Page 65 of Stick Move

She winces and I get it. That sounded a little accusatory. “I didn’t when we broke up. I had other things on my mind, but when he just showed up here unannounced and unwelcomed, I asked for it back and he pocketed it and walked out the door.”

I nod and consider that for a moment, and how horrible it must have been for Brighton and Camryn to come home and find him here. A wave of anger takes hold. Christ, I really wish I had been here when he showed up.

“Changing the locks was smart,” I tell her and she relaxes a bit.

“Daddy, did you bring me back a present?”

I ruffle Camryn’s hair. “Of course, I did, Bean. I have a very special surprise for you.”

She covers her mouth and giggles. “Daddy, we have a surprise for you, too.”

“Another one?” I ask, and from the corner of my eye I see Brighton wince again. Wow, aren’t I saying all the wrong things today. “Did you have another soda?” I ask, and give Brighton a smile to let her know it’s okay. A soda once in a while isn’t going to hurt. Allan showing up uninvited on the other hand… That’s going to hurt—him—if he ever tries it again.

Brighton backs up a bit. “I was going to tell you about that.”

“I know.” I look at Camryn who’s jiggling with excitement. “Why don’t we go upstairs, and I can show you what I brought for you and you can show me what you have for me.”

Camryn runs ahead and when she’s out of sight, I lean in and kiss Brighton. The feel of her warm lips on mine loosens the knot in my stomach. “Missed you,” I tell her.

“I missed you more.”

“Oh yeah.” I give her a playful wink. “Prove it.”

She grabs my shirt and tugs until I bang against her body. I breathe in the sweet floral scent of her skin. “I plan too.”

“Daddy, hurry up.”

I inch back, instantly missing her warmth. “I guess I’d better hurry.”

Brighton and I head up the stairs and I notice the way she keeps looking at me, like she too might have something on her mind. Yeah, we really need to talk.

“You guys did great, Noah,” she finally says. “It was a nail-biting game.”

I grin at her. “But in the end, we kicked some Chicago butt.”

“It was a lot more fun to watch, now that I know some of the players better.”

“So, you do admit to watching before?”

“I admit to nothing,” she responds with an innocent whistle.

“How about our home game this week? Do you think you want to watch in person? I talked to Dad and he said he’d watch Camryn.”

“I would love that.” We walk slowly, wanting just a few seconds of quiet together, even though Camryn is practically bursting at the seams on the landing. “I was thinking,” Brighton continues. “Maybe we could have another barbecue this weekend. The resort is quieter now, and it would be fun to do it on the rooftop patio before it closes for the winter season and before you’re swamped with the regular season. Camryn has been asking to play with Chloe and Luna again.”

“What about Silas?”

Her laugh curls around me. “She is so not into boys right now.”

I groan, knowing her teenage years will test me severely. “I hope that lasts forever.”

She nudges me with her shoulder. “Don’t count on it, J-bone.”

I laugh at that, and when I reach the landing, Camryn grabs my hand and drags me inside the house, and when I see the walls and all the family pictures, I drop my bag, my heart pounding hard in my chest. I turn to Brighton, to find her blinking rapidly as she nibbles her bottom lip.

“You did this?”

She smiles at my daughter. “I had help. Your parents helped too. I went through photo albums with your mom and dad. It was so much fun.” I stare at her, so touched that she did this for Camryn and me.

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