Page 43 of Tempting the Goalie
“I guess that sounds like a temporary solution until I start getting paid. Then I want you going back to school,” I say to her.
“No thanks, Daddy,” she laughs. “I’ll be thirty by then.”
“You’re still young,” I say to her.
“Yeah, well, I feel old.” She sighs. She looks tired and stressed.
“Why don’t you go out? I can keep an eye on Braden, and I’ll deal with Dad when he gets home,” I say to her.
“You want to babysit?” She giggles. “You don’t know what to do with a baby.”
“So tell me what to do, and I’ll do it,” I offer.
Truth is, I haven’t been around Braden much since he was born. Elyna has dealt with everything on her own. I’ve felt terrible that I couldn’t do more.
“Tell you what. Tomorrow you can meet the little guy in the morning and get to know him. I can show you how things work with his bottles and diaper changes.”
“He needs diaper changes?” I ask in shock.
Elyna bursts into laughter and shakes her head.
“I was just kidding. I knew that,” I say, trying to cover my idiotic comment.
“Sure you did.” She bounces her head.
I yawn. “Thanks for dinner. I’m going to take my stuff upstairs.”
“I changed your bedsheets and opened the windows,” she says.
“Thanks, sis,” I say as I move to the doorway to collect my things.
“Good to have you home, Luc,” she says.
“Yeah,” I agree because it’s good to see Elyna, and I need to bond with my nephew. The little dude doesn’t have a proper father figure in his life. I know what that’s like and I want to be there for him, no matter what. “Good night.”
“Night,” Elyna calls out.
I head up to my room to unpack. My thoughts shift to Izzy. I wonder what her welcome home looks like. I bet it was sweeter than mine.
I want to text her. I hate that I’m thinking twice about my every move when it comes to her now, but I don’t want to say or do the wrong thing.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Isabelle
“She’s here!” Eric screams as I walk through the front door.
“Hi,” I say out of breath from lifting my luggage.
Eric walks over to me and lifts me up and swings me around. “Good to see you, Bean.”
“Bean’s home, where are all you idiots at?” Eric hollers through the house.
He sets me on my feet. “You’re looking good. Another year of college down.”
“Yup, one more year to go,” I say.
Daddy walks into the main foyer. “There she is,” he says. I walk over to him and give him a hug.
