Page 41 of Press Your Luck

"Listen, Porter, I don't know what's going on here, but I promise you that we'll figure it out."

"Whatever.” It seemed to be his preferred response to just about everything.

My mind raced with thoughts of DNA tests and verifying Jeannie's claims, even as I knew none of it mattered. Right now, Porter was in my care, and I needed to step up.

"Look," I said, trying to keep my voice even, "I know this is a mess, but I promise you, Porter, I'll do my best to take care of you." I glanced around my house—a bachelor's home, filled with memorabilia from my hockey career and late nights spent drinking with Reed. This wasn't a place for a child.

Porter scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, sure.”

"Listen, I don't know what's going on with your mom, and I don't know if I'm really your dad, but right now, we’re all we’ve got, so let’s make the best of it."

Uncertainty flashed across his features before being replaced by a steely determination. "So, what, now you're gonna play hero? A little late for that, don't you think?"

I was baffled. I clearly couldn’t reach this kid. “How about I show you where you can sleep?”

He shrugged. “Whatever.”

Jesus fuck, I hated that word.

I showed him upstairs to the guest room. He looked around and then ushered me out, shutting the door in my face.

A part of me wanted to call him an ungrateful brat, but then I remembered his ordeal was more difficult than mine. He was just a kid, shipped halfway across the country to live with his father. I’d be scared and pissed off too.

I went down to the kitchen to figure out what I had that a kid could eat. Did kids like eggs? Deciding he might like pancakes better, I pulled out the ingredients to make a batch.

"Hey, Pierce," Porter called from the living room. "Where's the remote?"

"On the coffee table," I replied, hoping this meant he was settling in.

“What is this?”

I poked my head out of the kitchen toward the TV. On the screen was the video we took of the game with the Silver Nuggets so I could study it and do better when we faced off again. As it turned out, the silver lining to all this chaos was that it had effectively distracted me from her. I'd been haunted by the memory of our last encounter, which had left me frustrated, even more so since I still ached for her.

As I thought about our passionate night together, a sudden wave of panic washed over me. We hadn't used protection. My heart raced at the thought of another unexpected child entering my life. But then, just as quickly as the panic arose, I dismissed it. Naomi was fiercely devoted to her career. There was no way she would let something like an unplanned pregnancy derail her efforts. She must have been on the pill or some other form of contraceptive or she would've said something, right?

I blew out a breath and worked to push her out of my head. With a child on my doorstep, I had more important things to focus on.

He poked buttons until a video of a video game filled with car chase and gun sounds appeared. He turned up the volume and with a jump, landed on his ass on the couch.

"Turn it down, please." I rubbed my temples in hopes of staving off the headache that was forming.

"Whatever," Porter grumbled, and the noise level decreased significantly.

I reminded myself that I had to care for this kid, even if I had doubts about Jeannie's claim.

"Porter, why don't you come sit with me for a bit?" I called out, surprising myself with the sudden urge to connect with this boy who had invaded my life.

“I’m watching this.”

“You can watch later.”

"Fine," he grumbled, dragging himself like he had a million pounds of weight slowing him down. He sat in the chair at the table as I got us both orange juice.

"Tell me about yourself.” I set the juice in front of him and hoped that I sounded genuinely interested despite the storm of emotions raging inside me. "What do you like to do?"

“Video games.”

“That’s it? Do you play a sport?”Please, God, have him like hockey.

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