Page 8 of Striker's Foul
I glance around, and sure enough, there’s a man sitting at the bar watching me. When he sees me looking, he quickly drops his eyes to his drink.
Before stepping into the kitchen area, I glance back and catch sight of Harold being shown out. The man at the bar is watching that situation. He’s wearing a leather vest, but the back is plain. No large shark design like the others wore earlier. I didn’t see a patch on the front either when I first noticed him.
I’ll have to keep an eye on him. I told them I didn’t want any of their members here unless they could behave. This one isn’t causing a scene. He’s sitting quietly at the bar. Still, I pull my cell phone from my back pocket and send a quick text to Earl, the head of my bouncers, letting him know to keep an eye on the guy.
By the time I close the bar I’m exhausted, and not just the usual kind. I’m physically and emotionally spent tonight. After locking everything up, I make my way upstairs. When I reach the top of the stairs, I set the motion detector alarms for the roadhouse and close the door. Jude left a light on in the kitchen, along with a note.
Love you, Mom. I’ll call and wake you up on my first break.
Because Jude goes to a private prep school, he only has half days a couple of times a week. I can pick him up to take him to practice in town, then we come home so I can get ready for the night. Twice a week, I have Leticia open for me because of gamesI won’t miss. We’re open every night except Mondays. Games are Saturdays and Wednesdays for right now. One is for his city league, and the other is for the school team. I hate missing busy Saturdays, but I go in after we get home. My son is my priority.
Jude started showing his soccer skills when he was young. I couldn’t believe it and didn’t want to admit he was just like his father, but I couldn’t deny it. Now he’s on the same path his father was, being recruited by more advanced teams. But Jude does want to go to college, so that is good. He wants to become a lawyer.
I strip out of my clothes and step into the hot shower. I need the heat to release my muscles, and the steam will hide my tears so I don’t have to scare my son. When Julian moved here, I was shocked, but my urge to move back was too strong. I’ve never stopped thinking of Luke. He’s always been the only man for me. I never got married. I never had the urge to date or seek companionship from anyone else. Even Julian, sexy as he is, has never caught my eye. I’ve only ever wanted Luke, even though he hurt me so badly.
By the time I climb into bed, my eyes hurt from crying and my heart aches over what I lost with Luke and what I’m about to give up with Julian. I can’t be friends with someone who was obviously using me. That’s the only reason I can think of for Julian wanting to be close to me when he’s friends with Luke too.
I close my eyes and pray I don’t have any dreams. Right now, I’d rather have the nightmares than the dreams.
CHAPTER 3
AMELIA
Driving into town toward the private school, I spot a motorcycle in my rearview mirror. I know it’s him, but I’m going to ignore it. I need to get on with my life, and he isn’t a part of it.
When I pull up to the school, I park at the curb like several other parents and wait. Jude makes his way out. He stands head and shoulders over most of the kids. He holds a ball, bouncing it off his knee a few times as he walks. He pauses on his trek, doing a few dribbles between his foot and knee before he sees me waiting. He catches the ball and rushes toward me.
I wave at him like a loon, and he just shakes his head, knowing I’m trying to embarrass him. It’s a joke we’ve been playing on each other since he was in grade school.
“Hey, Mom.” He laughs as he opens the back door to drop his bag and ball. He climbs into the passenger seat and buckles up. “How was your morning?” He leans over to kiss my cheek. My son has never been embarrassed to show me affection. It’s as if he knows how much I crave it.
I pull away, checking my mirrors for other cars, and we head toward the field where his city league practice is. He has a gametomorrow, and it’s an important one for his team. They’ve been struggling to stay among the top three teams in their tier.
“It was good. We need to talk.”
“Ugh, I hate when you say it like that.”
“Your grandfather stopped by last night. He said he’s worried the press is going to catch wind of us being here. He asked that we contact him before we say anything to them.”
Jude has known for years about Harold and his lack of relationship with either of us.
“Jerk can kiss my ass. He’s not my grandfather. Papa was.”
“Jude.” I raise my voice.
“What? It’s true. Bet you told him that when he said it to you.” He looks at me, and I shrug.
“I didn’t, but I thought it.”
“He doesn’t deserve any of your respect, Mom. If anyone asks, I’ll just say no comment or I don’t know the man.”
I love that my son isn’t afraid to say how he feels. I’ve been trying to get him to stop cussing, but it’s been a hard lesson to stick. He was raised around roadhouses and farms, after all.
As we drive through town, I think about how much has changed since I left. I know the family building the new ice rink for the hockey team. Zander’s father and mine used to run in the same circles. Like my son with soccer, Zander’s only focus was hockey as a teenager. It wasn’t until he went pro and played for a team in Texas that he started having run-ins with puck bunnies and girls. I never let him know I was there. I did everything I could to stay hidden so Harold wouldn’t follow through on his threats to take Jude from me. Honestly, though, Papa would have shot him if he’d tried to take our boy from us.
I can’t stop the motion. My hand drifts to the dashboard where Papa’s purple heart is attached. I drag my fingers over the cool metal, then along the ribbon.
“I miss him too,” Jude says, and I turn to look at him. “He would have been proud of you for standing up for yourself and coming back here.”
