Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
“Dad, I want to talk to you about Coach Humphries one-on-one at some point,” I mention, feeling the weight of that conversation looming.
“We will. It’s good to be home,” he says, pulling me into a brief hug.
“We’ve missed you, Dad,” I respond, feeling a warmth in my chest.
“Missed you too, Easton. Have fun.” He leaves, and I open the connecting door.
“Who’s up for some games?” I call out, and Luci’s expression tells me I might have just stirred up a little trouble.
Luci
As I make my way toward Easton’s truck, I clutch Cole’s small hand in mine. A part of me is tempted to storm off to my own car and leave this whole situation behind. If it weren’t for the sheer joy radiating from Cole at the prospect of spending the day with Easton, I might have done just that. But Easton, with his charming manipulations, has managed to coax me into this. His little jabs and teasing remarks, while familiar, are particularly unwelcome today. I’m still simmering from my earlier encounter at the coffee shop with Julian and his crew. His careless antics had me spilling coffee all over my shirt, forcing me to dash back inside to reorder and change before heading home.
With a practiced ease, Easton opens the passenger door for us and lifts Cole into his seat, securing him with a gentle touch. I hold onto the backpack Baker had given me, filled with snacks, water, and an extra set of clothes, feeling the weight of it in my hands. Once Easton finishes buckling Cole in, I set the backpack down on the floor beneath his feet. Just as I’m about to walk around to take my place next to Easton, he reaches out and lightly halts me with a touch on my arm. His gestures are always tender, and I can’t help but notice how they stir something inside me. “You’ll need to sit up front with me,” he says, his voice calm and steady. “The back seat is crammed with hockey gear that I’m not unloading this morning.”
I shoot him a glare, but as I take his hand to help myself into the seat, he surprises me by expertly buckling my seatbelt before I can protest. He leans in closer, his breath warm against my cheek, and I instinctively turn my head slightly to avoid the intimacy of the moment. The scent of his soap, a refreshing mix of mint and evergreen, envelops me. “I’m really sorry if I went too far earlier,” he murmurs, his eyes searching mine with an earnestness that softens my irritation. “I didn’t mean to genuinely upset you. You usually give as good as you get in our banter.”
I meet his gaze, feeling the heat of his proximity. “It… it’s okay,” I manage to say, my voice quieter than intended. “I was already in a foul mood when I got here. I snapped at you more than I should have.”
His eyes linger on mine, and I can’t help but admire the unique shade of them, a beautiful hue that stands out against Cole’s bluer irises. Just then, Easton’s lips curl into a playful smirk. “Then let’s go have some fun and play some real games, sweetness.”
As we drive, Cole chatters excitedly, his voice a bright melody that draws my attention. Easton navigates the roads with a calm demeanor, responding to Cole’s enthusiastic questions with ease. When Cole’s chatter quiets down, Easton turns to me, his expression serious. “What really upset you this morning? And don’t dodge the question.”
I share a brief account of my morning mishap, and he shakes his head, disbelief etched across his features.
When we finally arrive, Easton glances back at me. “Stay put; I’ll help you both out.” He pauses, looking slightly uncomfortable, which is unusual for him. “I want to apologize for dragging you along today. Cole was really looking forward to having you here, but I should have checked if you had other plans.” His sincerity catches me off guard. I doubt Easton Reed is one to offer apologies frequently. Two in one day feels like a small miracle, and despite my better judgment, I find myself willing to forgive him. Holding onto resentment when he seems genuinely remorseful would only weigh me down.
“I didn’t have any plans,” I reply, trying to sound casual. “I figured I’d be watching him anyway. It should be a fun day, right?”
A small grin tugs at the corners of his lips. “We’ll see about that. You haven’t chased a Cole around a carnival yet. And don’t forget, I’m the one carrying the backpack.”
By the time lunch rolls around, I can’t deny he’s right; my feet are sore from all the walking. We’ve gone on so many rides, and Easton has jumped into every single one Cole has asked about. Watching them together is a sight I haven’t seen before. Easton’s face lights up with joy every time Cole bursts into laughter.
“Alright, buddy, time for lunch,” Easton announces, rubbing his stomach dramatically. “I’m starving, and you’re starting to sound hangry.” He throws me a knowing glance, and I nod vigorously, feeling the twinge of hunger myself. Cole’s whine is unmistakable-a clear sign that it’s time to refuel. We make our way back to the food area, with Cole walking between us, gripping our hands tightly.
“I’ll be right back with the food,” Easton promises as we settle at a table close enough to the stage for Cole to enjoy the show.
We’re in the midst of laughing at one of the magic tricks when a voice cuts through the air, sending a jolt of tension through me. I turn slightly, my heart sinking as I spot Julian Soames, seated with his friends at the table adjacent to ours. I instinctively hunch my shoulders, positioning my body to shield Cole from their view.
Just then, Deacon’s eyes land on me as he tosses something into the trash can right in front of us. “Oh look, it’s the curse,” he sneers, a wicked smile spreading across his face. I quickly reach into my purse and pull out Cole’s headphones, trying to drown out the noise. “Here, you listen to this for me,” I say, gently placing the headphones over his ears and finding an episode of *Bluey* on YouTube. With Cole distracted, I scan the area for an empty table, but instead, I’m met with Julian’s cruel smirk and cold gaze.
“My unlucky day, running into you twice in a row,” he taunts, his voice dripping with disdain.
Easton
As I make my way back with a massive tray of food balanced in one hand, I lift a corn dog to take a bite, hoping I’ve covered all bases with the selection. I had no clue what Luci would want, so I opted for a bit of everything. But just as I’m about to reach our table, I hear Julian’s mocking voice ring out. “You should go on stage. I heard they’re looking for a good joke.”
He and his obnoxious friends are seated right next to Luci and Cole, their taunts directed at her. I can see her shielding Cole with her body, and I’m grateful that he’s focused on his phone, engrossed in the show. Good girl, I think, appreciating her instinct to protect him. I glance down at the tray, making a few adjustments before I head their way. Just then, a girl from the table behind them stands up to toss something away.
“Hey, I need a favor,” I say, stopping her mid-stride. “I’ll give you a whole booklet of ride tickets if you’ll pretend to trip me as I walk by and let me yell at you. I promise I won’t mean it.” She’s about twelve, sitting with her friends, and she grins at me, clearly intrigued. “Sure.”
“Just give your friends a heads up,” I instruct her, and she nods before returning to her seat, whispering to her friends. She glances up at me and gives a thumbs-up.
As I approach Luci and Cole, the girl jumps up and barely bumps into me, but I exaggerate the impact, stumbling as if I’ve been hit by a rival hockey player. “Watch it!” I growl, and in a spectacularly unfortunate turn of events, half the contents of my tray splatter all over Julian and Deacon. The ketchup and mustard, which I had filled to the brim, land squarely on their shirts and heads.
“Shit!” I curse, and their expressions twist into furious scowls. I turn to the girl, feigning irritation. “See what you made me do! You should be more careful!” She cowers, stammering out an apology that would win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
I turn back to the fuming football players. “Sorry. This idiot here jumped right up in my path.”
“Dammit, Reed! Now I need to go home and change,” Julian snaps, his face a mask of fury.
I raise my hands in mock surrender. If they decide to retaliate, they’ll regret it. Hockey players have a minor in fighting, and I’ve taken boxing lessons for long enough to know how to handle myself. Julian shoots me a furious glare before barking orders at his lackeys to fetch him and Deacon some napkins as they stomp away. I maintain a contrite expression with great effort, and once they’re far enough, I catch Luci ducking her head, trying to hide her laughter. Her eyes sparkle with delight as they flicker up to meet mine.
I reach into my pocket and hand the ticket booklet to the girl before heading back to our table to set the tray down. She watches me with wide eyes, and her face lights up. “You owe me a corn dog since mine was tragically sacrificed. And if you couldn’t tell, I really like ketchup and mustard.” I try to keep my tone harsh, suppressing a grin.
“I’ll buy you two,” she giggles, her delight infectious. “Thank you. That was amazing.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. But in the future, you should stand up for yourself. I’m off to get another corn dog. Eat whatever you want, but half of those curly fries are mine. And that funnel cake. Good job on the headphones and *Bluey*,” I commend her before making my exit.
“No, I’ll get it,” she insists.
I shake my head. “They may not be gone yet. I don’t want them messing with you after I just pissed them off.” We settle down to eat, Cole happily munching away while watching another performance on stage. “Want to go play games after this?” I ask him, and he nods, his grin wide.
“I want to win a big prize, Daddy!” he exclaims, and I can’t help but smile back at him. We wander through the carnival, and he points excitedly at a massive black and green dragon hanging above the balloon-popping booth. I let Cole have the first shot, and when he turns to me, clutching a little stuffed fish prize, his face beams with pride.