“Have a great day, guys,” she says while Dylan follows Justin around the staircase. When we get to the hallway, he turns and walks into the first room. Stopping at the door, I see tables against all four walls with equipment on it.

“Grab one of the bags,” Justin says to Dylan, gesturing to the stack of empty blue hockey bags in the corner. “Now let’s fill up the bag.”

“What?” Dylan asks, looking at him.

“You need a chest protector,” he says, going over to the table and grabbing one, and another man comes in the room.

“Hey, there he is,” a man says, coming up to Justin.

“Dan,” he says, holding out his hand. “So glad you could make this happen.”

“When Justin Stone calls, I come running,” he says, and I just watch him in action. “Who is this one?’

“Dylan Woods,” Justin says. “His mother, Caroline.”

“Dylan, let’s get you geared up,” the man says, grabbing Dylan and bringing him over to get him elbow pads. I have to wipe away a tear, and when Justin looks at me, I look down and try not to let him see. He’s never had new equipment before. He’s never had anything that was brand new and his own. Everything from his clothes to his shoes have always been secondhand.

“I have to go,” I say to the floor and walk around him to Dylan. “I’ll see you tonight.”

Turning, I start to walk out of the room and then remember Justin needs to get his lunch, but when I turn around, I run smack into his hard chest. I know it’s him because it smells exactly like him. His hands catch my arms to steady me, and I breathe in and out, which makes it worse since now his smell is all around me.

“Um,” I start to say, and then I look up, and his brown eyes are dark with just a little gold on the inside. “You forgot your lunch,” I say softly, and he smiles a big megawatt smile. It’s a smile that lights up his whole face like you would when you win a race or, in his case, win some cup.

“It’s not my lunch,” he says, his voice soft. “I figured you didn’t pack yourself a lunch.” I’m about to ask him what he’s talking about, but then I hear a female voice calling his name.

“Justin, there you are.” I step out of his hold and take two steps back, looking over and seeing the woman from yesterday. This time, she’s dressed in black pants and the nicest top I’ve ever seen, and her hair is perfectly set. She walks like she owns the world, and it takes one second for me to realize that these two fit. This is who he’ll end up with, so it’s only logical that she would fit.