Page 11 of Just One Season
But am I? Because I thought I’d feel all independent and strong as soon as I put some space between me and D.C., but I kind of don’t feel like it worked. Not yet anyway.
“Basically you won’t be able to avoid them since you live with me.”
Atticus offers his fist and I bump it with mine. I head off to do another lap around the block with Zeus, and Atticus gets in his parked car.
The next street over has a restaurant called Taco Tuesday. Zeus barks at the sign.
“Tacos?”
He looks up at me.
“Taco Tuesday? On a Thursday?” I crack up at my own joke.
Zeus just looks at me.
“Sure, okay. Taco. We’ll give it a shot.”
Taco wags his tail and barks happily. He smiles for the picture that I snap and send to my friends.
Me
Meet Taco.
CHAPTER 4
A Family that Works
KELLEN
Iopen Bri’s front door without knocking, a habit I should probably break at some point.
“Morning,” I call into the foyer of the four-bedroom house next door to mine. The house that technically belongs to me, but it’s helped Ava’s mother to have someplace nice to live, and I get to see my daughter more often. It’s a win-win.
“Daddy!” Ava calls from the kitchen. A second later, she’s sprinting around the corner and throwing herself at me, wrapping her limbs tightly around my leg.
“Hi, sweetie.” I peel her off and lift her into my arms so I can kiss her cheek. “I love your outfit.”
“Thanks! I picked it out myself!” Ava’s wearing a bright pink tutu, a purple t-shirt depicting three dogs wearing Christmas sweaters, and rainbow socks enveloped with bright yellow crocs. Top her ensemble off with two crooked ponytails that I’m betting she insisted on doing herself and you have my daughter’s typical look.
“Kellen.” Bri follows Ava from the kitchen and stands with her fists on her hips, legs wide in afighting stance.
“Hello, Bri.” I know the argument she’s about to have with me. It’s the same one we have every few months.
“Why did you transfer half my rent back to my account?”
I sigh. “Because. You don’t need to be paying rent here at all, and definitely not that much. I make many, many multiples of what you do, remember?” Ava tugs at the neckline of my t-shirt with one hand and pulls my face toward hers with the other.
All I want in life is to take care of Ava and our family, which includes Bri. NHL players get paid shit-tons of money. What’s the point if not to help the people you love?
“You don’t let me forget it.” Bri crosses her arms.
“Daddy,” Ava whispers close to my face. “We’re eating pancakes.”
“Can I have some?” I turn to her.
“Nope.” She shakes her head. “All for me.”
“The amount I sent you is the going rate for a house like this in Fort Collins.” Bri sighs and drops her arms. “I don’t need your charity.”
