Kit (Chicago Blaze 8)

“I feel a kinship with anyone who uses the word angular in a conversation,” I say, resuming my notes.

Sara smiles. “It’s second only to titular, don’t you think?”

“I do.”

“Anyway, Kit was a late bloomer. In college, he put on a lot of muscle, his face filled out and he grew out his hair. He didn’t really have girlfriends, though, because he was so busy between hockey, school and friends. Now women flock to him because he’s a pro athlete and he’s…” Sara smiles and shakes her head. “…handsome, I guess, but don’t tell him I said that.”

“Do you think he has more confidence now?”

She shrugs. “I’m sure he knows women find him attractive, but my brother’s a quick study. He’s not into puck bunnies. Women are drawn to him because he’s rich and famous, not because of who he is. Not very many people truly know Kit.”

“Why do you think that is?”

Sara takes her time thinking about her answer. “I think it’s because he’s shy, and also because he has a few people who really know him and that’s enough for him. He’s got me and Lance, a good friend from college and some of his teammates.”

“Are the two of you close?”

“We are. If I ever end up in jail, which I’m obviously not planning on,” she laughs, “I’d call Kit. Lance and I are close, too, but Kit…”

“Do you think Lance’s illness brought the two of you closer?”

Sara’s bright expression darkens with sadness. “Yeah, I do. I don’t know how much Kit has told you, but it was hard. Lance was really sick and the doctors weren’t sure he would make it. I felt guilty going to school and playing with my friends when my brother was fighting for his life.”

I pause, not sure if it’s fair of me to keep trying to dive so deep into Kit’s inner workings. This is, after all, supposed to be a profile story. It might just be my own curiosity that makes me ask my next question.

“Do you think Lance’s illness changed Kit?”

Sara looks down at the table for a few seconds before lifting her face back up to meet my gaze.

“I do,” she says softly. “It changed every member of our family. We all appreciated the small stuff a lot more after Lance went into remission. Like spending Christmas together.” She clears her throat, and I remember what Kit told me about the Christmas his mom and Lance weren’t home for. “But it also made all of us a little more…somber, I guess. You don’t realize something like childhood cancer can come crash landing into your family until it does. And then, once you know, you can’t un-know it. Does that make sense?”

“Yes.”

She nods. “I don’t think my parents fully exhaled until Lance got to the five-year mark with his remission. And Kit, before Lance was diagnosed, Kit was very carefree. Really happy all the time. He was never like that again. There was always this shadow, I guess, but we’ve all put it behind us now, as adults.”

“I really appreciate you sharing that with me,” I say, setting my pen down.

“I don’t think Kit would mind. Sometimes the Chicago Children’s Hospital calls him when a family gets a childhood cancer diagnosis and he goes in to talk to the siblings of the patients.”

The image of Kit doing his best to comfort and reassure kids who need it hits me straight in the chest. I can picture him giving them his easy smile, his warm eyes radiating sincerity.

“What do you think of my brother?” Sara asks me.

“What do I think?” My cheeks warm. “Well, from an independent standpoint, he seems like a nice person.”

Sara laughs, and I see a trace of Kit in her amused expression. “You like him.”

The warmth in my face intensifies as I say, “I don’t think anyone dislikes your brother.”

“You know what I mean, Molly. You like him.”

I take a breath, composing myself. “It’s important that I stay neutral so I can write a fair story.”

“I get that, and I think it’s admirable. But what about after the story is done? Couldn’t you guys see each other after that?”

My laugh is nervous and awkward. “I’m not…I mean, of course not. I’m really busy with work and I’m sure he is, too.”

Sara shrugs. “When someone’s important enough, we make time.”

“I’m divorced,” I blurt out.

“Good. Better than married, if you want to date my brother.”

Kit is attractive and intriguing, there’s no denying it. But date him? Me? I can’t even imagine. I decide to change the subject.

“I saw his fan club in the stands last night,” I tell Sara. “I wasn’t close or I would’ve tried to interview one of them. They all had these pink T-shirts on that said ‘The Kittens’ and they had whiskers painted on their faces. Another reporter in the press box told me they’re Kit’s hardcore fan club.”