Holiday Hockey Tale The Icebreaker's Impasse (By Ivory Row) novel Chapter 9

Luci

“I’ll braid your hair. Will make it harder to recognize you, especially with the hat.” Sydney says as she combs through it.

“I need a haircut.” I mumble. My hair is about two inches below my shoulders. I usually keep it shoulder length.

“It looks pretty like this. Thanks for taking Barrett today too. He’s so excited.” She begins weaving her magic fingers through my hair. I never braid it because, like most women, my hair misbehaves for me. For Syd, it will weave ribbons through itself.

“I thought Cole might like it too.” I had texted Easton about an extra ticket and he took care of it. Baker handed them to me yesterday. I haven’t seen the brothers nor their mother at the house since I spoke with Easton. Only in our one shared class, but they barely glance my way. Which is not surprising. I’m still the same Luci. I just invade their home each day.

Sydney is working this afternoon when the game is scheduled. She touches my ear gently before speaking. That always makes me pay attention.

“Did dragon lady mention how many Saturdays you’ll be giving up to watch Cole?”

“No. I’m scared to ask. I did look up the Kings hockey schedule and they only have one other Saturday game after this until January. Course, I could need to keep him for a different reason.”

Baker told me Imogen Reed goes out on Saturdays for shopping and brunch with her friends. Occasionally, pickleball games too. I can’t imagine the woman breaking a sweat except at a very uppity Pilates class. She reminds me of that mother from the Notebook movie. Married for money, looks down on others, probably will have a cotillion where wealthy suitable debutantes are presented to her sons. They will already have been through a rigorous application screening for appropriateness.

What do wealthy women shop for every single weekend anyway? I always wondered about that. Maybe Cole’s mother wasn’t up to snuff and that’s why she’s not involved. Or maybe she read the tea leaves on Imogen and ran for her life. But left her son…

“Luuuccceee…” Syd’s patient voice reaches me and I refocus on her.

“Sorry. Got lost for a minute.” She gestures to my hair like one of those models on the Price is Right. “It looks great Syd.”

“Let me grab your cap. I would assume you can put the hoodie on before you walk into the stadium.” She mutters. Last night, during our girl’s night, she confessed she’s not a huge fan of my job in general. Understood the money was too good to pass up along with the hours. Cole was another huge bonus.

“Just watch these people, Luci.” She sets the cap on my head. It’s a sky blue color to match the team’s pale blue and silver jerseys. My hoodie is a pale gray with blue letters spelling out “Ice Kings.”

She lifts her purse before hugging Barrett goodbye.

“Enjoy work.” I call after her. “Least it will be boring and not push you out of your comfort zone.”

“Everything I ever hoped for in a job. Try to have fun, Luci.” She grins at me and leaves.

“Fun, trying to avoid being noticed at a large school sporting event….yeah fun.” Barrett watches me from the couch as I grab my things for us to head to the Reed residence. An enormous white SUV sits in the circle drive before the front door.

I park in my usual spot as Barrett says, “Uh oh…”

From the backseat. I turn my head spotting Easton Reed standing there in a light gray suit. His arms are folded and he wears an irritated expression. Is this going to be a theme for this house? Giants who stand in the driveway with folded arms?

I climb out reminding myself he doesn’t bite. I help Barrett unstrap his seat. He holds my hand as we approach what I thought was irritated and realize is a coiled angry snake.

“Barrett, the door is open. You can go in and find Baker and Cole in the playroom.” Easton says softly to him.

“Luci?” He tugs on my hand and I glance down at him, nodding.

“Go ahead. I’ll be right in.” I give him a smile that I don’t feel at all.

We both watch him run inside. I turn my head back toward Easton noticing his head remains turned toward the door. Without looking at me, his cold voice whips out sharply.

“Did you not understand that we needed to be at the stadium at 11? Not you here at 11. I put 10:30 on the instructions so I could talk to you about something. I sent my brothers on to avoid all of us crossing Humphries.”

I scramble to recall the words on the envelope with our tickets. I can see it. I cringe as the knowledge I completely screwed this up hits me.

“I…I’m sorry. I saw 11 and committed that to memory. I…will you be in trouble?” I ask the last part very quietly.

His head finally turns my way, his face coldly impassive. “When the game is over, linger in your seats. Cole likes to come out on the ice once it’s all clear. I will return from the locker room when he can do that. He knows not to say who I am at the game.”

“I really am sorry. I screwed up.” I did. Got off my routine and didn’t read the instructions twice.

“It won’t happen again.” He didn’t answer me about trouble. I look as high as the knot of his dark blue tie.

“Take care of Cole.” With that, he steps into the SUV and drives away.

I walk inside and find the boys with Baker, who meets me at the playroom door. He gives me a sympathetic smile before announcing lunch will be ready in fifteen minutes. My facial expression must be telling.

“Luci! Look! Daddy bought me this.” He comes racing to show off his light blue jersey with the big shiny silver number 11 shaped like icicles.

“Wow. That is an awesome jersey. Are you playing today?” I tease and he hugs my legs laughing.

“No Luci! You are silly. I’m too little. Daddy’s 11.” He points to the number again and I laugh at him.

“I thought he was twenty…”

Cole shakes his head so seriously. “No, Daddy is twenty-three. His birthday is in December.”

Barrett decides to join in now. “My daddy is twenty-six. His birthday is in August. Mine is in January.”

“He’ll be home before Thanksgiving, Barrett. Don’t worry.” I know that look on his face.

“Trick or treating is next week. Luci and Aunt Sydney are taking me. I’m going to be Batman.” Barrett says proudly.

“I’m going to be Dark Vader.” Cole adds.

Barrett frowns. “It’s Darth Vader.”

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