Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
I shake my head and hope they leave the time we do.
First time today my luck has held out, as they have disappeared when we leave. I texted
Baker earlier that we would pick up dinner. At the house, we find him missing.
“Hmm did he have the night off and no one told us?” Jackson mutters, laying the food out on the counters.
“Cole!” I call out down the hall and hear feet running.
“Daddy!” He runs into the kitchen. “Tacos?” He says hopefully and I nod.
“Chips, cheese and salsa too.” Becker eggs him on.
Cole turns happily. “Barrett, we’re having tacos. And chips.”
“I love chips and cheese!” Barrett exclaims, sliding onto the stool next to Cole.
“You like cheese quesadillas, tamales, or enchiladas?” Becker asks Barrett as I set Cole’s plate in front of him.
“Yes.” He grins and we all chuckle at that.
“A boy after our own heart.” Jackson says, smiling at him. I start making him a plate with one of everything and pass it to him.
Luci steps in. “Boys…” She says mildly. Both of them say thank you quickly even though their mouths are full. “Luci, what do you want?” Becker asks her.
“I’m ok. I’ll eat later.” She places water bottles by the boys.
“Uh, no. If anyone here deserves to eat their weight in chips and cheese, it’s you today after Porter.” Kingston says and she stiffens. “Or maybe my weight in it. You aren’t very big.”
Becker simply hands her a plate with a quesadilla slice and enchiladas with chips, cheese and salsa.
“Tell Luci to eat boys.” He smirks mischievously at her. They chime in obediently, and she finds a spot by herself.
As we eat, I remember something. Coach said he knew why I was late…
“Boys, you want to watch a show?” I ask and of course they agree. I flip the tv on that sits on the counter at the far end.
Luci is sitting at the small breakfast table behind the boys. I step over and lean my hands on the table across from her. “What did you say to Humphries?”
Her eyes dart to me. She’s always on edge when you first start talking to her. “What?”
“He said he knew why I was late. Why did you talk to him?” I keep my voice low. I’m right and I know it. She went to save me.
“I…I was correcting my mistake.” She’s biting her lip nervously.
“Why?” I demand.
Her eyes skitter back to mine. “Did I…did I miss part of this conversation?”
“No.” She sounds serious and I watch her visibly relax at my answer. Interesting. “Answer me.”
“Guess Cole got his manners from Baker… Because you didn’t deserve to be punished for what I caused. You, not watch someone else suffer.” She takes a deep breath before should own up when you continuing. “Didn’t think you’d be so angry about it. You can’t ignore it like anything else to do with me and move on?” She says with slight spirit.
“He hates you and yet you go to talk to him? Not very smart.” I warn her. Was it him she was talking about to the boys and not Maxton Porter?
“No one ever accused me of being that. Probably not you either.” She clamps her mouth shut and looks at me surprised. Her internal monologue got out.
“Insulting my intelligence?” I ask reflexively, hiding my amusement.
“Just your common sense.” She fires back and stares at me this time. I can’t figure her out.
She insults me, but went to defend me and sacrifice herself to Humphries.
“I have plenty of that. You, on the other hand, seem to go looking for trouble. And no one’s accused me of being friendly or warm. What did Porter say to you?” I sit down now and wait.
“Nothing that matters.”
“It matters if Cole heard it. Please.” Maybe manners work with her. I maintain eye contact, not liking how she looks down at the table. She loses her nerve too easily.
“He called me little mouse again and grabbed my arm. I shoved him off and he got mad.
His typical charming behavior.”
Prick!