Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
Barrett flashes a grin. “Luci said that.”
With a raised eyebrow, she replies, “Luci is wise like that. That’s why I listen to her when I don’t know what to do.”
I let out a soft scoff, and she beams at me. “I do, Luci Lou… mostly. You just never think that way when I ask. Baker, this looks incredible,” she adds, eyeing the spread.
“Yes, Baker. Thank you! Will you eat with us?” I smile at him, knowing he often joins Cole and me for dinner. He shares stories about Easton and his brothers when they were Cole’s age, bringing joy to Cole’s face.
“I’m happy to feed anyone. Yes, I will join you,” he responds, taking a seat across from us. He begins recounting a hilarious tale about a stray chicken that had wandered into their yard when the four kings were just eight years old. Apparently, Becker had snuck it into the house, where it roosted in one of the kitchen cabinets, causing chaos. We all erupt into laughter, enjoying the warmth of the moment.
“Boys, bring your plates to the sink,” I call out, but Baker shakes his head in mild disapproval.
“I’ll do that so they can go play,” he insists, his tone gentle.
“No, Baker. They need to learn to do things for themselves and help out. There’s often no one around to clean up after you,” I reply, my voice serious.
He smiles softly, a hint of admiration in his gaze. “You are very wise, just as Sydney said. But I do like the little ones to enjoy themselves, especially since Cole looks forward to having you and Barrett here. I overheard them mention a dance party. You can hook your phone into the playroom speakers with the blue cord next to the TV on the wall.”
“Thank you, Baker. That’s exactly what we’ll do,” I affirm, turning to the two little boys. “Baths first, and then a dance party in your pajamas!”
Easton
Three days have passed since that damn carnival, and my mind is still fixated on that little rabbit. I annihilated a punching bag the night of the carnival, desperately trying to drown out thoughts of how perfectly she fit into the day with Cole and me. All I could think about was how I longed to kiss her senseless after I saw that guy approach her at the carnival. He had swaggered over, offering to buy her a funnel cake and inviting her to ride the Ferris wheel. If I had to intervene, that would have been a resounding no.
There’s only one reason a guy asks a pretty girl to ride that thing, and it’s to get stuck at the top together, uninterrupted, for a few blissful minutes. She had smiled sweetly at him and politely declined, pointing to Cole and saying she was there with him. I wanted to wave my hand and claim her for myself too. The thought terrified me; I had just convinced myself I wouldn’t look at her that way ever again. She had thanked me so graciously that night as I rushed to escape her presence. I was on the verge of doing something reckless if I didn’t get away. I tried to act cold, hoping she would insult me and keep her distance.
So fine, I don’t look at her that way, but damn, I sure as hell dream about her, imagining scenarios that would shock her to her core. She seems so innocent, and I genuinely hope she is. I can’t shake the feeling that some jerk has probably tried to take advantage of her, and I pray he didn’t succeed. When I saw Porter messing with her, I was ready to go full caveman. Becker was nearby, but the moment I heard that Porter wanted her for himself, I charged in to make it clear she was off-limits. I know that will eventually reach Humphries, but he can go screw himself when it comes to her.
We’ve been home for about twenty minutes, and dinner is almost finished. I’m pretty sure Sydney is here too, along with Cole and Barrett in the playroom. I spot a strange car parked outside, and suddenly, music begins blaring from the overhead house system. I recognize the tune immediately. Cole had come home singing it from school, and I couldn’t help but shake my head at the absurdity. The song, “APT” by Rose and Bruno Mars, didn’t seem like something a four-year-old should be belting out, no matter how catchy it was.
“Do they know it plays throughout the whole house from there?” Jackson smirks, glancing at me.
“Good thing the parents are out,” Becker chuckles, clearly amused.
Baker is bobbing his head to the beat, which makes me laugh despite myself. “It’s catchy and happy,” he comments, returning to his muffin-making.
“I gotta see this,” I declare, heading toward the playroom with them trailing behind. We can peek in from the door without being seen.
“How do you two know the words to this?!” Luci exclaims, her eyes wide as she watches the boys dance. Sydney stands next to her, mirroring her bewildered expression.
“They play it at school during free music and dance time,” Barrett explains, and Cole nods in agreement.
“Is this appropriate…” Luci begins, turning to Sydney for confirmation.
“Not sure, but they already know it. It’s catchy,” Sydney replies, grabbing Barrett’s hand to dance with him. “I mean, you heard far worse at their age, but you weren’t exactly well supervised.”
“Let’s just hope their fathers don’t kill us,” Luci grumbles, making her way across the room to dance with Cole. I can’t help but watch them, enjoying the carefree vibe. Luci is wearing an oversized light purple sweatshirt and black leggings, having kicked off her shoes to reveal her socks. I try to ignore the way her shirt rides up as she raises her hands to dance, exposing a glimpse of her lower back. Adorable doesn’t even begin to describe her.
As the song ends, Barrett eagerly requests the marauder’s song “That’s So True.” Now, Sydney points at him, a teasing glint in her eye. “You definitely shouldn’t be listening to that one.”
“It’s got a fun beat,” Barrett protests, his enthusiasm unwavering.
Luci fires it up with a playful warning. “Just don’t repeat the words. Your daddy is going to beat me if you do!”
I can’t tear my gaze away as Luci twirls Cole around, and his laughter fills the room. Becker leans in close to me, muttering, “Think they go to the club and dance like that?”
I narrow my eyes at him, irritation bubbling within me at the thought.
The next song starts, and I vaguely recognize it as a slow one.
“Ugh, sappy song, Luci,” Barrett wrinkles his nose, unimpressed.
“Hey, it’s a pretty song. You can slow dance to it one day,” Luci replies, imitating a slow dance with an invisible partner. Barrett shakes his head defiantly.
“Come here, grumpy! You and Cole. I’m going to teach you something useful for later in your life. MUCH later, like when you’re both twenty-five. Not a minute before.”
“Thirty,” Sydney chimes in quickly, and Luci lines them up as dance partners, then she and Sydney mimic them. “Now watch us. You lead, Luci.”
“No! I don’t lead. I don’t know how,” Luci protests, laughter spilling from her lips.
Syd playfully groans, and they begin to dance in formal back-and-forth steps. “Try it,” she encourages them, and they follow suit, causing Cole to giggle uncontrollably.
“How do you two know how to do that?” Barrett asks, eyes wide as the girls waltz around them in elaborate circles.
“Your daddy taught us,” Luci points to me, a mischievous grin on her face.