Page 59 of Unraveling Rain
Rain takes the baby and blows raspberries on his cheek.
“And this handsome boy is Indigo, my nephew,” she says.
“Hi, bro. Nice to meet you,” I say, shaking his tiny hand.
He frowns.
“Too early to call you bro? Got it. Hi, Indigo.”
Rain giggles as he smiles. “There it is—that’s the smile Auntie likes. You’re good with him,” she says. “Do you want kids?”
I smile. “I do. You?”
“Yup.”
“Good to know.”
We head inside together, and I steal one more look at her cradling Indigo. An image flashes in my mind. Rain holding our baby. My heart skips.
Yeah, I want everything with this girl.
Even though the sun is starting to set, it’s still warm. A gentle breeze stirs the trees, and the garden, bursting with color and texture, looks like a living painting. Chris Stapleton plays from a speaker, his gravelly voice mingling with birdsong.
I tilt my head to the sky, offering a silent thank-you to the universe for leading me to this town. I’m grateful forthis place, for Rain, and for the kind-hearted family that’s welcomed me into its fold.
“Xander,” Miles calls from the porch, motioning for me to join him. I jog up the steps, and he nods toward a pile of folding tables and chairs. “I need to haul these to the patio. I figured you’d want to impress my sister.”
I chuckle. “Happy to help.” I grab a table and start walking.
He follows behind with a few chairs. “Have you gotten many injuries during your career?”
I glance over. Small talk? Or an interrogation?
“Not really,” I reply. “Besides a sprained ankle and a couple of broken fingers, this is the most severe injury I’ve had to date.”
He nods and grabs a few more chairs. I match him, carrying four without breaking stride.
Then he drops it: “So, this thing with Rain… Is it a fling? Or just someone to pass time with in Small Town, USA?”
There it is.
He’s baiting me, testing my reaction. And if he weren’t Rain’s brother, I might give him something to chew on. But I’ve got nothing to prove, except to her.
“Not that it’s your business,” I say, meeting his eyes, “but I like your sister. A lot.” I pause, letting my words sink in. “Like we said earlier, we’re getting to know each other. And I hope that keeps going. I’m too old to play games.”
Miles doesn’t flinch, but the tension in his shoulders eases. He claps a hand on my back and heads for another stack of chairs.
By the time he returns, I’ve already set everything up.
“Good job, Xander. Thanks,” he says, tossing tablecloths over the tables. “I’m usually chill. But Rain’s my sister, and the last thing I’m going to allow is some rich hockey player messing with her.”
He raises a brow, waiting for a response.
I nod, sliding my hands into my pockets. “I get it. But next time you call Rain a fling or a way to pass the time, I’ll have to shoot a puck your way.”
Miles cackles, loud and genuine. Everyone turns to look at us.
“That was good, Xander,” he says, still grinning. “You seem like a nice guy. I’m looking forward to getting to know you.”
