Second Chance Romance

by Asrai Devin

  Obviously she had given that some thought herself. He nodded. "I thought the same thing. What I regret is not begging you to come with me. You could have gone to school anywhere."

  She nodded and remained quiet while she stared over his shoulder. He let her be silent, content to watch her. How could he not love her? She wasn't the same girl he had known. She had become so much more than he could have imagined. She was well-spoken. She was confident. She was decisive.

  He could recall seeing her in the hallways, sitting in the library alone. She always tried to give the appearance of being shorter than her five feet nine inches, so she could go unnoticed. He might have never noticed her, unless that English teacher had displayed her impassioned words for him. He couldn't help watching her in their shared math class after that. He had to get to know her, to see how different she was from other people he knew. When he missed math class, he had an excuse to approach her. To become friends with her.

  The story of him having to pass math class wasn't entirely made up, he did have to do well to play sports. But he wasn't having any problems.

  His heart swelled as he looked at her. "I wasn't ready to leave," she said, softly, breaking the silence.

  He nodded. "I knew that too. But I wish. Ah hell, never mind. I had to ask that. It was between us. Let's let the past go and focus on being friends now."

  She smiled and leaned back in her chair. He felt his shoulders relax as well. Okay, if he could ignore the whole sexual attraction and the love swelling in his chest and he'd make it back to home in one piece. He could do that for one night. If she didn't show any signs she wanted the same thing.

  He put his hands on the table, front of him. "Tell me about Colton."

  She looked at him strangely.

  He met her eyes. "Hey, there is nothing a mom likes to talk about more than their kids. We can't ignore that you have one. I have two sisters who have three kids each."

  "They do? Maggie and Jamie?"

  "Yeah, Mikey only has two."

  "How did you get out of there without being Kippie?"

  "Luck. Now, come on, spill it. Tell me about your kid."

  She shrugged and grinned at him. She grabbed her purse from the floor.

  "Going for the pictures first. Or the mace."

  That made her smile even wider. Score one for him. "Yeah the pictures. Ubiquitous Mom photo op."

  She passed him a soccer picture. He had her intense brown eyes, but none of her features. He wondered if he looked like his dad. His hair was dirty blonde, thick and a little curly. He had her smile, he decided, glancing from the photo to her face.

  "That was last summer's photo. He's grown since then. He'll be taller than I." She smiled at the picture she was holding. "This one is from this year's school. He's so smart. So outgoing. He never complains. Well, yeah, of course he does. If you consider what he's got, he's amazing."

  "He's got you. Of course, he is amazing." Kip wanted to ask about his Dad. He couldn't now. It was none of his business. Yet.

  She looked at the picture, in a wistful, loving manner. She continued as if she hadn't heard him speak. "You know his dad is gone. Mostly. And he never says anything about it. I know he's got to wonder. But we've got so many wonderful friends around us that give him what his dad should."

  She looked up, suddenly remembering he was there. "Sorry, you didn't need to know that."

  He leaned across the table and touched her for the first time. Eleven years. The number dogged him. It was their legacy. "Amanda, Mandy, there is nothing you can't tell me. It's been, well a long time. But I'm still your friend. I will never judge you for what has happened." He'd never judged her, despite all their shared secrets.

  She avoided his gaze as she worked through that statement. He leaned closer. "I want to be part of your support system." With that, he withdrew. "Excuse me." He had to give her a minute to get her footing back under her. She might seem calm, but his sudden appearance had to have thrown her for a loop. It was fucking with his head.

  In the bathroom he took a leak then washed his hands. He stood looking in the mirror for a long time. He looked older than he remembered. He never had time to really look at himself lately. He didn't look bad, he hadn't aged much. He attributed that to keeping himself in good shape, eating well and drinking lots of water. In short, playing hockey had been a fountain of youth. Not that he was old, but he was old in the hockey world. He wouldn't play forever. Luckily, he had money in the bank for his eventual retirement, because he had no other useful skills in the world that anyone would pay him for.

  Okay, time to head back to the table. Finish the meal without confessing anything. Enjoy her company, take her home. Move on to the second part of his plan.

  * * * *

  After Kip's question, her confessional about Eric, and his quiet words about being part of her support system, the rest of the evening was relaxed and fun. They chatted about their lives. He regaled her with stories from various players he'd known, and places he'd seen. She told him about teaching and raising Colton.

  He insisted on getting Colton a dessert before they went. Then he dropped her off at home at 8:15. She opened her door in the lock then turned back to him.

  He surprised her by grabbing her elbows and pulling her close to him. He brushed his lips against hers. A soft, barely there brush. She could smell the dinner mint on his breath. She could smell his cologne. She could feel his heat so close to her, even through their jackets.

  "Thank you for dinner, Mandy. It had been so great to see you again. I will see you tomorrow."

  Before she could react, he let her go and turned and walked down her front porch. What the hell? "Uh, good night, Kip. Thank you." She held her purse and Colton's dessert. Tomorrow? Well, that was. Confusing.

  She didn't have time to think about it. June drove up with Colton a minute after Kip's lights disappeared around the corner.

  "Hi Mom," Colton said jumping out of the car.

  "Hi baby. Go inside where it's warm. I have to say thanks to June. There's a piece of cake on the table. You can eat it for snack."

  "Thanks," He ran into the house. Mandy went down the steps to where June was getting out of the car.

  "He's fast," June said.

  "Yep. Faster every day. I rue the day he'll be faster than me. Though that may have already come."

  "You are such a teacher. I did get the kids to get their homework done."

  "Thanks June. I'm sorry you to ask so much of you."

  "No problem. I don't mind. How was your night out? You look a little shell shocked."

  "Just an old friend. It was nice and strange and confusing." She was not ready to talk about it. She still had 'tomorrow' to contend with. "I better get in and chase him to bed. Thank you again for everything."

  "You're welcome. I'll see you later."

  Mandy hugged June, who in turn looked surprised. She waved over her shoulder as she left.

  Mandy went into the house, still feeling disconcerted. She got Colton to bed and fell into a sleep filled with Kip.

  Chapter 7

  Mandy woke early in the morning. She sat alone at the kitchen table with her hands wrapped around a mug of hot tea. In front of her was the work she had abandoned the night before. A knock at the door made her jump and she knocked over her tea. "Fuck," She grabbed a towel to mop up the spill before it reached her papers.

  The second knock was impatient. "What the hell?" She headed for the source. She peered out the window onto the front porch of her town house. She blinked twice and looked closer. Then she opened the door. "What the hell are you doing here?"

  "Good morning to you, too," Kip said, with a boyish grin. "Told you I'd see you again. Hope I'm not too early." He leaned in and kissed her cheek.

  She shook her head dumbly. "Come in." She held in a sigh, stepped back and held the door open. She wasn't ready, she didn't have her defenses up yet. He couldn't be here. She must be in bed still dreaming.

  He stepped in and took o
ff his shoes. He held out a box of doughnuts, as if it were a peace offering. Tim Horton's, she shook her head. He held a four-pack tray of coffee cups, all steaming. "I wasn't sure what you drank these days, so I got something of everything with hope."

  She smiled, her heart melting, despite everything. "You are very sweet."

  "I hoped you'd think so." They went into the kitchen and the packages were put on the table.

  Colton came out, rubbing his eyes. "Who are you talking to?"

  "Sh- Darn. Sorry didn't mean to wake you," Kip caught his foul word before it left his mouth.

  Mandy caught the panic before it showed on her face. She didn't even glance at Kip. She stepped between him and Colton. "Morning sweetie." She reached out for her son. "Cole, this is my friend Mr. Turner. This is my son, Colton." She stepped to the side so the two could see each other. Colton was still half asleep and not totally aware of what was going on.

  Kip looked frozen in place. Worry on his face.

  Colton merely raised his hand and stopped to lean on her. "Is it time to get up?" he asked.

  "Not yet. About half an hour. You want to lie on the sofa, go to bed or stay up?"

  "Go back to bed." He left in that direction.

  When he disappeared, Mandy turned to face Kip. A smile crossed her face, and she tried to hold it back. She really tried, but she burst out laughing. Kip waited until she was done.

  "I'm sorry," she said, holding up her hand. She moved for the doughnuts and the hot drinks he had brought. "You looked so scared."

  "It was a bit of a shock."

  "It's done. He may recall that in a half hour. If you are still here." She picked out a honey glazed doughnut and the hazelnut cappuccino. She pulled off the lid and inhaled the sweet smell.

  "I'll still be here," he said softly. She found a determined look in his eyes. "If nothing else, I need a ride back to my hotel."

  "Where is your truck?"

  He held a set of keys toward her. "I rented you car for a week. Until you figure out what is going on with your wheels."

  She stared at him. "What?"

  "Your car is broken. You can let me know if you need it longer, I can arrange for it."

  Her heart did a tap-dance gymnastic combination in her chest. She emptied the contents of her hands onto the table and launched herself at him. He caught her, as she wrapped him in a hug. "You have no idea what it. Thank you. Really." She pulled back so she could look at him. And the shock set in. She was hugging him. She was touching him as they stood in her kitchen, dressed in her robe and little else.

  His scent wrapped around her, as his arms did. He looked at her with compassion on his face, with genuine warmth in his eyes. She wanted to burrow into him. She let her head rest on his chest, resting in his gentle strength. "You're welcome." The words rumbled through his chest.

  She hadn't expected to lean on someone so easily. She was used to relying on herself. She rarely asked her friends for assistance, she didn't want to be a burden. She hadn't asked him for anything and now he'd given her this gift. To him it was probably a small gift, but to her it was the world for this week. She wouldn't keep it longer than a week, even if she couldn't get her car fixed.

  She sighed a little too deeply. And he pulled her closer. She realized how nice his body felt against hers. They fit together perfectly. At least it felt that way. She had to move before she got too comfortable, before she wished for things she couldn't have.

  "My coffee is getting cold," she said, to disengage herself. He let her go slowly, and as she moved back, not meeting his gaze, she noticed she felt chilled without his body heat. She grabbed the cappuccino as a lifeline. "Kip, this is amazing."

  "I came here prepared to argue with you for this."

  She smiled. She should be arguing. Maybe it was the early morning, or his unexpected arrival. She didn't know. "I know. I would. I don't know. Do you have to go back today? To Calgary?"

  He shook his head. "I don't have practice until tomorrow. At ten."

  "Will you stick around and come back for supper? As a thank you." Only a thank you. Not because she didn't want him to go. Liar, liar, the little voice in her head sang.

  He nodded. "I'd love too."

  She felt her smile widening. "I wish I could take the day off, so you didn't have to hang out alone here." It would be wonderful to hang with him all day.

  He moved fast as lightning to stand beside her. He took the cup from her hands and pulled her close again. "I'll come back on weekend." His face came closer. Mandy's breath caught in her throat, as she tilted her head back to look at him. "We can hang out. When I have some time off."

  She let out a little groan, her lips parted. And he kissed her. It wasn't the brush from last night. This was firm pressure, hesitant at the same time, he would back off if she pushed him away.

  She didn't back or push away. She pressed into him. She kissed him back. She parted her lips for his tongue, pressing into her mouth, like molten lava, hot liquid. It melted her. His arms wrapped around her to hold her up.

  It felt like the first time and last time, all over. It was amazing, seductive, and warm. It held promises and hopes. She tried to get closer, as the kiss turned from sweet and hesitant, to possessive and heated. Time apart hadn't dulled any of their attraction that was certain. She started to rub her hips against him, when she heard a worried "Mom?" from the other side of the room.

  * * * *

  Kip expected to be shown the door after the heated kiss in the kitchen earlier that morning. He lay in his hotel bed, his hands stacked under his head as he stared at the ceiling. It wasn't so much the kiss that was the problem, but being walked in on by Mandy's son. Getting caught like that had been nerve wracking.

  Or maybe it was the kiss that he'd expected her to take offense too. He'd taken it too far. He hadn't planned to go that far. Only a sweet, short kiss, but she'd kissed him back. She pressed her body against his.

  Hours later his body still throbbed from the memory. No one managed to affect him like Mandy. He glanced at his watch. Not too long before he had to get up and get ready for supper. With Mandy and her son.

  One short dinner hour to separate their lives had turned into renting a car, meeting her son. Almost a relationship?

  That was getting a little ahead of himself. At any rate, Mandy hadn't kicked him out. He felt awkward for a moment, when Mandy switched into Mom mode and got her son ready for school. Half an hour later they were in the rental, driving to his hotel. She dropped him off at the front doors. "I usually get home after five. So if you show up about six, supper will be ready then."

  He knew the shock registered on his face as he turned to face her his hand on the door knob. He had planned his 'it was nice to see you' speech. "Okay. I will be there, promise. With dessert."

  She smiled and nodded. He watched intently as she licked her lips. "Have a good day."

  "You too. And you Colton. It was nice meeting you." He closed the door, wishing he could have kissed those lips before he exited the car. They had tasted better than any doughnuts he picked out in the predawn hours.

  He rolled onto his side. Maybe he needed a cold shower.

  She hadn't told him dinner together was off. And it wasn't dinner only together. It was dinner with Mandy and her son. He considered going out and trying to find a replica of his jersey at a local sports store. But he had no idea if the kid even liked hockey. He thought about going to buy a toy or something, but once he got to the store, he realized he had no idea what eight-year-old boys were into.

  For the Christmas present he used the same strategy he used for his nieces. He went to biggest toy store in the city and asked clerks until someone handed him a toy. Now standing here on a Thursday morning, there were no other shoppers, there were no clerks wandering the aisles.

  He stood in the middle of the aisle filled with model trucks and Lego boxes that looked nothing like the Lego he'd had as a kid, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed his sister, Maggie's number. She
had an eight-year-old and was a stay-at-home mom, sure to be home. She answered on the fifth ring. "Hall residence, Maggie speaking."

  "Mags, hello."

  "Kip? Calling me in the middle of the day? What's the occasion?"

  "Yeah, well, nice to talk to you too. I need some help."

  "With what? It's Thursday at 10 AM. And you are calling from your cell phone."

  "What is a good toy for an eight-year-old boy?" He tapped his toes when she didn't reply immediately. His patience with this shopping experience ran thin. "Come on. Please help me here?"

  "I'd love too. But there is a burning question on my mind. It's making it impossible to think."

  His sister was hilarious. He bit back his clever retort. Biting back wouldn't get him any further in the buying process. "Okay, look. Don't tell anyone, because it doesn't mean anything. I'm having dinner with Mandy Green and her son. And I thought a gift, would be, y'know a nice thing to do." He regretted calling anyone related to him. His mother would call him tonight, ask about Mandy.

  "I heard she had a kid. In Alberta. Huh?" No one in his family had moved outside Saskatchewan, except him. It was unheard of. "Lego."

  "What?"

  "Lego. It's always a good present for a boy. Get him one of those sets they have. He can build and shit. It's great for their imaginations."

  He nodded. Wow, his sister hadn't grilled him on Mandy. Not yet. "Lego. Thanks. You won't tell Mom will you?"

  Maggie laughed in his ear. "You're still afraid of her?"

  "I'm thirty, unmarried and childless. I'm afraid of all female relatives, especially those over fifty. They seem to think I'm bringing the wrath of God on my head by not being married."

  "Well, hurry up then. Get married. You still love Mandy and if she has a kid already, well, you don't even have to have one of your own if you don't want to."

  What the hell? What the hell did Maggie know about how he felt for Mandy? "We are friends, that's all. We planned for coffee but her car broke, so I rented her one. And she wanted to thank me with supper." Yes, that was casual. Car rentals and thank you suppers. Pre-dawn kisses in the kitchen that could have led to sex on the floor.