I couldn't ignore the pull of my lifelong dream. A dream I'd put everything into. I had a decision to make. A decision that could change the course of my future.

??

The savoury aroma of dinner wafted through the room as my heart pounded with nervous anticipation. I had been waiting for the right moment to share with my family, and now was as good a time as any. It had been a while since we'd all been in the same room together.

"I have something I need to share with you all."

The clinking of cutlery ceased as they granted me their full attention with curiosity.

"I got accepted into the summer program."

Silence filled the air as my words sank in. As realization dawned on their faces, my parents cheered. My dad was the loudest of all. Their excitement echoed off the walls.

"We're so proud of you." My mom said, her eyes beaming with pride.

My father stood up and clapped me on the back, a broad smile on his face.

"You worked hard for this."

Gracie's face was on the verge of cracking from the wide grin. I turned my attention to Asher. His eyes were downcast as he poked the broccoli with his fork, but I could have sworn I saw a subtle smile forming on the edge of his lip.

"Aren't you going to say something to your brother?" Dad asked Asher.

Asher didn't look up.

"Congratulations, I guess."

Dad's expression hardened. It was about to get heated.

"It wouldn't kill you to put in some hard work like your brother."

Asher looked up; his eyes flashed with anger.

"I hate hockey." He said. "How many times do I have to say it?"

Their faces darkened in anger.

"It would have helped you with college." He countered, his voice rising to match Asher's.

"I already told you I'm not going!"

The tension at the table reached a boiling point, each dagger aimed at hurting the other. They did not speak, instead they glared at each other in a silent battle before Asher dropped his silverware and pushed his chair back. Neither of us spoke through the déjà vu moment. He slammed the door behind him, locking the tension in with us.

??