On the Ice (Stick Side, #1)

by Amy Aislin

“How’s your grandpa doing?” JP asked, as if he’d known where Alex’s thoughts had gone. Heaving out a long sigh, Alex rubbed a hand over his face. “That good, huh?” “Sorry, man.” Jay patted his arm. “He’s not getting any better,” Alex said. Suddenly not so hungry, he set the rest of his slice back onto the tray. JP nabbed it. “People don’t usually get better from Alzheimer’s, do they?” Jay asked. From what Alex could tell, based on an extremely thorough and in-depth internet search combined with interviews with as many neurologists as he could find who would give him the time of day, sometimes Alzheimer’s patients did get better, or at least stabilize, for periods of time. But not Grandpa Forest. It killed Alex to see the man he remembered as being upbeat, fun, outgoing, and wicked smart reduced to a shell of who he used to be. And it was compounded by the fact that Grandpa Forest kept mistaking Alex for his own son—better known as Alex’s good-for-nothing dad. All Alex wanted was five damn minutes where his grandpa would look at him with familiarity, smile his bright, toothy grin, and say, “Alex, my boy!” the way he used to, then envelope him in his trademark bear hug. Five minutes for Grandpa Forest—Alex’s biggest supporter—to see him play in the NHL. “Let us know next time you head to Montpelier for a visit,” JP said. “We’ll come with you.” “That’s… No—” “Yes,” JP interrupted him. “You’ve always been there for us. When my mom died, when Jay’s grandma had a heart attack. Y...