Page 19 of Tempting the Goalie (Riverside U #5)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
L uc
It feels like reality set in the moment we landed in Montreal. Val-Du-Lys is too small to have its own airport, so Izzy and I flew into Montreal together. Being together on the plane was our last moments to just be. To not hide the relationship that has been budding between us.
The last few weeks of the semester went by in a blur.
We won the Frozen Four. The team came back to Riverside and we partied too much, which in hindsight wasn’t the smartest idea with finals being so close.
Overall, I ended junior year with a high enough average to stay on the team, which is all that matters.
Coach Heaton also informed me that some teams have started inquiring about my plans. One of them is a Canadian team.
“Phoenix offered to pick us up, but I told him not to worry about it,” Izzy says.
“Yeah, Elyna offered too, but I didn’t want her to have to make the drive with Braden.”
“Makes sense. So, we have an hour cab ride back home,” she says.
Something about her words feel final. We said this fake relationship would last until the Frozen Four.
The finals solidified my role as the top goalie in NCAA hockey this year, which means it’s unlikely I’ll end up on a farm team.
Our lives are moving forward at a fast pace, but I don’t know where that leaves us.
We take our luggage and roll it outside.
We catch a cab and put our luggage in the trunk.
We both settle into the back seat. The air between us feels heavy.
We haven’t had the talk . We said this fling would last three weeks and it’s been six.
I wanted us to keep sleeping together and we couldn’t seem to keep our hands off each other, so I wasn’t going to bring the inevitable up and it appears neither was Izzy.
After a very quiet cab ride, where we both stare out the windows of the car on opposite sides, we pull onto our street. Coming home is always bittersweet. A mix of good memories mixed with a stain of pain and loss. I think it’s the same for Izzy.
The cab stops and we get out. I take her luggage out of the trunk and set it on the side of the road.
We both stare at each other a beat. My gaze drops to her plump lips then down to her chest. I take in every inch of her, from how her hair falls over her shoulders in soft waves, to the distant look in her eyes, to those sexy as hell jean shorts that show off her legs.
Everything has changed between us and being home drives the point home.
She will always be my best friend, but now that I know the sounds she makes when she comes. . .well, there is no turning back.
“I should head inside. Daddy came home from work early to see me, and Phoenix said he’d make sure Eric, Becket, and Asher were around,” she says awkwardly.
“Right, your brothers. If they only knew what we’ve been up to they’d kick my ass.” I smile because I need to break this tension.
Izzy laughs. “You aren’t wrong, but what they don’t know can’t hurt them.”
“Or me,” I add.
She leans in and hugs me. I bury my nose in her hair like a lovesick puppy, taking in the scent of vanilla and shea butter. Sweet as hell.
“Okay, I got Elyna waiting on me. I can’t wait to see how much Braden has grown. I feel like FaceTime doesn’t do a baby justice.” I chuckle.
She giggles. “Probably not.”
“Why does this feel awkward?” I finally ask. “It shouldn’t. I’m me and you’re you. We’re us.”
She sighs. “A lot has changed. We never had the talk,” she says pointedly.
“No, I guess we haven’t,” I grin. “I’m not opposed to having it.”
I’m giving her an opening.
“We’re not doing it here and now,” she asserts. It is a royally bad idea.
“Okay, head inside. I’ll check out your ass one more time before I can’t anymore,” I tease.
That buys me a laugh from her. I love hearing Izzy laugh. There is no better sound.
“See you around, Isabelle.” I drop my voice low and can’t help the rough edge that comes out as I take hold of my suitcase and carry-on.
I watch her eyes turn to fire since I know what it does to her when I call her by her full name.
“Not fair, Luc.” She smirks, shaking her head. She takes hold of her luggage and heads down the long drive to the main house on her family’s property. Their property is about twenty times the size of ours.
“Honey, I’m home,” I shout as I open the front door, which is unlocked.
The place looks clean but that’s because Elyna moved home months ago.
“You’re here,” Elyna says. She comes right at me and gives me a hug, and I swing her off her feet.
“Hey, you.”
She laughs. “It’s good to have you home.”
I place her on her feet and take a good look at her. “Where’s my nephew?”
“Asleep. That’s what babies do at 8:00 p.m.” She chortles.
“And Dad?” I ask.
Her lips turn down. “He’s out.”
“Like at work?” I ask, knowing that something feels off. Dad is a plumber by trade, but he has to be sober long enough for people in town to call on him.
She shakes her head. “Don’t be mad. He’s drinking too much to get any work. I didn’t want you to worry when you were dealing with finals.”
I hiss, resting my hands at my waist in fists. “You’ve been staying in this place with your little baby and our drunk father?”
Her lips twist. “I’ve been keeping an eye out. I had nowhere to go.”
“So you call me and we figure it out together,” I say to her.
“Everything is fine now. You’re a hockey champion and you’re home now. You can keep Dad in check.”
“What a dream come true. What happens when I leave?” I ask.
“I’ll figure something out. I’ve been working at the Maple Valley Microbrewery a few hours a day while Mrs. Jansen watches Braden.”
“You shouldn’t trust her with Braden. Look how Riley turned out,” I say of Braden’s dad.
“She’s his grandmother. She loves him and she’s watching him for free,” my sister argues.
“Where is Riley?” I ask. That no good for nothing sperm donor is never around when you need him.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s better he’s not in our lives,” she says, sounding eerie.
“Did something happen with him? Is that why you left Montreal?” I ask.
“Stop being a detective and tell me how you’ve been,” she redirects. Yup, something happened with the jerk. “I bet you’re hungry from all that traveling. I made a lasagna. Come eat,” she says to me.
“Thanks, I could use a bite to eat. But this conversation isn’t over, Elyna,” I declare as I sit at the kitchen table and serve myself a helping of meat lasagna. “Hmm, this is good.”
“I know it isn’t over, but I’m twenty-eight years old, and I have a kid to worry about. Sometimes we make tough decisions.”
She isn’t wrong. I wish there was something more I could do to help but until I get out there and start making real money, I don’t have much to offer.
Elyna sits across from me at the kitchen table. “Don’t worry, little brother. I’ve got everything under control. I spoke with Phoenix, and he said that if I keep up the good work he’ll put me on the regular schedule in the fall, and one of the cabins should free up by then.”
“I guess that sounds like a temporary solution until I start getting paid. Then I want you going back to school,” I say to her.
“No thanks, Daddy,” she laughs. “I’ll be thirty by then.”
“You’re still young,” I say to her.
“Yeah, well, I feel old.” She sighs. She looks tired and stressed.
“Why don’t you go out? I can keep an eye on Braden, and I’ll deal with Dad when he gets home,” I say to her.
“You want to babysit?” She giggles. “You don’t know what to do with a baby.”
“So tell me what to do, and I’ll do it,” I offer.
Truth is, I haven’t been around Braden much since he was born. Elyna has dealt with everything on her own. I’ve felt terrible that I couldn’t do more.
“Tell you what. Tomorrow you can meet the little guy in the morning and get to know him. I can show you how things work with his bottles and diaper changes.”
“He needs diaper changes?” I ask in shock.
Elyna bursts into laughter and shakes her head.
“I was just kidding. I knew that,” I say, trying to cover my idiotic comment.
“Sure you did.” She bounces her head.
I yawn. “Thanks for dinner. I’m going to take my stuff upstairs.”
“I changed your bedsheets and opened the windows,” she says.
“Thanks, sis,” I say as I move to the doorway to collect my things.
“Good to have you home, Luc,” she says.
“Yeah,” I agree because it’s good to see Elyna, and I need to bond with my nephew. The little dude doesn’t have a proper father figure in his life. I know what that’s like and I want to be there for him, no matter what. “Good night.”
“Night,” Elyna calls out.
I head up to my room to unpack. My thoughts shift to Izzy. I wonder what her welcome home looks like. I bet it was sweeter than mine.
I want to text her. I hate that I’m thinking twice about my every move when it comes to her now, but I don’t want to say or do the wrong thing.