Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
He chuckles softly, rolling with my rambling thoughts. “Her real name is Amber. She changed it to stand out. They upset you. I might have taken great pleasure in insulting her, and now I’m doubly glad since they kept you awake. You need sleep.”
“I’m not arguing with you there.”
He gently sets me on my feet, and I follow him to the door. “See you tomorrow.” He leans in and kisses me slowly, his lips brushing against mine with a tenderness that sends shivers down my spine. “Dream about that, sweetness,” he whispers before opening the door.
“Goodnight, Easton.”
But the next afternoon, he’s nowhere to be found. He had to be at practice early and then stayed late for some reason. Jackson had whispered something about Humphries talking to him regarding Maxton before I left.
On Tuesday afternoon, I find him waiting for me with Cole in the playroom. “Luci, Daddy built me a whole castle today out of Legos!” Cole exclaims, his eyes shining with excitement.
“Yay for Daddy! That sounds like a fantastic day. I brought you something too. It’s an idea book for building magnet block things,” I say, holding it out for him. His little hands eagerly take it, flipping through the pages with uncontained enthusiasm. “Choose what we build today,” I encourage, watching as he scurries to the corner to see what pieces he has.
Easton steps closer, standing directly in front of me. “Missed you yesterday,” he whispers, his gaze locking onto mine.
“I missed you too. I brought you something.” I rummage in my bag and pull out a smaller item. It’s a puck adorned with Darth Vader’s face, complete with a speech bubble that reads, “Release your anger.”
He smiles as he examines it. “I thought it was fitting.”
“It’s hilarious. Thank you.” But I can’t help but notice that Easton only smiles; he seems to have mastered the art of holding back his emotions, especially the happy ones. Yet, when it comes to anger, he seems to unleash it with a fiery passion, as Syd aptly calls it.
I dig out the hoodie he lent me from Friday night. “I brought your hoodie back.” I hold it up, but he frowns at me.
“Did you wash it?” He crosses his arms over his chest, a look of mock seriousness on his face.
“Of course I did! My arm was bleeding. Give me some credit,” I retort, a playful smile breaking through.
He shakes his head, feigning disappointment. “Never return a man’s hoodie washed. It should smell like you. That way, when I slip it on, it feels like you’re wrapped around me. My strawberry vanilla Luci. Take it home, wear it before you return it, or just wear it while I’m gone to practice tonight.” He nudges his head toward the hoodie, but then his expression turns serious. “And that advice only applies to me. You aren’t going to be wearing other guys’ hoodies.”
Just then, his phone alarms. “Gotta go. Want to have dinner with us tonight?”
“Sure,” I reply, a smile creeping onto my face.
Cole and I spend the next few hours building, lost in our own little world. “Luci, Daddy said you could come watch the tree light up with us! He’ll buy us hot chocolate and maybe even cookies. We can make our please face, as he calls it,” Cole says, his excitement palpable.
I laugh heartily. “Coco, I’m very sure he will buy you cookies with or without the please face. If not, I’ll buy them. I love cookies.” I wink at him, and he wraps his arms around me in a tight hug.
“Luci is the best!” he exclaims triumphantly.
“She certainly is,” I respond, turning quickly to find Easton crouched right behind me, his voice sending tingles down my spine. “Hi, sweetness.” He presses a gentle kiss to my neck, and I shiver involuntarily. “Are you trying to bribe my son with cookies? He’s easy.” Cole dashes off to grab the picture he drew for his daddy, and Easton lifts him up for a warm hug before settling him in the chair across from me at the play table. “Let me drop my bag in my room.”
As Cole grabs paper and begins coloring, he suddenly pipes up, “Luci, we could go to lunch at the pizza palace tomorrow!” His hopeful tone reveals his eagerness. He’s been begging to go there, and I can tell he’s using my cookie offer against me, hoping for an even bigger reward.
“I have plans for lunch tomorrow. I’m eating with Janet,” I inform him quietly, trying to soften the blow.
His face lights up. “I want to go with you! Can I go see Janet?”
“You want to see Janet?” I ask, surprised by his enthusiasm.
Easton speaks up from behind me, catching me off guard. “Who is Janet?”
“She took care of Luci, Daddy. Can I go?” Cole gives me that irresistible smile that melts my heart.
“Cole, your daddy might…” I start, but Easton finishes my thought.
“Want to go too.” He steps closer, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Are we allowed to tag along?”
“You want to?” I ask, genuinely surprised.
“Spend a few extra hours with you? I mean, you talked me into it. What time should I pick you up?” His proximity makes my heart race.
“At 10:30,” I reply, feeling the weight of the moment. It’s time to tell him who Janet is. I open my mouth to start when Baker knocks on the door.
“Dinner is ready. Your father is joining all of you, Easton,” he announces.
“On our way, Baker.” Easton frowns down at me, his expression serious. “Definitely going to lunch since people keep interrupting me from seeing you.”
“Cole, can you go wash your hands for dinner?” I ask, and he nods eagerly before darting into the bathroom.
Taking advantage of the moment, Easton wraps his arms around me and kisses me softly. “I’ll text you later,” he murmurs.
He calls me on video instead, wanting to tell Cole goodnight. “Dream about flying cows that slide down rainbows to deliver milk,” he says with a hearty laugh, a reference to the book we read about a flying cow earlier.
“Night, Luci. Love you,” he adds, his voice warm and genuine.