Page 42 of Tempting the Goalie
“See you around, Isabelle.” I drop my voice low and can’t help the rough edge that comes out as I take hold of my suitcase and carry-on.
I watch her eyes turn to fire since I know what it does to her when I call her by her full name.
“Not fair, Luc.” She smirks, shaking her head. She takes hold of her luggage and heads down the long drive to the main house on her family’s property. Their property is about twenty times the size of ours.
“Honey, I’m home,” I shout as I open the front door, which is unlocked.
The place looks clean but that’s because Elyna moved home months ago.
“You’re here,” Elyna says. She comes right at me and gives me a hug, and I swing her off her feet.
“Hey, you.”
She laughs. “It’s good to have you home.”
I place her on her feet and take a good look at her. “Where’s my nephew?”
“Asleep. That’s what babies do at 8:00 p.m.” She chortles.
“And Dad?” I ask.
Her lips turn down. “He’s out.”
“Like at work?” I ask, knowing that something feels off. Dad is a plumber by trade, but he has to be sober long enough for people in town to call on him.
She shakes her head. “Don’t be mad. He’s drinking too much to get any work. I didn’t want you to worry when you were dealing with finals.”
I hiss, resting my hands at my waist in fists. “You’ve been staying in this place with your little baby and our drunk father?”
Her lips twist. “I’ve been keeping an eye out. I had nowhere to go.”
“So you call me and we figure it out together,” I say to her.
“Everything is fine now. You’re a hockey champion and you’re home now. You can keep Dad in check.”
“What a dream come true. What happens when I leave?” I ask.
“I’ll figure something out. I’ve been working at the Maple Valley Microbrewery a few hours a day while Mrs. Jansen watches Braden.”
“You shouldn’t trust her with Braden. Look how Riley turned out,” I say of Braden’s dad.
“She’s his grandmother. She loves him and she’s watching him for free,” my sister argues.
“Where is Riley?” I ask. That no good for nothing sperm donor is never around when you need him.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s better he’s not in our lives,” she says, sounding eerie.
“Did something happen with him? Is that why you left Montreal?” I ask.
“Stop being a detective and tell me how you’ve been,” she redirects. Yup, something happened with the jerk. “I bet you’re hungry from all that traveling. I made a lasagna. Come eat,” she says to me.
“Thanks, I could use a bite to eat. But this conversation isn’t over, Elyna,” I declare as I sit at the kitchen table and serve myself a helping of meat lasagna. “Hmm, this is good.”
“I know it isn’t over, but I’m twenty-eight years old, and I have a kid to worry about. Sometimes we make tough decisions.”
She isn’t wrong. I wish there was something more I could do to help but until I get out there and start making real money, I don’t have much to offer.
Elyna sits across from me at the kitchen table. “Don’t worry, little brother. I’ve got everything under control. I spoke with Phoenix, and he said that if I keep up the good work he’ll put me on the regular schedule in the fall, and one of the cabins should free up by then.”
