Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
“No, Luci! The real carnival!” he insists, his voice rising in urgency.
“Oh, I don’t think we can do that. Sorry, Coco.” She gives him a look of regret, and I notice Dad watching them closely, his frown deepening.
“Daddy is taking me, and I can take you now! You said you’ve never been.” Cole turns to me, his eyes wide with hope. “Daddy, can we take Luci? Please?”
“Cole….” I start, but before I can finish, Mother strides in, dressed in what must be a thousand-dollar “casual” outfit.
“Jason, darling, can you come help me with my necklace? Luci, you’re here. Looks like you aren’t needed anymore. You can go home.” She pivots on her heel and walks away, leaving Dad to follow her, his frown still firmly in place.
“Cole, why don’t you go pick out your clothes? Get your toothbrush ready,” Dad instructs, and Cole nods eagerly before scampering off, a smile lighting up his face.
“Luci, come help me,” I hear her call, and Luci spins to follow him.
“I need to talk to Luci for a minute.” She hesitates, her shoulders slumping slightly as she turns to face me, her fingers fidgeting nervously.
“Having trouble, sweetness?” I ask lightly, trying to lighten the mood.
“Nope. Are you?” She responds quickly, a hint of defiance in her tone, and I can’t help but smirk.
“What would I be having trouble with exactly?” I’m genuinely curious now.
“Not being the center of attention due to your lack of clothing,” she shoots back, her eyes glinting with mischief. The little rabbit has some bite today. “You know you can look at us. We’re fully clothed from the waist down. Scared the half-naked images of us will live rent-free in your head, sweetness?” I tease, reveling in the banter. Kingston mutters something about provoking trouble under his breath.
Her cheeks flush, but she holds my gaze, a spark of anger igniting in her eyes. “Sounds like a horror show; maybe a comedy.” With that, she turns and strides toward the hallway.
Jackson shakes his head, a grin spreading across his face. “Damn, she’s getting braver with you.”
“East doesn’t remember how to flirt with women,” Becker chimes in, shoving half a pancake into his mouth.
I raise an eyebrow at him. “That’s definitely not what’s happening. I’m just trying to get her to face me. She can hurl insults my way, but then she can’t meet my eyes. It… unnerves me.” I admit, feeling a bit vulnerable.
“Trying to figure out her issue too, because she has something. Like she disappears sometimes,” I add, feeling a sense of concern for her.
“She definitely zones out completely. Last year, the professor had to drop something on her desk a few times to snap her out of it in that class I had with her,” Jackson contributes, his expression thoughtful.
Kingston interjects, “I think she’s afraid to see if she pisses you off. Think about how she usually lets most of it slide with the football team. You haven’t lost it on her yet, so she keeps pushing, but there’s an underlying fear and worry.”
“Nice psychoanalysis,” Becker chuckles. “Kingston Freud, gentlemen.”
“At least she’s learning to stand up for herself, at least against me,” I say, heading down the hall to catch up with Luci and Cole. I do a quick search on my phone, trying to find out more about her blank, faraway look and how long it takes her to refocus. The top three possibilities don’t exactly ease my mind about her driving Cole around. I’ll need to talk to her for my own peace of mind.
I step into Cole’s room, listening as he excitedly tells Luci about all the things he wants to do today. “You didn’t go as a little girl?” he asks her innocently.
“No, I didn’t,” she replies softly, and I wonder what he’s really asking.
“Yes. Now you should be warm enough like that with your jacket and hat,” she says, stepping back to admire her handiwork.
“I’m ready, Daddy!” Cole exclaims, turning toward me. He dashes for the door, but Luci stops him.
“Your daddy needs to get dressed, Cole,” she says, her voice a touch reproachful. Her eyes blaze with a fire that intrigues me.
“Yes, I do. Are you dressed warmly enough for the carnival, Luci? I can lend you a hoodie of mine if not,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest, unable to resist teasing her.
Her eyes snap to mine now, a mix of surprise and annoyance flashing across her face. “Wait, I was only here… I’m going…”
“Oh yes, sweetness, you are going with us. Hear that, Cole? Luci just agreed to go to the carnival.” I smirk at her, enjoying this small victory, and she purses her pink lips, a hint of frustration evident.
“Holding back those lightsaber words, sweetness?” I can’t resist poking at her after winning this round. It wasn’t my original plan, but now I find I like it even more.
She smiles sweetly, and Cole jumps up and down in excitement in front of her. “Just saving them for when they will have the most impact.”
“Let me clothe my body, and we can go,” I add mockingly as I head to my room. I take a quick shower, throwing on jeans, a shirt, and a hoodie. I grab an extra one, figuring Luci might need it since she thought she and Cole would be here at the house.
I’m slipping on my shoes when I hear a knock on my door. “Come in.”
Dad steps in, eyeing me with a serious expression. “Easton, I was hoping to have a word about Luci.”
I gesture toward the connecting door, and he nods, stepping closer. “Is she a puck bunny in disguise?”
“No, definitely not. Wallflower is more like it. She truly cares for Cole,” I reply, defending her.
He nods, seeming relieved. “I just wanted to make sure because Madison was. Your mother… well, sometimes she’s not the best at hiring people.”
That reminds me…