The Stepbrother I Hate to Love novel · Chapter 24 of 24
Chapter 24: First Row, Again
On Saturday, December fifth, Ansel sat in the first row for the last time that season.
He had on a Pioneers hat, a grey sweater, and a brass key on a loop of black cord hidden under the collar.
Lenny sat on his left with a cocoa and a paper sign that said Go Nineteen.
Jory's mother was on his right, a short loud woman who had brought a thermos of soup and asked no questions.
The arena was full to the roof.
On the ice, Ansel saw something new on number nineteen.
A small stitched C sat on the chest of Torin's jersey.
Torin skated out last, as he always did.
He took one lap and stopped at the blue line.
He looked at the glass, and he looked at Ansel, and he did not smile.
He only lifted two fingers from his stick, a salute that nobody else in the building could have read.
Ansel lifted his cocoa.
The game was close and hard.
Torin set up Jory for a goal in the first period, and Jory screamed at the glass with his helmet off.
In the second Torin took a hit into the boards, got up laughing, and went back for the puck.
He never touched anyone in anger.
The rest of this chapter is part of the paid portion of the series. Chapters 1–6 of The Stepbrother I Hate to Love are free to read — start from the beginning, then unlock the rest with coins in the app.
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