“I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone sweat so much during a casual skate.” The owner said dryly, nodding at Luke’s still damp hair.

Luke felt the blood drain from his face. “I…” He didn’t know what to say. How much trouble was he in? Surely sneaking a shower wasn’t something he could be arrested for. Although, he had technically been trespassing, so it was all up to the man in front of him.

The owner looked him up and down, and Luke resisted the urge to shrink away and curl around his chest.

To Luke’s surprise, the man’s expression turned to surprise, and then pity.

Luke looked down at himself. Despite his best efforts, his clothes had gotten dirt on them in the time since the bridge. He realized now that he probably looked more homeless than he had thought. Maybe it wasn’t his smell that made the stores throw him out.

“How old are you?”

Luke looked up at the question. Did it matter how old he was? Maybe the fact that he wasn’t an adult would change how the man handled things. Maybe it would keep the police from being called.

“Sixteen.” The man looked skeptical. “I am!” Luke insisted. He reached for his wallet to prove it, but then realized that he didn’t have an ID. He stood awkwardly, one hand half in his pocket.

Luckily, the man looked away from him. Luke followed his gaze and saw that he was watching the girl whose skates he had tied shuffle unsteadily toward the rink doors with her parents. “You know much about skates?”

“What?” Luke blinked at the man. When he looked back, Luke fidgeted. “Um, not really. I mean, I used to skate, so I know how to tie them properly, and when the blades need to be sharpened. Proper care and stuff.”

“Hm…” The owner was looking at him thoughtfully. “What’s your name?”

He knew he shouldn’t, but Luke felt a swell of pride at the question. “Luke.” He tried not to smile.

But the owner didn’t look impressed. “Luke…?” He waited.

“Uh…” Luke scrambled to think of a last name. It had to be something common. If it was common, anyone would give up looking for him in any database. A common last name around here… “Smith.”

Now the owner smiled. “Alright, Luke Smith.” Something about the way he said Luke’s name made Luke think he knew it was a false name. “I’ll make you a deal.”

Luke took half a step back. “A deal?” He repeated warily.

The man nodded. “It’s getting harder for me to manage this place all on my own. If you give me a hand around here, I’ll overlook you using the showers in the locker room. There’s even a room in the back where you can stay, if you want.”

Luke stared at him. “What?” He must have heard wrong. Being offered a place to stay out of the blue was too good to be true. It couldn’t be real. “That’s, uh… I couldn’t…”

The man threw his head back and laughed. Luke’s stomach clenched. It had been a joke.

“I’d get night security out of the deal.” The owner chuckled. “So, don’t think it’s all one sided.”

Luke felt his tense muscles relax. This was real. “Uh, if you’re sure… then yeah, I’d love to make a deal.”