HE WAITED TO CALL KATIE until he arrived back home the next day. He dropped his mail on the kitchen counter and looked around at the rest of his apartment. He was hardly ever here; his life was spent mostly at the rink or the gym. Without Katie crashing here on weekends and the odd weeknight, it looked more empty and bare than ever. A couple of dishes were sitting somewhat sadly on the draining board. Aside from his medals and a few framed photographs on the wall, the place looked more like a hostel than a place where anyone actually lived.
This was not a home he could share with anyone, his previous invitation to Katie to move in with him notwithstanding. She’d been right to refuse that offer for so many reasons. His place wasn’t — and had never been — the home of a person who was ready
