I chuckle. I love these kids. “Yeah, bud, sometimes we kiss.”
“Gross.”
“That’s not gross,” Savvy says with a dramatic eye roll. “It’s romantic.”
“Let’s see.” Tristan holds out a hand, and I pass him my phone. He studies Indie’s photo, glancing up at me a couple of times, before a little smile tugs at his lips. “I like her hair.”
“Oh, pink.” Savannah smiles, but it doesn’t quite meet her eyes. “Maybe my mom will let me dye my hair pink when it grows back.”
“I bet she will,” Tristan says definitively. “You’d look really pretty with pink hair, Savvy.”
Savannah blushes and ducks her head. Declan snorts, but when Tris elbows him, he clears his throat.
“Yeah. It’ll look good.”
“Thanks,” Savvy says.
“Tell you what. When you beat this, I’ll pay for a whole spa day if your mom says yes. For both of you. You can dye your hair whatever color your mom agrees to.” I reach over and give Savvy’s forearm a little squeeze.
“You mean it?”
God, the youthful hope in her voice kills me. She shouldn’t have to deal with this. None of these kids should. “Absolutely.”
“Can we have spa days too?” Declan asks.
“Yeah, bud. Spa days all around. Deal?”
He nods, his pale face lighting up. When he smiles, you almost don’t notice the hollows under his eyes. “Deal!”
“Do you think we could paint some miniatures again soon?” Tristan changes the subject, and my heart squeezes painfully. This isn’t his first rodeo. I met him two years ago when he was here fighting off his leukemia for the first time. They thought he’d beaten it, but it came back six months ago. I know he’safraid to jinx himself by making plans for when he beats the cancer, but I know he will.
They all will.
“Of course. Any requests? I’ll bring the stuff.”
The three of them rattle off the figures they’re hoping to add to their collections, and I promise to get everything they want. It’s always hard to tear myself away from these kids, but I tell them I’ll be back as soon as I can sneak in another Dungeons and Dragons session. They give me fist bumps and hugs, tell me to have a good date, and wish me luck in my next game.
I need to get the team to make another visit to Children’s Minnesota. It’s been a while since we’ve done any community outreach here, but the guys always love hanging out with the kids. And these kids are near and dear to my heart.
I’ll make it happen.
“Night, Sarah.” I wave to the charge nurse on my way out and promise to bring bagels for the unit the next time I visit.
The mid-May afternoon is bright and sunny, and I wish all my little friends were healthy enough to be out here, living life, running around, enjoying it. As always, I’m filled with worry for the kids and gratitude that my own brothers and all of my cousins are healthy. Though I know how quickly that can change.
I wonder if Indie would join me one day? I’m not ready to share this part of my life with her—I haven’t even told the guys about my little Dungeons and Dragons club, and I’ve been doing this for two years—but maybe if she sticks around…
But I’m getting ahead of myself. I need to stay focused on the here and now so I don’t miss anything. There’s no sense worrying about a game happening a month from now and messing up the one you’re currently playing.
My head’s a jumble as I drive to Indie’s. Between the kids, the playoffs, and Indie, my life has never been more chaotic. I’mused to some level of crazy, thanks to my teammates, but I can usually still find some sense of control.
That’s getting harder and harder to do.
But I push all of that aside when I pull up in front of Indie’s rental and knock on her door. I’m going to enjoy the moment.
Indie looks beautiful. She may be wearing an old hoodie and some ripped jeans, but standing there in the doorway, the lights inside creating a glowing halo around her, she could be wearing tattered rags and I’d still think she was the most ethereal thing I’ve ever seen.
“Hi.” Blushing, she tucks a strand of her pink hair behind her ear. Most of it is pulled back into a ponytail, but the strands that frame her face are too short and curl freely. She looks up at me through the fringe of her lashes, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. When her arms twitch at her sides, I grin.