Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
We find Barrett, and as I buckle him into his seat, I introduce him to Cole. Mrs. Walters had seemed surprised I knew how to install Cole’s seat, but I explained that it was the same model as Barrett’s, and I have a permanent seat for him in my car.
“What should we get for dinner, guys?” I ask, trying to steer the conversation away from the tension.
The overwhelming consensus is chicken nuggets, which doesn’t surprise me at all. They dive into a lively debate about which superhero is superior as we pull into the driveway. Star Wars has already been thoroughly discussed and settled. They’re going to get along fabulously.
But as we round the curve, my heart plummets when I spot the four Reed brothers standing on the front driveway, their arms crossed and expressions dark.
Barrett leans in, whispering, “Looks like a bunch of superheroes staring us down before they attack us.”
Thanks for that mental image, Barrett. Just what I needed right now.
“Cole, let’s get you out first,” I say, trying to maintain my composure. I grab his bag of food and drink, knowing I need to send him inside quickly. I can see the tension in Easton Reed’s jaw, and I brace myself for whatever storm is about to hit. I unbuckle Cole and set him on the ground. He takes the bag, but his drink is too heavy for him. Kingston steps forward, extending his hand.
“Come with me, Cole,” he says softly.
Cole looks up at me, and I nod, offering him a reassuring smile that feels more like a mask than genuine comfort. Easton watches as Cole disappears inside, and then, as I feared, his voice cuts through the air like ice.
“Where the hell did you take my son? And who else is in the car? I get here, and there’s no trace of him. Who gave you permission to leave the house with him this late? Do you even have the right kind of seat for him?” His voice is colder than I’ve ever heard it.
“I have a car seat that Mrs. Walters provided. We went to pick up Barrett after his school program practice,” I reply, my voice steady despite the surge of anxiety.
Umm, what else did he ask me? Oh yes, permission. He’s staring at me as if I’ve just spoken in a foreign language.
I open my mouth to explain further, but he steps closer, his fury palpable. “You couldn’t let me know you were leaving the house with him so close to his bath and bedtime? Do you have any idea how worried we were? Or were you just pleased to get back at me?” He snarls, but I’ve reached my breaking point.
“Or maybe because I don’t have your phone number, ice for brains! It’s something I might need, but no one provided me with anything on how or if I could contact you! And you haven’t exactly been an involved parent! My only instructions and contact have been with Mrs. Walters. I cleared this with her! I saw you here once for five minutes, and you looked like you wanted to kill me! I would never use an innocent child to get back at anyone! If you knew anything about me, you’d know that! Do you even know my last name? Not that it matters!” I fire back at him, my voice rising in frustration, only stopping when I hear Cole calling my name from the doorway.
He’s watching us, and I notice Kingston jogging up behind him. Cole must have managed to escape his uncle’s grasp.
Remembering how much it always upset me as a child to witness adults shouting and arguing, I take a deep breath and walk over to him.
“Luci, you okay?”
I crouch down, forcing a smile that I hope looks genuine. “Yeah, I’m okay. I just got a little too excited talking to your daddy. You go inside and eat your dinner. I’m going to take Barrett home.”
His face falls, disappointment washing over him. “I thought we got to play.”
“Not today. I’m really sorry. I hate breaking promises. I know I said you would play together, but I think your daddy wants to have dinner with you and your uncles only.” I hold his hands gently as I speak, hoping to convey my sincerity.
“Will I see you tomorrow?” he asks, his hopeful gaze piercing through my heart.
“We’ll see. If not, I’ll come to see you soon, okay?” I already sense that I’m likely to lose my job over this.
“Go inside with Uncle Kingston and eat your dinner, okay, Coco?”
He leans forward, wrapping his tiny arms around me in a big hug. I return it, savoring the warmth, and then carefully maneuver around Easton and Jackson. Cole races inside, and I hear Kingston saying something to him. I climb into my car, slamming the door behind me, and drive away without looking back.
Easton
She drives off, and I vaguely hear Kingston calling my name. “East, you need to come to the kitchen.”
He disappears into the house, and I clench my fists, watching Luci Forrester’s taillights fade into the distance. She was completely mistaken; I know her name. What hockey or football player doesn’t at least vaguely recognize it? Our coaches can’t stand her, and while no one knows the reasons behind their disdain, they’ve made it clear that we should carry out their feelings where they cannot. And unfortunately, they have a winning record that grants them a certain level of authority.
I’ve never officially met her; I’ve only observed her when the football team drew attention to her presence.
“You handled that well,” Jackson comments dryly, and I shoot him a glare. He smirks before walking ahead of me into the house. Kingston is setting Cole up at the island with chicken nuggets and fries, and I can hear my son’s excitement in his voice. Fast food is a rare treat for him.
“Luci got me lemonade because she said it’s better than soda,” he exclaims.
“Smart of Luci,” Becker chimes in, grinning at me, his eyes glinting with mischief. Kingston shares a knowing look with him, and I can’t fathom what they find so amusing. I’m still rattled from discovering my son was gone with no one else present and no communication. Luci had told me he would be here when I got home, that’s all.
Luci Forrester was introduced to me as his nanny just two nights ago, and I know nothing about her beyond what little I’ve observed in class. Which isn’t much. The girl keeps to herself too well. I tried to gather more information about her, but it seems I came up empty-handed. My anger flared when I didn’t know if she was vindictive enough to use a young boy to get back at me and my brothers. We’ve never intentionally targeted her, but that doesn’t mean much. She wouldn’t know much about us beyond the campus rumors.
Jackson leans over the counter, snorting before backing away. Kingston taps near him, and I step up to find the piece of paper.
“It was taped to the fridge, Easton. We missed it.”
In neat handwriting, I read the note aloud:
“Mr. Reed, Cole and I went to pick up my friend’s nephew. We are also grabbing dinner. I got permission from Mrs. Walters. If you need to reach us, my number is 468-231-2231. Should be back by 6. Luci Forrester.”
“Mother…” Kingston coughs, and I quickly switch my tone. “Fluffer!”
“How’s your dinner, Cole?” Kingston asks as he leans forward on his forearms.