Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
I walk inside and find the boys with Baker, who meets me at the playroom door. He gives me a sympathetic smile before announcing lunch will be ready in fifteen minutes. My facial expression must be telling.
“Luci! Look! Daddy bought me this.” He comes racing to show off his light blue jersey with the big shiny silver number 11 shaped like icicles.
“Wow. That is an awesome jersey. Are you playing today?” I tease and he hugs my legs laughing.
“No Luci! You are silly. I’m too little. Daddy’s 11.” He points to the number again and I laugh at him.
“I thought he was twenty…”
Cole shakes his head so seriously. “No, Daddy is twenty-three. His birthday is in
December.”
Barrett decides to join in now. “My daddy is twenty-six. His birthday is in August. Mine is in
January.”
“He’ll be home before Thanksgiving, Barrett. Don’t worry.” I know that look on his face.
“Trick or treating is next week. Luci and Aunt Sydney are taking me. I’m going to be
Batman.” Barrett says proudly.
“I’m going to be Dark Vader.” Cole adds.
Barrett frowns. “It’s Darth Vader.”
“Barrett, let it go.” I warn him as I motion for them to follow me. “Lunch.”
They are arguing back and forth about what candy is the best and which superhero would get the most. I easily follow their complete changes in subject. Why my brain does better with kids. They ramble along with whatever comes to mind, like me. I need to be on watch this week. The first few days after my period, I can focus great due to the higher estrogen levels in my body, I remember the psychiatrist explaining. And that was a few days ago. But now that it’s hitting a low point, I usually have the most trouble staying on track. Need all of my tricks to be normal. I already messed Easton up.
“Cole, what happens if your daddy is late to hockey practice?” I ask quietly as we eat.
Baker pauses only a second, but I catch it since I’m staring at the pin he wears on his collar.
Little things, I have to focus on minute details to help me sometimes.
“He has to skate laps or do push-ups. Or he has to wait on the bench at the game.” My stomach twists into a knot. I push my plate away, unable to eat another bite.
Baker nudges it gently back toward me. He leans down, whispering. “Mr. Easton is very important to the team, Luci. He will be fine and there is no way in a big game like today that
Nick Humphries will make him sit out a whole period.”
“The game starts at 2 right Baker?” I double check, not trusting my memory.
“Yes. I will remind you to leave. You should go early so you can get to your seats without the crowd running over these two.” He smiles at me kindly. “I can see that you struggle with some things. Be assured Luci, I am here to help with whatever you need.”
“Thank you. I…I don’t always have all my eggs in one basket, Baker.” I confess to him. I strangely know I can trust him.
He nods. “I will say nothing, Luci. It is between you and me. Cole loves you and I love the light you have brought back to his days.”
He takes the boys’ plates. True to his word, he comes to find us at 1 so we can leave.
I was silencing the alarm on my phone as he knocked on the playroom door.
“Two minute clean up boys.”
We hurry and leave. I reach over for the hoodie and throw it on as we wait for the gate to open. I won’t forget this piece and make things worse for Cole.
At the rink, we find our seats easily. There are people here ready to go. I grab the backpack
Baker handed me. It has water and snacks. We already stopped by the bathroom proactively.
“Luci, how long?” Cole asks me and I can already see the boredom brewing.
“Fifteen minutes. Let’s play a game. I spy. Barrett, you go first.” Barrett jumps right in.
Cole gets excited when he sees the players entering. He starts jumping up and down, waving. I wonder if he will talk about them being his family. Am I supposed to keep him quiet? Damn Luci you didn’t ask that…
They sit on their team bench. I watch the referee head out to the middle circle in the ice and the players head out. We aren’t in the student section, which doesn’t surprise me. Lots of middle-aged couples near us some with kids. We’ll blend in well here.
“Kingston is the goalie.” Cole informs us as we watch him move to the net wearing number 33. My heart sinks when I see Easton remain seated as the other players move out.
Becker, Jackson, Maxton Porter and Kendall Young skate onto the ice with Jackson and