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Prologue

IN his two years on the Foster Grove High hockey team, Caleb Carter had faced off against some of the biggest and baddest players in the state of New York. But nothing he’d ever encountered on the ice could prepare him for what he was about to do.

Alone in his bedroom, Caleb tried to control the sudden, sickening panic that gripped him. Why was he freaking out so bad?

Because he had zero experience talking to guys the way he wanted to talk to Aaron tonight.

Practicing the positive visualization technique that Coach had taught the team, Caleb inhaled deeply, gulping down what should’ve been a calming breath. He glanced at the digital clock on his bedside table and knew he’d wasted enough time. It was now or never.

He reached for the doorknob, then paused, brought his hand to his face, and breathed into his palm. Deeming his breath acceptable, he headed downstairs.

Caleb stopped on the stairway landing and peered through the railing at everyone assembled in his family’s living room. Balloons and a giant banner hung above the fireplace mantel. Only a few pieces of the graduation cake his mom had made were left.

Earlier that afternoon, Caleb and about a dozen members of his extended family had sat in the bleachers at the high school’s football stadium and watched his older sister, Pam, and her best friend, Aaron Price, graduate with honors. The ceremony seemed to go on forever. But when Pam took the stage in the middle of the field and gave her valedictorian speech, even he had to admit it was pretty inspiring.

Afterward, everyone came back to the Carter home for a joint family graduation party. Caleb had hoped to find a moment to talk to Aaron alone, but Aaron and Pam dealt with a seemingly endless array of relatives. Each one had to congratulate them and discuss college plans and their respective futures.

Aaron now stood at the bottom of the stairs, laughing at something his uncle was saying. When the older man eventually turned away, Caleb called down, “Hey, Aaron, do you have a second?”

“Sure,” he answered before bounding up the steps to where Caleb stood. “What’s up?”

“Can I talk to you?” Caleb asked, gesturing for Aaron to follow him into his room.

At the end of the hallway, music blared from behind Pam’s bedroom door. Pam had escaped the party to change out of her dress. She and Aaron would be leaving soon for the Safe and Sober Grad Night party.

Aaron stood expectantly in the middle of Caleb’s room, hands in the pockets of his dress pants. He wore a nice button-down shirt and tie, his dark hair combed neatly and parted on the side. Caleb thought he looked great.

“You okay? You’ve been acting strange all afternoon,” Aaron said.

Caleb’s mouth went dry. He tried to casually shrug off the question, but all that came out of his mouth was an aborted squeak.

He had to get a grip. This was Aaron. His sister’s best friend. He had to be cool.

“So, I, um. I got you something.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yeah, I did.” Caleb went to his desk, opened the drawer, and pulled out a brown paper bag. “Something to say thank you. Sorry I wasn’t able to get it wrapped. We only had Christmas paper and that seemed weird.”

Aaron took the package Caleb offered and looked inside. A huge smile spread across his face, and it warmed Caleb far more than he’d expected.

Aaron removed a small trophy from the bag. It was a cup, with handles on either side. The wood base had a gold plaque that read: Aaron Price—World’s Best Tutor. Caleb had bought it at the pro shop located next to the ice rink where he practiced every morning. He even spent the extra money to have it specially engraved.

“I wouldn’t have made it through geometry without you, and if I’d flunked, I’d be off the team.”

“You’re the one who did the work.”

“But you spent all those hours helping me, drilling it into this thick skull of mine.”

“Caleb, I wish you wouldn’t say things like that. You’re a lot smarter than you give yourself credit for.”

“Anyway, you’re the reason I know the difference between equilateral and isosceles triangles. I wanted to give you something to show you how much I appreciate it. You’re a seriously good teacher.”

Aaron held the little trophy up, admiring it, turning it so it glinted in the late-afternoon light that shone through the bedroom window. “I love it.”

Before he could second-guess himself, Caleb stepped toward Aaron and gave him a hug. He’d intended for it to be a quick embrace and clap on the back, but to Caleb’s surprise, Aaron wrapped his arms around him and didn’t let go.

Time seemed to momentarily stop. He wanted to squeeze Aaron and hold on tight, but fear threatened to overwhelm him. His stomach summersaulted and he didn’t want Aaron to get the wrong idea.