Playing to Win

“Yeah? What if…”

“Never mind. It’s stupid. You’re probably busy anyway. I was just thinking…” She shrugged. “I was just thinking maybe music could help him somehow.”

“And you want me to-”

“Nothing. I’m not thinking straight. Why would you want to help some out of control middle schooler? That’s right. You wouldn’t.”

Suddenly, all the stars aligned and my brain started working the way it should even though Jordan still had her side pressed against mine, my hands clasped in hers.

“Wait a second.” I needed just a little more time to figure this out. “Listen, I have an idea, but I can’t guarantee it’ll work. If it doesn’t we can try to think of something else, but if we did it this way, I’d for sure have time.”

Jordan frowned, obviously not following me. “Can’t guarantee what will work?”

“Ms. Jackson talked to me last week about some dumb thing I have to do to graduate. Community service hours or something like that.”

Jordan nodded. “Right. We all have to do it. I finished mine last year.” Her eyes widened. “Are they making you do all the hours?”

“I don’t know. She just said this semester during flex.”

“Oh. That’s good. It makes sense they’d cut you some slack since you just moved here.” She frowned again. “But what does that have to do with Payton?”

“I’m getting to that. One of the projects she told me about is mentoring kids from the middle school, teaching guitar, talking about music, whatever.”

Jordan’s eyes lit. “But that’s perfect! Do you think they’d let you work with Payton?”

“I don’t know, but it’s worth a shot to ask.”

Jordan squee-ed, a completely uncharacteristic sound coming from her. “And you’ll ask? You’ll see if she’ll let you mentor Payton?”

“Well, yeah. Of course.” Because, as mentioned, I had a feeling I’d do just about anything for this girl and she didn’t even know it.

“Thank you!” She threw her arms around my neck. “Thank you.” Her voice choked on the last word.

Slowly, tentatively, I put my arms around her waist. “You’re welcome. But I haven’t done anything yet.”

She shook her head, her face glowing. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve been wracking my brain trying to find a way to help him and haven’t come up with anything. For the first time in months, I feel hope. Even if this doesn’t work out, even if it does and nothing changes, I’ll feel better knowing we tried.” She hugged me again. “Thank you.”

I hugged her in return, inhaling deeply. Who knew when I’d get the chance to hold her again. Jordan’s hair smelled fruity and girly and I knew I’d be dreaming about it that night.

All too soon, she pulled back, withdrawing her hands from around my neck. Even in the dim light of dusk, her cheeks were visibly red. I wanted to reassure her she had nothing to be embarrassed about. I wanted to hold her. I wanted to help her. I wanted her.

“I should go,” she said, rising to her feet. I scrambled to follow. She took a step to leave and then stopped. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yes.” And every day after if she’d allow it.

“Bye, Asher.”

I watched as she picked her way across the lawn, exhaling a deep breath while hoping and praying with all my might I wouldn’t let this girl down.

CHAPTER TEN

Jordan

Maybe I’d misjudged Asher. Or maybe I’d been too quick to judge because he’d unwittingly threatened my two greatest loves on that first day we met, my family and my game. He still posed a threat on the ice, but after our conversation the night before, I felt more hope than I had in a long time when it came to my family, because of him. If Asher could help Payton discover a love of music maybe he’d stop hanging around kids who were a bad influence. And if that happened? It would be a miracle for our family.

We showed up to school at the same time the next morning.

“You stalking me now,” I asked as he fell into step beside me.