Half watching HGTV, I spooned fresh rice out of the electric cooker while waiting for the chicken in the microwave. Growing up in a Japanese-Canadian household, we’d eaten a variety of Western and Asian food, but the rice cooker had been on at all times.

There was something strangely soothing about the omnipresent red light. Even though my family still lived in Vancouver, it made me feel closer to them somehow. I didn’t need nearly as much rice living on my own, but it felt wrong not to keep it on all the time.

I’d just settled at the small round bistro table beside the love seat when my phone buzzed with a video call. I propped it on its little stand and tapped the screen before muting the TV. My younger brother grimaced.

“Dude, why are you giving me a nostril view? Hold up your phone like a normal person!”

I sliced a chunk of chicken breast baked in a red coconut milk curry. “It’s dinnertime.”

Sam rolled his eyes. “Fine, fine. We need to get something for Dad’s birthday. Want to go in on it together like usual?”

I nodded. “And I’ll pay for most of it like usual?”

He grinned. “If you insist. I’m still a student, after all.”

“You pick something, and I’ll send money.”

“Cool. But we’re not getting something practical.”

“I’m confident you wouldn’t recognize a practical gift if you tried.”

He grinned, tossing back his bangs. He’d dyed a purplish-gray streak in the black. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“How are Etienne and Brianna doing with training?”

“Good! They’re so glad they left Hackensack and came back. Their coach here in Vancouver might not have clout with the judges, but they don’t hate going to the rink every day. And Bree loves living with Tim.”

“Mm. Does Etienne love living with you?”

He blushed. It was still odd to see my brother so smitten. Etienne had been his best friend for years, and it had been quite obvious even to me that he’d had feelings for Sam. Last Christmas, they’d discovered Sam felt the same way.

“It’s been, like, six months now. Of course he loves living with me.”

“He’s not tired of you yet?”

Sam gave me the finger.

I said, “I hear Anita Patel is off the ice with a broken foot. She and Christopher might not be ready in time for Nationals. Etienne and Brianna could get that second Olympic spot for ice dance.” Chloe Desjardins and Phillipe Vincent had come out of retirement and would be first without doubt.

Practically bouncing, Sam fought a grin. “They really might make it! They’re so glad they didn’t give up, and they’re loving training again. Etienne’s taking time for piano, and I swear it’s helping his skating to relax more. And now Anita’s injured!” His smile vanished. “Not that we wanted her to get hurt. Geez, I sound like a monster.”

“You’re not a monster. Injuries can create opportunities, even if we don’t wish them on anyone.” It was simply the truth. “It’s a long season ahead of us. Etienne and Brianna still have to earn their spot.”