Page 34 of Breakaway

“It is very cute how naïve you are.” He grinned to hide how annoyed he truly was. “I got pranked, again. And I’m pretty sure this one was a revenge prank.”

“Oh, you don’t think—”

“I’m not sure how he pulled it off, but I do think your uncle was in on it. Just a little bit of punishment for last night.”

“I’m sorry.” She frowned, and it made his heart melt. She wasn’t responsible, and it wasn’t fair that Morris had done this and made her feel that way.

“It’s not your fault. It was a prank, haha. Good one. He got me.” He grinned at her. “But the joke’s on him, because I got to spend my morning with you.”

“Very true.” Her frown turned into a little smile, and his heart lifted.

“They prank the rookies all the time, you know,” Katie added.

“Oh trust me, I know. I’ve been the butt of all the pranks over the past week. This wasn’t just any prank.”

Morgan whispered something in Katie’s ear.

“Oh.” Katie’s eyes bugged out, as Morgan finished whatever she was saying. “Yeah, today’s prank was all for you. Sorry.”

“I guess I’m going to go back to bed. Can we get together after you’re done?” There was nothing he could do about the pranks. And maybe there was something to what his Grams had told him when he was young: if you ignore the bullies, they’ll get bored and go away. Honestly, that was his only choice, especially if he wanted any hope of someday getting Morris to accept that he was dating Morgan.

“I’m done at four. After work, Katie and I are going to grab a drink. Then I think I need to head home. Aunt Trina and the kids should be there, so with any luck I can stop in and get changed without Uncle Sam starting a confrontation. I’ll text you, and we can meet up. Sound good?”

“Sounds good to me. I’ll see you later today.”

Travis gave her a quick kiss and headed back to his hotel room. He had a free afternoon, and he was thinking of napping, binging television, and room service. Then date night.

But first, he felt a call to Grams was necessary. It had been a few days since they last spoke. He dialed Grams phone number.

“Hello? Travis?” He could practically hear her smiling through the phone lines.

“Hi Grams, how are you?” He sat down in the recliner and got comfortable in the quiet hotel room.

“I’m good, Travis. Doing real well.” Grams was slightly out of breath. “Just got home from my Taekwon-Do class, so excuse my heavy breathing. That is some work out!”

“Grams! Taekwon-Do? Really?” Grams was always busy doing something that grandmas didn’t typically do.

“Sure, why not? Volleyball was postponed, because Gladys broke her hip, and we don’t have a replacement, so I signed up for Taekwon-Do. As long as I can, why shouldn’t I? And don’t you say because I’m seventy-eight years old. You’re only as old as you feel.”

“Okay, you’re right, Grams.” He adored her. One day she was the typical grandmother baking cookies and sending care packages, and the next she was taking Taekwon-Do.

“So what’s new with you, hon?”

“As of today the team has a few days off. It is a glitch in the schedule, but a nice time to take a breath and relax.”

“That sounds nice. Everyone needs some down time, even hockey players. So what else is going on?”

“I met a girl.”

“I can hear it in your voice, you’re smitten. Tell me about this young woman. Is she better than that Mariah girl? I never liked her. It always felt like she had ulterior motives. My gut always told me she wasn’t right for you.”

“No, Grams, she’s nothing like Mariah.” He shivered at his ex’s name. That was a relationship he’d rather not rehash.

“Well, hallelujah for that.” Grams laughed.

He shook his head and stifled his own laughter. Grams never minced words. “Her name is Morgan, and I really like her. She’s beautiful, smart, and kind, and she’s not impressed with hockey fame. Pretty much the opposite of Mariah. I met her at the practice rink. She works there.”

“She sounds wonderful. I hope I’ll get to meet her soon.”

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