Page 57 of Tempting the Goalie
Izzy:Swing by our house tomorrow around noon. Me sleeping now. So tired.
Her response brings a smile to my face. Everything about Izzy makes me smile. She’s the light in my darkness.
My eyes fall shut as sleep sucks me under.
I don’t sleep very wellon the couch, and I am up at 7:00 a.m. when Elyna brings Braden down for breakfast. I would go for a jog and a workout, but I don’t want to leave them alone. Instead, I head upstairs to shower and get dressed. Izzy invited me over today to speak with her dad, and I don’t think a wifebeater and basketball shorts is going to make me presentable to ask Mr. Thorne for permission to date his daughter. After my shower, I put on a gray T-shirt and a pair of jeans. I slip on my sneakers. It’s still too early to head over to the Thornes’ and my mind is reeling. I head downstairs to the kitchen where Elyna is feeding Braden some cereal. It looks like he’s spitting out more than he eats.
“Hey there, buddy,” I greet him, coming up to his highchair and smiling at him.
He starts giggling.
“Someone likes you,” Elyna says.
“I told you we hit it off,” I reply to my sister as I walk over to the coffeepot.
“I made you cinnamon French toast as a thank you for watching him last night,” she says, and I see a heaping pile of thick pieces of French toast. My stomach growls.
“Thanks, I would say you didn’t have to but I’m going to enjoy this.” I laugh.
“There’s maple syrup in the fridge. I bought it from Eric’s shop,” she says. “He expanded it and he carries great things.”
“Cool. So do you like working over there?” I ask Elyna.
“You know the Thornes, they’re all good people. Although working for Phoenix has been special. I don’t know what that guy’s problem is,” she says.
“Do I need to beat up Phoenix because that may be a problem,” I say, as I shovel a mouthful of French toast dipped in maple syrup into my mouth.
“Nah, he’s respectful and does everything by the book. He’s just grumpy is all,” she replies.
“That’s Phoenix for you. He’s a focused guy. It’s impressive what he’s done with the microbrewery. It’s bringing a lot of people from the city to town.”
“He is a good businessman,” Elyna agrees. “I just need to wait for one of those cabins to free up. They don’t have any housing options available and everything else around here is either a dump or not something I can afford.”
“We’ll figure something out.” I’m not sure how, but we will. “By the way, I should probably mention Izzy and I are dating. I’m going over to the Thornes’. . .”
“Hallelujah,” she whistles before I can finish. “Took you guys long enough.”
“It’s complicated, Elyna. We’re best friends. Outside of you and Braden, Izzy is the most important thing in my life.”
“Actually, it’s Izzy first, then me and Braden. You’ve always been in love with that girl. Good to see you finally came to your senses.”
“Okay, well then. I was going to go upstairs and see if the old man is awake. I wanted to catch him sober to find out what the hell is going on.”
“He brushes his teeth with vodka in the morning,” she scoffs. “Not sure you’re going to find him sober.”
“Shit. Well, I’m not leaving you and Braden here with him,” I declare.
“Dude, I’ve been taking care of myself for over a month now. We’ll be fine,” she assures as she shovels more cereal into Braden’s mouth while making googly faces at him.
“If something happened to you guys, I’d never forgive myself. So call me selfish, but I need you to come hang out at the Thornes’. Take Braden for a walk through the orchards or something.”
“Fine,” she huffs. “But just because you’re the most selfless person I know. I don’t know how you even share genetics with Papa.”
“That isn’t fair. He had the love of his life die on him,” I remind.
“I know you were young, but they didn’t have a good marriage, Luc. I’ve told you this a hundred times. He was drinking ever since I could remember. Calling him a functional alcoholic is bullshit. Mom wasn’t happy. I remember her tears. I remember Helen consoling her,” my sister says of Izzy’s mom. Elyna is seven years older than me, which means she was seventeen when Mom was killed.
“Yeah, I must have made up some fairy tale in my head over the years because you keep reminding me of how unstable he was.”
