Page 26 of Forever Player

When I reach the stoplight, Maylee starts crying again. Since it’s a red light, I place her pacifier in her mouth. I start to drive and when I’m met with silence I take a deep cleansing breath, but the silence doesn’t last long. At least I’m pulling up to the farm when Maylee decides to exercise her vocals again.

I pull up to the front of the house as Lev and Jacob are walking up to the door. I realize there is still one brother I haven’t met.

I go straight for Maylee.

“What’s going on, Noble?” Jacob asks. I still hear the hint of mistrust in his tone, but I don’t take it personally.

“Went to the supermarket,” I say to him. “I’ll get her in the house and situated and then I’ll get the groceries.”

“I got it. You go ahead,” he offers.

Lev follows him to the bed of the truck and they both bring in the groceries.

“Hi there, baby girl. You don’t need to cry,” I soothe her. I kick off my boots at the door and walk her over to the couch. I lay her down and remove the snowsuit. “There, that’s much better.”

I place her in her bouncer and turn on the music. She calms and smiles at the little hangy things on the arch.

I take off my jacket and hang it at the front door.

“Did you buy a whole cow?” Jacob asks as he unloads the groceries.

“I tend to eat a lot. I didn’t want to burden your family. Figured I’d buy enough for everyone,” I explain.

Lev gives Jacob a look and then he leaves the room. Jacob unloads the groceries into the fridge and I help him.

With everything unloaded, I take the bread I bought along with the cheese and ham. I make two monster-sized grilled cheese sandwiches, while Jacob sits beside Maylee and talks to her. I wonder if he is checking to make sure she is okay after spending the day with me.

“You want a grilled cheese?” I ask Jacob.

“Sure, but why does it smell?” he asks.

“Gouda cheese and ham,” I reply. “My sister is in chef’s school back home. I’ve learned a thing or two from her over the years, and this is one of those easy recipes that leaves an impression.” I fry up another two grilled cheese sandwiches because Jacob looks like he has a hearty appetite too.

Jacob and I sit to eat.

“What’s your story, Noble?” Jacob asks. Then he bites into his sandwich. “Shit, that is good.”

“Told you,” I say, eating mine. Damn am I starved. “I don’t have a story but I told you I’m here to stay. We need to get along. I’ll talk to Willow and come up with a plan for when I have to go back to work, but I am not walking away. What’s your story?” I ask him back, thinking it’s fair game.

“What do you mean?” He chuckles.

I laugh too.

“I don’t know. I know you got hurt but why did you leave hockey?” I ask him.

“My dad had health issues. Willow showed up pregnant. She doesn’t have a trust fund. She needed a place to live and this farm isn’t going to run itself.”

“You’re here because of Willow?” I ask him.

“I’m here because my family needs me. My younger brother, Finn, is just finishing high school. His prospects of getting a scholarship are high. Lev is, well, I don’t know, and my other brother, Jack, is in New Haven playing NCAA hockey. Mom could’ve sold this place and moved to an apartment in town, but I didn’t want that for Maylee and Willow,” he says.

“That’s honorable of you,” I say to him. “I appreciate you watching out for them.”

He gives me a weird look. “You keep talking about Willow as if you’re together. You had a one-night stand with her. You can’t just, I don’t know. . .claim her.”

“Why not?” I retort. “I think she and I can be more.”

He breaks into manic laughter. “Dude, I’m saying this like a friend because you seem like a nice guy, but Willow isn’t settling down with you. She has trust issues. We all do. Growing up in this house was like living in a war zone. She is never going down that road.”

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