Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
“Now I feel better. Guys like that fireman? You have to ice them out. It’s damn bold of him to flirt with you while I’m wrapped around you. You’re mine, and I won’t hesitate to remind him,” I say fiercely.
When we walk back inside, Cole and Barrett are finishing up their cookie boxes. “Thanks,” I tell Banning, who grins back at me.
“Anytime. See you guys tonight,” he replies as they head toward his truck.
“What are you looking so smug about, sweetness?” I ask Luci once we step outside.
“I think it’s nice that you and Banning are becoming friends, bonding over what you were once so upset with him for,” she teases, laughter dancing in her eyes as I glare at her.
“Attitude, sweetness,” I warn, but she just laughs more.
Cole interrupts with questions about the parade as I drive us home, my mind racing with thoughts of the night ahead. We invited Jackson to join us, and of course, he accepted; it was a no-brainer with Sydney coming along.
I still can’t figure out why he hasn’t asked her out yet. Luci and Sydney are meeting us at the parade, along with Banning and Bennett. I help Luci load all her cookie supplies into her car before stealing a quick kiss as she prepares to leave.
“Cole, Barrett and Mr. Banning would like you to come spend the night at Barrett’s grandparents next weekend. You’d stay there and play, then sleep. When you wake up, you’d still be there and could sleep more,” I explain, knowing I would never consider a sleepover with anyone else but these people or Luci. Luci had vouched for the Olmos family, which was as good as gold in my book.
“I could go?” Cole asks, his eyes lighting up with excitement.
“If you want to,” I respond, recalling that my birthday is next Saturday, but we have a game late that afternoon.
“I want to!” he shouts, leaping into my arms with uncontainable joy.
“Alright, we’ll work out the details,” I assure him.
When we arrive at the parade, we search for a spot where the boys can see. Jackson offers to help Sydney go get burgers to feed them early. “They’ll be hungry again later, but we’ll figure that out,” Sydney remarks as they head off. I notice Luci and Banning exchanging glances, both of them sharing a moment of understanding.
“Hey, Banning, Cole wants to come to the sleepover,” I announce, and Cole beams widely at the prospect.
Barrett, overhearing us, grins and starts talking a mile a minute about all the fun things they’ll do at their sleepover.
By the time we finish eating, the excitement in the air is palpable, and it’s finally time for the parade to begin.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention, please! Let’s give a thunderous round of applause for our esteemed grand marshal of tonight’s parade, Marshall Soames!”
The moment the announcement echoes through the air, a palpable tension hangs between Sydney, Banning, and me. We all remain seated, our hands stubbornly at our sides, refusing to join the clamor of applause. Banning’s eyes narrow, shooting daggers at the figure of Marshall, who is perched in the back of a gleaming convertible, waving to the crowd with a self-satisfied grin plastered across his face. Easton and Jackson, too, seem to share our disdain, opting to remain silent. A wave of disgust washes over me as I watch him bask in the attention, the very embodiment of arrogance.
“Looks like that little detail was conveniently left out of the flyer,” Syd remarks dryly, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“You think?!” Banning snaps back, irritation bubbling just beneath the surface of his calm demeanor.
As the parade unfolds, the atmosphere shifts, the boys’ excitement palpable as they cheer for the vibrant floats and the dazzling lights that dance around us. Once the spectacle concludes, we meander through the festival, taking in more lights and searching for something to satisfy our hunger. I find myself lingering near a trash bin, waiting for the others to return with food, when suddenly, a familiar voice slices through the night.
“Hi cutie.”
My heart sinks, and I freeze in place, recognizing that voice all too well. Of course, if it’s not one cockroach, it’s his insufferable brother.
“Are you going to turn around, Luci? I know that’s you. You can’t just ignore me,” he taunts, his tone dripping with false charm.
With a reluctant breath, I turn slowly, my mind racing with the sharp retorts I’ve been rehearsing. “Sorry, but I only respond to the name Luci. And believe me, I can ignore you quite well.” My voice is steady, though the tension in my chest is palpable.
He takes a step closer, invading my personal space. I instinctively back away. “Looks like you’ve finally grown a backbone, Luci.”
“And you still lack any semblance of integrity,” I shoot back, surprised by my own boldness.
His expression twists into a mask of rage that I’ve witnessed before, the moment I learned the true nature of Marshall Soames. “I thought maybe we could give it another shot,” he says, his voice laced with a mix of arrogance and desperation.
The mere suggestion ignites a fury within me. How dare he think I would ever want to rekindle anything with him? “That’s never going to happen. I’ve been there, and trust me, it wasn’t worth my time. I’ve got the T-shirt to prove it, and it’s worth a hell of a lot more than any moment I spent with you. I’ve met someone else who has shown me just how inadequate you are in every possible way. So why don’t you scurry back to whatever sewer you crawled out of tonight?”
“Timid Luci has turned into quite the fiery spirit. Who did you tell about our little ‘relationship’?” His anger simmers beneath the surface, barely contained.
“No one. I’m just as ashamed of it as you are desperate to hide it,” I reply, my voice steady.
He opens his mouth to retort, but just then, I hear Banning calling my name, his tone laced with anger. In a cowardly retreat, Marshall turns and walks away, leaving me feeling simultaneously victorious and unsettled.
“Luci! What did he want?” Banning asks, his voice filled with concern and fury.
“To see if I spilled any secrets about us. He had the audacity to suggest we could try again,” I roll my eyes, exasperated.
“Easton needs to know about him, Luci,” Banning insists, his sincerity cutting through the tension. I know he wants to protect me, especially after everything that transpired between Marshall and me, but I worry about the repercussions. Banning’s protective instincts are strong, but I’ve warned him about Marshall’s family-his young son, the single father, and the potential fallout if the Soames family retaliates.
“I plan to tell him this week. I promised,” I assure Banning, who nods in approval.
“Did someone take a swing at Marshall? I could have sworn I saw a bruise on that disgusting face of his,” Sydney comments, her voice thoughtful as she glances in the direction Marshall disappeared.