Page 36 of Tempting the Goalie
“You know your brother,” I say dryly.
She sighs. “Trouble has a way of finding him. What’s her name?”
I giggle. “It isn’t like that. Luc is trying to stay on the straight and narrow right now.” No way am I divulging our little arrangement to her. At some point everyone in our small town put money on Luc and me getting together, and they may mistake our arrangement of convenience for something it’s not. That’s why it needs to stay a secret.
“The reason I called is because I was talking to Phoenix last night,” I begin.
“I’m going to kill him,” she snaps.
“Don’t, okay?” I say with concern.
“Did you tell Luc?” she asks fearfully.
“No, I haven’t said anything to Luc, but he deserves to know,” I advise her. “You’re a mom now, Elyna. You need to put Braden first. Having him in a bad environment with your dad isn’t a good idea. It isn’t safe.”
“I’m out of options,” she confesses. “I don’t have the money to put down on a deposit to rent my own place. I’m managing. Papa isn’t home most of the time.”
“He’s careless when he’s drinking. You better be sleeping with one eye open,” I remind. He accidentally backhanded her once and forgot food cooking on the stove and almost burned their house down. He also got into his car and tried to drive to the local bar drunk. He may not be a mean drunk, but his sloppiness leads to no good.
“I took the keys to his old truck. He has that Betty lady picking him up all hours of the day and night to go to the Frosted Mug,” She’s making excuses for him. It’s what her and Luc have been doing for too long. He’s her only parent and she wants to see the best in him, but he isn’t a responsible guy. He’s gotten himself involved with some of the bad elements in town from time to time. When he drinks, those connections seem to grow.
“I’m glad he isn’t driving drunk, but you know there’s more to his problem than just drunk driving,” I say to her.
I hear her exhale. “I’ll figure things out. Don’t worry.” Those words make me worry more. It makes me feel like she is withholding some important information.
“I can’t shut off my worry. And Luc would want to know what’s going on with you,” I try to convince her.
“Please don’t say anything to him, Izzy. He has the championships coming up. He should be focusing on winning and making himself a name. If he knows Daddy is on a bender, he’ll be distracted. It’ll hurt his game.”
She isn’t wrong. It just puts me in a bad position because I don’t like hiding things like this from my best friend. Luc is a protector. He’d want to know.
“I won’t say a word to Luc, but see if Phoenix can make some arrangements to free up a cabin for you.”
She giggles. “I’ll try.” She doesn’t sound convincing though. I know she and Phoenix had some beef growing up, and the Chabot kids don’t exactly like admitting when they need help.
“Thanks,” I say to her.
“I should be thanking you.” She laughs. “Say hi to my brother and hug him for me.”
“Will do.”
“Take care, Izzy.”
“You too, Elyna,” I reply, and we end the call just as I get to campus.
I meet Priya and Yuna outside our first class of the day. Research Statistics.
“Morning, girls.” I smile.
“Someone is cheery this morning,” Priya notes.
“She got some,” Yuna adds.
I can’t help but blush.
“Girls.” I smile. “I need you to not call me out on whatever is happening with Luc and me right now. It is what it is, and I can’t analyze it in any way. I just want to enjoy what’s happening and take it one day at a time.”
“She definitely got some.” Priya grins to Yuna. “But we can respect your privacy.”
