by Mary Smith
“Amara.” I call her name as I walk in.
“In the den,” she yells back.
I storm in there to see her and Baylor watching...some girly movie. “You and Nathan.”
She pales and her jaw drops. “Who...what…um…” She glances at Baylor.
“Did you know about them?” Baylor’s expression matches hers and I knew there’s more to this story. “What the hell?”
“What’s the big deal?” Baylor shrugs.
“The big deal? The big deal is he’s a hockey player. He is using her.”
“No, he’s not.” Amara jumps up and gets in my face. “You’re my brother and you will always be, but if you don’t stop holding me back you will lose me.”
I take a step back as if she’s hit me. Never ever has Amara threatened to leave my life. She’s my best friend, and I can’t imagine my life without her.
“Alden, I need to lay down.” Baylor tries to get up and I move to help her.
I help her up the stairs and into bed. The look on her face tells me…
“You are going to lose your sister.”
...she’s going to yell.
“She’s twenty-one. Let her go out with Nathan.”
I’m about to list my reasons why, but she stops me.
“Wouldn’t you want your sister to date someone you know? Someone who you consider your best friend?”
“No. That’s worse. I know how he is.” I throw my hands. “He’s a hockey player.”
“I love you but you’re an idiot.”
“That seems to be my motto lately.” I sigh and sit on the side of the bed. “She’s going to get hurt.”
“You hurt me.”
Of course, she’s going to throw this in my face. “That’s different.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
“No.” She barks. “Being hurt is part of being in a relationship. Until you find the right guy. Like I found you.”
“Ugh.” I sigh. “Look, she’s still too fragile.”
Baylor rolls her eyes. “Have you met her? She’s a strong woman.”
“No,” I say. “And that’s it.”
I WAS IN Kace’s room fixing it up for him when I hear him bounding up the stairs and toward my room. I know he’s ready to see his mom.
“Mom. Look at this.”
“I’m proud of you,” she joyfully says.
“I’m going to show Dad.”
I freeze. He said it again.
“What? Who?” she gently says.
“Dad. Alden’s my dad.”
I quietly make my way down the hall because I want to hear what she says.
“Kace honey. Alden and I are only dating. I guess you can say it, but he isn’t your dad. Why would you think that?”
“Because of what he does for us.”
“What do you mean?”
“He protects us. He comes to my games, takes us out to eat, and makes you laugh. He loves us. That’s what a dad is, right?”
For the second time in less than three days, I’m ready to cry. This kid has a heart of gold and makes me a better person.
“Yes, you’re correct, but I don’t know if Alden is okay with you giving him that particular title.”
I step through the threshold. “Why don’t you ask me?”
Had someone told me a year ago I would be hoping a ten year old boy would call me Dad, I’d say they’re crazy.
“Alden, may I call you Dad?”
I glance at Baylor, who isn’t sure what to think. I don’t wait for her to chime in this time.
“Buddy, I’d love for you to call me Dad.”
Kace jumps off the bed and comes running to me. Baylor has a small smile on her face. I have a family. A family I love.
Chapter Fourteen
Baylor
HOW HAS MY life changed in a matter of one week? This time last week I was ready to kill Alden for breaking my heart and now I’m cheering him on at a playoff game. My rib still hurts, but I don’t have a headache anymore. The bruises are still bright and makeup doesn’t really cover them well enough.
I had been worried about how Alden would handle being called Dad, but he ordered a new shirt for Kace’s game with his new title. He’s loving it. This week we’ve not had sex for obvious reasons, but he’s been waiting on me hand and foot.
But Amara and Alden aren’t talking still.
I’ve tried everything as has his mother, but they’re not budging on either side. Not to forget, Jack is now calling the house for them to meet this younger half-brother. Alden refuses to talk about it, and Amara has begun to close herself off as well. I don’t think it’s something I should stick my nose in.
The Bears are up by two, one of the goals made by Alden. Kace is still yelling and I’m certain the poor boy won’t have a voice in the morning. As the clock ticks down the crowd erupts. They have their first win under their belt and I couldn’t be happier.
We all wait out in the parking lot for Alden and Amara looks as depressed as ever.
“Have you and Nathan planned out a date yet?” I ask.
“No. He’s upset because Alden is pissed off and hasn’t really brought it up again.” Her tone carries deep sadness.
“Don’t be discouraged. Nathan will come around, as will Alden.” I hug her softly.
“I want to kick him in the balls.” She growls.
“I would understand if you did.”
We chat with a few of the other hockey wives. I really like Greer, Edgar’s wife. She’s an amazingly sweet person and Kace gets along with her kids. When Alden comes out Kace is the first to run up to him. He doesn’t jump in his arms. When he comes up to me, he kisses me softly and nods to his sister.
“How about we order pizza?” I suggest. Going out to dinner seems like a crazy idea because the tension is thick enough without being in public and making it worse.
“Fine.” Amara slams the door to Alden’s car as Kace and Elizabeth get in on the other side.
“She’ll see things my way.” He mumbles and opens my door, helping me in.
Alden first drops off his mother at her insistence. When we go into the house, Amara goes straight to her room, without another word. Then Kace complains he didn’t want pizza and we ended up making sub sandwiches and fries.
After I send Kace to shower and go to bed, I lay down myself. Alden changes in his bathroom and when he comes out, he still seems mad.
“For someone who won a game, you look like you’re grinding glass.”
He stretches out next to me. “Amara hates me.”
“I got the same memo.”
“Will she ever forgive me?”
“Not until you give your blessing to her and Nathan.”
“Not going to happen.”
“Then she won’t talk to you.”
He sighs. “And you?”
“And me what?” I turn to him.
“Are you mad at me?”
“I think you’re an idiot, but no I’m not mad. I understand your heart is in the right place, but you’re going about it incorrectly.” I frankly state.
“I love you, Baylor. I just want to have a good life with a happy family.”
“I love you too and you can, but you have to give a little.”
He smirks. “Maybe someday. Right now, I just want to hold you and tell you how much I love you.” He kisses my nose. “How pretty you are.” He kisses my cheek. “How smart you are.” He kisses my other cheek. “And how thankful I am I fell in love with my tattoo artist.”
I giggle. “I’m thankful I fell in love with the player.”
Alden kisses me deeply and all is right in the world again.
For the time being.
Next Installment of The New Hampshire Bears
The Goalie and the Best Friend’s Sister
Do you want to know if Nathan and Amara end up together? What’s happening with Alden’s and Amara’s father?
There’s many more questions in the ninth install
ment of the Bears! All of which will be answered!
Coming in Fall 2017
About the Author
Best Selling Author, Mary Smith, has been coming up with stories her whole life. She has written A HOCKEY TUTOR and THE NEW HAMPSHIRE BEARS SERIES along with numerous other titles, as well as co-authored THE PENALTY KILL TRILOGY, OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN SERIES, and THE NINTH INNINGS SERIES with Lindsay Paige. When not busy writing or rooting for the Chicago Blackhawks you can find her with her nose stuck in her Kindle.
You can visit her website at: www.authormarysmith.com
Follow her on Twitter: @maryms1980
Or Faceook: www.facebook.com/authormarysmith
Books By Author:
The Ice Series (Adult Sports Romance trilogy):
Melting Away the Ice
Breaking the Ice
Shattering the Ice
Thawing the Ice (A Novella)
A Hockey Tutor (New Adult Sports Romance)
Dart and Dash (New Adult Sports Romance)
Always Forever (New Adult Rocker Romance)
DREAM (Adult Romance Suspense)
The Matched Trilogy (Paranormal Romance Trilogy):
A Royal’s Love
A Protector’s Second Chance
A Controller’s Destiny
New Hampshire Bears Series (Adult Sports Romance)
The Muse and the Fairy Tale
The Workaholic and the Realist
The Hero and the Fat Girl
The Arrangement
The Coach and the Secret
The Captain and the Broken Girl
The Backup and the Baby
The Player and the Tattoo Artist
The Goalie and the Best Friend’s Sister (Coming out Fall 2017)
Books with author Lindsay Paige:
A Penalty Kill Trilogy (New Adult Sports Romance):
Breakaway
Off the Ice
Game Over
Our First Christmas (A Novella)
Oh Captain, My Captain Series (Adult Sports Romance)
Looking for You
A Hockey Player’s Proposal
Finding Carson Lee
Let’s Be Crazy
Their New Beginning
You and Me, Forever
Tainted
The Ninth Inning Series (Adult Sports Romance)
Felix
Blake
Hector
Trent
Jordan
Colby
Roman
Spencer
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