Page 3 of Falling for the Forward

“Carter?” I take the phone back.

Carter: Hi Suki, it’s Olivia, I borrowed Uncle Carter’s phone to text you. Sorry to bother you on your day off but Hallie really wanted me to show you this picture she drew.

I enlarge the attached photo, which is a crayon drawing of a smiling monster with seven arms and rainbow polka dots. Six-year-old Hallie loves to draw--it’s one of our favorite after-school activities. I text back.

Suki: Hi Olivia! You are never bothering me, I’m so happy you sent this. Please tell Hallie this is very creative and I love her use of color.

I read the text from Dex next.

Dex: Trivia tonight? Mara said you’re off and we need you two in case there are questions about random TV shows or Taylor Swift songs.

Suki: And here I thought you wanted to see us....

Dex: Well, that too...I want to hear all about the hockey hottie you’re working for.

Suki: He’s straight and grouchy.

Dex: Rawr. I don’t want him for me, I want him for you. He’s grouchy and commanding, I hope?

Suki: It’s not happening. I just work for him.

Dex: I recommend you drop something while standing in front of him, then drop to your knees and look up at him while biting your lip. Maybe refer to him as ‘sir’...

Suki: I’m not attracted to him and I can’t lose my job. We’ll see you tonight.

Dex: He’s going to put his puck in your net at some point. I know it, and I love that for you.

Suki: I’m never dating again. Go brush up on questions about presidents, you guys choked last time and that’s your category.

Dex: On it. See you soon, dollface.

CHAPTER TWO

Carter

I standup from my seat on my closed toilet, flushing it for good measure. The only break I get from Hallie and Charlotte’s nonstop questions is when I’m showering or sitting on the can. Do I come in here even when I don’t have to go? Yeah, so I can have a little bit of peace.

“There you are!” Hallie runs up to me as soon as I walk downstairs. “Uncle Carter, you poop a lot.”

“I eat lots of fiber.”

“What’s fiber?”

“It’s something healthy foods have.”

She grins, her toothy smile and brown curls reminding me of my sister when she was a kid. “I want some fiber. Can we have it for dinner?”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

I order from DoorDash every night I’m home because I can’t cook. Suki has been cooking on the days she’s here, and she’s a damn good cook. Today’s a Sunday off for me, so the girls had some of Suki’s homemade granola bars for breakfast and I madethem grilled cheese for lunch, which is about the extent of what I can handle cooking. We’ll order in for dinner.

“Will you color with me?” Hallie asks.

I sigh inwardly. I’ve already colored for more than two hours today. It’s hard to say no when she gives me those big, hopeful eyes, though.

“Sure. What are your sisters up to?”

She takes my hand and walks me into the kitchen. “Olivia’s watching a show with kissing and Charlotte’s doing her hair.”

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