Page 28 of The Only Goal

“It’s okay, Kai. You can come in. I’m just getting ready for hockey practice.”

He doesn’t respond, and I assume he’s run back to Tammy… until I hear the door creak once more.

I move slowly, keeping my expression casual and my gaze off his face as I pack my bag for practice. I have a few extra sticks to take—they rattle together as I dump them in the open bag.

Kai eases into the room, and I keep ignoring him, not wanting to scare him away.

He’s been here for three days now, and although he’s still super quiet, he’s getting a little braver. Chasing Fezzik around is helping with that. That pup can get Kai’s giggles going, and he sounds so much like his mother when he laughs that it always trips me up.

Tammy’s been quiet but calm as she potters around, helping Rachel with cleaning and whatever else needs to be done around this place. Yesterday, I caught them swooning over menus and cooking ideas.

I think Rachel’s fallen for Tammy as fast as I did.

It’s hard not to. She’s sweet and funny, and although she’s not as lively as she used to be in high school, I can see that spark lingering. At least I think I can. If she wasn’t hurting so badly over what Hudson did to her, I’m sure she’d be filling this house with laughter and mischief. She couldn’t help herself when we were younger. She was always after the fun, talking me into crazy shit just for a laugh.

Clenching my jaw, I crouch down by my hockey box and sort through a few pucks, throwing them into the bag as Kai shuffles up to my bed. Resting his elbows on the duvet, he cups his cheek and watches me work.

Not saying anything is becoming harder and harder, so eventually I give in and quietly ask, “No Fezzik, huh? He sleeping?”

Kai nods, the left side of his mouth dipping.

“Your mom said you’re not allowed to wake him, huh?”

He nods again, and I can’t help a snicker. “I guess you just have to think about how much energy he’ll have when he wakes up. He’ll be busting to play with you.”

Kai doesn’t respond to that, and I wonder if I said too many words this time.

It’s obvious that he doesn’t like to talk much, although Casey seems to be able to get the words out of him. When the guy’s home, Kai follows him around like a puppy. Casey cracks jokes that make the little guy smile, and he even growled and turned himself into a bear last night. I thought that would scare the shit out of Kai, but he just squealed and took off running, his laughter bouncing off the walls as Fezzik and Casey chased him. Caroline was over, and she got all misty-eyed for a minute as she watched them. Casey nabbed Kai and threw him in the air, catching him and tickling the poor kid until he nearly peed his pants.

Rachel got up and gave her a kiss, murmuring something soft that I only just caught the end of. “…great dad one day. When the timing’s right.”

Caroline smiled and mouthed, “Thank you,” then went back to watching her boyfriend play.

I shared a look with Tammy, who was smiling and crying all at the same time as well.

It broke my heart a little, because I knew it was for different reasons. Caroline still mourns her miscarriage every now and again… as far as I can tell.

Tammy’s mourning the fact that her husband is a disloyal shithead… I think.

She’s definitely torn up, and I don’t know what to do about it… or how to help her.

Clearing my throat, I stand and watch Kai step back from me.

“I’m not gonna hurt you, kid.” I smile down at him, then rub my cheeks. “I even shaved off the scary beard for ya.”

His nose wrinkles. “You did that for me?”

“Yeah.” I nod.

The boy eyes me up, his lips twitching like he wants to smile, but maybe he’s just a little afraid to do it.

Shit. What was his home life like?

Hudson may be a douche, but he never struck me as the kind of guy who would scare his family. He was always so charming and cared too much about appearances to be anything other than cheesy.

But was that plastic veneer hiding a darker side?

Part of me wants to ask, but I’m worried Kai will take off if I do. Maybe Tammy will tell me, if I can get her alone for long enough to talk to her. This house is way too busy sometimes, and when everyone’s at school, she’s always with Rachel.

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