Page 301 - Some Dance to Remember

Some Dance to Remember 271

them through the rain-slick streets, turned the corner and headed up the
last hill to the Victorian. He pulled slowly to the curb. For a moment
they sat quietly. The City lights shimmering wet below them received
dimension from a pair of tennis shoes, tied together with their own long
laces, hanging over the middle of the street from a utility wire running
to Ryan’s house.
“I’ve always wondered why kids do that,” Ryan said.
“What?”
“Tie their gym shoes together and throw them up on the wires. You
see it all over town. It must be some sort of teenage ritual.” He turned to
Kick.
Kick looked straight ahead. “Speaking of rituals...”
“What?” Ryan said expectantly.
“Nothing,” Kick said. “It’s silly. But you’re the only one I can tell.”
“So tell me.”
“Logan...”
Ryan had known the sentence would start with Logan.
“Logan has his problems.”
“So do we all.” Ryan was intent on being the generous confidant.
“Sometimes his problems are a problem. Nothing I can’t handle. But
I don’t want him to get out of control.”
“What exactly?”
“Sometimes he abuses me.”
“Abuses you! Who could abuse you? How?”
“He gets on my case. He says I’m short.”
“You’re not short. You’re perfectly proportioned.”
“He means for winning any major physique titles.”
“Bullshit.”
“I want to go for the Mr. Golden Bear next summer at the State
Fair. After that for the Mr. California. I don’t need his negativity. That’s
something I never get from you. You always said I could do anything.”
Ryan scored a silent two points for himself.
Kick bucked up. “Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I’ll handle it. Logan
has a lot to learn from you.” He turned toward Ryan. “I know I have a lot
to thank you for.”
Ryan reached for the door handle. “So why don’t you come on in.
You’re soaking wet. It’s time for us to get down to some serious stuff. Like
me scratching behind your ears.”
“I wanted to,” Kick said “I really wanted us to vent some stuff tonight,
some really tough stuff, but it’s late.”

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