Ah, Jenna. Always managing to make herself look like the good guy.
“She can stay as long as she wants, but she’s not taking you guys with her when she leaves,” I say.
Vi finishes packing her lunch and scoops her neon pink encased cellphone off the counter. Her words about me not being able to keep track of her every second of the day ringing in my ears, I hold my hand out to her.
“Give me your phone.”
“Why?”
“You’re grounded from using it.”
“Why?” she demands, louder this time.
“Because right now, I don’t trust you with it.”
“You can’t just take my phone.”
I swipe it from her hand and say, “Actually, I can.”
“When are you giving it back?”
Not until Jenna is far from Greentree Falls, but I don’t say that.
“I don’t know, Vi.”
“Mom will just buy me a new one anyway.”
I want to tell her that supporting her children and helping with their expenses isn’t my sister’s style, but I stay silent. Vi is just a kid caught in a sad situation.
“We’re a family,” I say softly. “Me, you, Hazel and Max. We always have been. I’m not just giving a member of my family away.”
“But she’s our mom,” Vi implores. “Just because I want to live with her doesn’t mean I don’t love you.”
“I know. I really do. I’m just trying to do what I think is best for you guys. Your mom…” I try to think of the best way to phrase it without badmouthing her. “She’s never had children at home to care for. It’s not always easy, and it’s expensive. She’s never lived in one place for even a full year since she left Greentree Falls. I don’t want you traveling around with her, crashing on the couches of people you don’t even know. You need to be in school.”
“What if I just go for the summer and see how it goes?”
The hope in her eyes breaks my heart. “I don’t know.”
“Will you think about it? Please?”
I nod. “I promise I will. And will you promise not to do anything rash like run off without permission?”
“If you let Mom come back and stay with us.”
“No!” Hazel protests.
“Vi, that’s not working out very well,” I say.
“Can I go stay with her, then?”
“No.”
My phone dings with a text and I walk over to the table to check it.
Erik: Good morning, gorgeous. Thinking about you.
I smile and write back.
Me: If I can figure out how to break my hip, will you move in with me for a month?
Erik: Don’t do that. A broken hip would put a dent in our sex life…if you wanted to move in together, you’d just need to ask.
My heart pounds hard at the thought. It would be my dream come true, but also the end of his hockey career. And he’s worked so hard to succeed in the NHL.
I looked up when NHL players typically retire and found out some play past the age of forty. Others, depending on injuries, retire close to Erik’s age But he’s only thirty.
I don’t see how life in Greentree Falls would compare to the excitement of the NHL. And I’m anchored to this town by the kids. Our dilemma is the same, even ten years later.
Me: Want to come have lunch with me at work later?
Erik: Yes, what time?
Me: 12:30. I’ll meet you at the snack bar.
Erik: See you then. Have a good morning.
Me: You too.
“So what’s up with the two of you?” Vi asks me.
“What? Who?” I put my phone on the table facedown, feigning ignorance.
“You and Erik. Or Easy, whatever his name is.” Vi arches her brows. “Did you know he makes like three million a year? I looked him up.”
I cut a glare her way. “I don’t know how much he makes and I don’t care. It shouldn’t matter in the first place.”
“It’s so romantic that you guys fell in love when he played high school hockey. And now he’s in the pros.”
“He worked hard to get there.”
“So are you back together?”
“No.”
“But you guys might get back together, right?” Hazel asks.
I wish something would interrupt this conversation. I don’t even know what’s going on between me and Erik, let alone how to explain it to the girls. I certainly can’t tell them we hooked up after drinking too much.
“Things are complicated with us,” I say.
“Maybe you could explain it while you drive us to school?” Vi asks.
“Can’t Max take you?”
“He finished school already because he didn’t have to take finals. I can’t wait to be an upperclassman.”
I sigh and say, “Okay. I’ll take you because it’s the last day. But there’s nothing to explain, really.”
The girls shoulder their backpacks and I pull my hair into a bun at the nape of my neck. I grab my purse and keys and we head out to the car.
“Let’s do something tonight to celebrate the last day of school,” I suggest. “Maybe pizza and a movie?”
“We’re both invited to a party,” Vi says.
“It’s my turn to ride shotgun,” Hazel says when Vi goes for the front passenger door.
“No, it’s not. You got the front last time.”
“No, you did.”
“When we picked you up from that soccer clinic, you got the front,” Vi says, sliding into the front seat.
“Oh yeah.” Hazel swings her backpack into the back seat and then gets in the car.
“Where’s this party at?” I ask. “Will the parents be home?”
“It’s at Malia Parks’ house. It’s a pool party. And yes, her parents will be there.”
“What’s their house number? I’m going to call to make sure.”
Vi rolls her eyes. “Of course you are.”
“I know, it’s a real drag when someone cares about you,” I say dryly.
“Anyway, back to you and Erik. Is he your boyfriend?”
“No.”
“Aunt Allie, you need to get back with him. He loves you so much, I can tell.”
“I love him, too. But sometimes it takes more than love.”
“Mom said you guys were going to get married. Before Grandma and Grandpa died.”
I clutch the steering wheel hard, angry that Jenna would dare even talk about our parents and the plans I had for my life before they passed away.
“Things change, Vi.”
“But you could marry him now. You guys could live in Chicago and we could live with Mom and come see you and go to hockey games. Wouldn’t that be great?”
“Will you just drop it?” Hazel says from the backseat. “I’m never living with her.”
“I just—”
I cut Vi off before she can say more. “Seriously, enough. You’ve said everything there is to say about it.”
She sighs dramatically. “Fine. But can Mom at least come over for dinner before the party tonight? I want to see her. I can’t even text her since you took my phone away.”
“I’m not eating dinner with her,” Hazel says firmly.
“Come on!” Vi turns to glare at her. “She really wants to see you. You can just sit there and say nothing like always if you want.”
“No one gets a chance to talk when you’re around anyways,” Hazel mutters.
“Just…please do it, okay?” Vi begs. “Just dinner. One little dinner.”
There’s silence. I’m sure Hazel’s going to hold her ground, but she says, “Fine.”
“You’re okay with it?” I ask, surprised.
“Just dinner. That’s it. She’s not staying with us and I’m still going to the party.”
Vi grins back at her sister. “Thank you.” She turns to me. “Will you text Mom to invite her since I don’t have my phone?”
“Sure.”
I pull up in front of the school and the girls get ou
t.
“Have a good day!” I call to them.
“Bye, love you,” Vi says, waving.
Hazel looks back at me and waves too, almost smiling.
They’re both at that awkward in-between age. I remember it well. I was only a little older than they are now when I met Erik. I was gangly, with a mouth full of braces.
Life is easier now than it was when I had three young kids at the same time. I never had any time for myself back then. But it’s bittersweet, seeing them grow into adults with their own personalities. They’re all different, but I love them all the same.
I get to Fox Foods and park. As soon as I get to the manager’s office, Kelly is waiting in the doorway with a huge grin.
“Hey, what’s up?” I say.
“Oh, not much.”
She steps aside and I walk into the office, where a huge vase loaded with two dozen red roses sits on the desk.
“Did you get that from Ross?” I ask, smiling back at her.
“Are you kidding me? Ross has sent me flowers a total of one time, and I found out later it was actually his mom who did it and signed his name to the card. God help me, I love my husband, but he is the least romantic man ever. Those are for you.”
“Me?” I walk over and pick up the card, which is sealed.
I open it and see a message in Erik’s trademark handwriting—all caps, super neat.
ALWAYS HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL. LOVE, ERIK
I put my hand over my mouth, reading the words again and again.
“Allie, he’s amazing,” Kelly gushes. “When he came in to order those, he paid Bruce twenty bucks to distract you so you wouldn’t accidentally walk over there and see.”
I laugh. “So you’re saying Bruce didn’t really need me to explain the deductions from his paycheck seven times?”
“No. And I’m serious, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man so…god, he’s just handsome. That smile and those muscles. I get it now. Why Hairy Larry was such a giant disappointment. Why every man in Greentree Falls would be a disappointment compared to him. He adores you.”
I lean down to smell one, taking in the sweet scent.
“He is amazing. But he’s in Chicago and I’m here. I don’t know how we can get around that.”
“I’d be packing my shit right now if I were you.”
“Max’s dad is here,” I remind her. “And he’s a good dad. He’s supported Max and spent time with him his entire life. Next year is Max’s senior year, too. It would devastate him to not play football or run track with his teammates and finish high school with his friends.”
“Why don’t you at least talk to him about it? You’ve always put the kids first, maybe they’ll agree it’s time to do something for you.”
I pin my nametag on my shirt and say, “Vi is lobbying hard for them to move in with Jenna so I can run off to Chicago and be with Erik.”
Kelly’s eyes widen with surprise. “You’re not thinking about it, are you?”
“No way. Not a chance.” I look at the flowers again and say, “If Erik had come back home a year from now, things might be different.”
“Just talk to the kids about it, would you?”
I nod while pouring myself half a cup of coffee, getting in a few sips before it’s time to hit the store floor.
Kelly’s right. It was easier to forget how much I loved Erik when he was gone and I figured he hated me for ending things. But now that he’s back, and I know he loves me, I have to at least try to find a way.
Maybe I can have it all.
Seventeen
Easy
I slow to a light jog and come to a stop as I reach Aunt Jo’s house, bending at the waist and then standing up, hands behind my head, to catch my breath. I loop my sweaty T-shirt around my neck and walk for a few minutes up the sidewalk, still winded.
Today I ran faster than usual, probably because I’m so excited about seeing Allie at lunchtime. Aunt Jo is progressing well in occupational therapy, moving through daily tasks slowly with the help of the therapist, which is good but also means my time in Greentree Falls is coming to an end.
I’ll stay as long as I possibly can, but what then? I’ve got plenty of money in the bank. I don’t have to play hockey to remain financially stable, but I can’t imagine retiring now, when I still have some good years left in my body.
I made it to the top, which was a big accomplishment for a player who never even touched a hockey stick until high school. The thrill of skating onto the ice at the start of a game has never faded for me—I’ve always planned to play as long as my body will allow.
The guys on my team are my second family. I’m not ready to quit the game, not even close, but if it comes down to a choice between the NHL or Allie…what will I do?
“Hey,” a female voice says behind me.
When I turn, I see Allie’s sister Jenna jogging toward me.
“You run? So do I,” she says, smiling.
She’s wearing makeup and a matching little top and shorts, her blond hair pulled back through the back of a baseball cap. Given her appearance and the fact that she’s not sweating, I’m immediately suspicious.
“Well, have a good one,” I say, sitting down to stretch my legs.
“Oh, are you done running?” She sits down beside me. “Me too.”
Jenna upset Allie the other night. She already wasn’t my favorite person, but now she’s actually on my shit list.
“What do you want?” I ask gruffly.
She shrugs. “Just chatting. It has to be hard to come home and see Allie after what she did.”
I’m not sure what Jenna’s endgame is, but I think she might be planning to use me to convince Allie to let the kids move in with her. I remember how manipulative she always was when Allie and I were together, and I don’t plan to play her games, but in order to figure out what game she’s playing, I don’t tell her to fuck off like I’d like to.
“She’s happy,” I say, shrugging. “I’m happy for her.”
“My kids have been lucky to have her. She’s pretty amazing.”
I stand up and nod. Jenna scrambles to her feet.
“I’ve always been more of a free spirit,” she says, giving me a coy smile.
That’s a polite way of describing the way she makes bad decisions, shirks responsibility, and lies to get her way. She used to come home to her parents’ house wasted when Max was a baby, barely sparing him a look before she went to crash in her room.
They finally kicked her out, though it broke their hearts. Then she got pregnant again and kept partying, leaving her parents worried sick about the two lives growing inside her.
“So how much longer are you in town?” she asks me.
“I’m not sure.”
“There’s a new place over by the dollar store, a bar and grill. Have you been?”
“Nope.”
She pretends to stretch, pushing her chest in my direction. “Well, I think I’m going there tonight. You should stop by.”
This bitch. She’s hitting on me, hoping I’ll screw her and break Allie’s heart. It’s not fair that Allie’s parents were taken from her in that car accident and this is her only sibling.
“Yeah?” I play along. “What if I do?”
She takes a step closer to me. “I’m the fun one, you know. I’m not uptight at all. And I don’t kiss and tell.”
“Is that right?”
“Yes.” She licks her lips, probably thinking she looks seductive. “Hope you come by so you can find out.”
She jogs off then, leaving me shaking my head in amazement. I walk down the sidewalk back to Aunt Jo’s house and as soon as I walk inside, I hear her squawking at the nurse.
“I’m not taking a shower during The View!” she cries. “Have you lost your mind? I told you when you started, I watch The View every day and on time.”
“I was hoping maybe we could record it?” the nurse suggests.
I try not to laugh, because I know the silence means Aunt Jo is w
inding up to respond.
“I don’t miss Whoopi,” she says. “Now I can tell you’re fresh off nursing school graduation, so let me give you some advice—listen to your patients. At least act like their wants and needs matter.”
“Of course it matters, but I’m here to make sure you get a shower, get your medications and get to your doctor’s appointments on time. We don’t have time for all that and The View, but if we record—”
“You’re fired!” Aunt Jo cries. “But pass me the remote before you leave.”
I walk into the room and the nurse gives me a helpless look.
“This young gal thinks I’m gonna just skip The View,” Aunt Jo says to me. “She’s fired.”
“You’re not fired,” I tell the nurse.
“Excuse you?” Aunt Jo gives me a look and calls out, “Naomi, get in here and get your son in line, please!”
“Mom went to her church meeting, remember? Why don’t you let this nurse help you shower real quick and then you can catch The View?” I glance down at my watch. “It starts in fourteen minutes; you can make it if you hurry.”
“I don’t move as quick as you.” She glares at me. “I can’t shower in fourteen minutes.”
“You can if you quit talking and start moving.”
“Is this how kids are these days? Impertinent and disrespectful like the two of you?”
“I’m thirty, Aunt Jo,” I remind her.
I gesture for the nurse to come over and together, we help Aunt Jo into her wheelchair, though she complains every step of the way. The nurse figures out she needs to tune out about eighty percent of what Aunt Jo says, and helps her shower and dress in record time. Just in time for the show’s opening credits.
Whatever that nurse gets paid, it’s not nearly enough.
After Aunt Jo gets settled, I take a quick shower and put some clean clothes on, make my post-workout protein shake and drink it, and talk to my mom for a little bit when she gets back from church.
“I have to go,” I tell her, looking at the time.
“Where are you off to?”
“Lunch with Allie.”
“Oh.” Her face lights up. “Good.”
She practically pushes me out the door and I squeeze into the driver’s seat of the rental car I’m starting to get used to. It seems like it’s been longer than it has since I showered in my own very large and very spacious bathroom, slept in my king-sized bed, and drove my Audi Q7. Despite all that, this visit hasn’t been bad. Pretty great actually.
Easy: A Chicago Blaze Hockey Romance Page 11
