“No,” I tell her firmly. “This is what she wants. The only person who can change Lexie’s mind is Lexie. If she wants to be alone, then let her.”
~
Rarely am I sent to the penalty box for fighting, yet here I am. We’re playing the Alabama Blacksmiths and I didn’t think twice to throw down the gloves. The more I think about Lexie and our fling, and I can’t think about anything else, the angrier I get. What better way to vent my anger than in hockey?
Except little penalties add up for opportunities and they cash in. We walk away with an 0-4 loss. One of the guys tries to talk to me, but I shake it off as a bad night. Coach eyes me, but doesn’t say anything. We all have bad games at some point and I was past due for one. On the ride home, I notice my phone blinking with a voicemail.
Reed’s voice greets me on the other end. “Hey, Dad. Sorry you had a bad game and lost. The Blacksmiths have been doing well this season, but so have you. You’ll get them next time. I told Nate that we could come back for another one, but he said he still had fun. When are we going to spend the day together like you promised?” I hear Brooke in the background and then, “Well, Mom says it’s time for bed, so I love you. Bye.”
My shoulders sag at his words, and I drive straight to Brooke’s. I can’t say I’m not a little pissed when Nate answers the door. He’s spending the night with Reed here? Where was that conversation?
“Where’s Brooke?” I ask tersely.
“Right here,” she answers, coming up from behind him. “What are you doing here, Ashton?”
“What’s he still doing here?”
She narrows her eyes at me. “We’re having a beer before he goes home. Now, what are you doing here?”
“Go wake Reed up. I’m taking him with me.”
“What? No. He’s probably asleep already, and I’m not waking him up so you can -”
“I just want my son, Brooke. I was going to come get him tomorrow anyway.” I glance at Nate and then back to her. “Not trying to pick a fight with you, okay? Are you going to go get him or not?”
“No. He’s–”
“What are you doing here, Dad?”
Brooke and Nate turn to see him in his pjs, rubbing his eyes, his hair all messed up.
“What are you doing up?” Brooke asks him.
“I’m thirsty.” Thank the heavens.
Before Brooke can say anything, I go, “Want to spend the night with me? Tomorrow is Do-Anything-Reed-Wants Day.”
He breaks out into a grin. “Yes! I’ll go get my shoes.”
“And your coat,” I remind him as he disappears to his room.
When Brooke faces me again, she’s pissed. She doesn’t get a chance to say anything, though, because Reed is running back with his coat half on and his shoes in his hand.
“Bye, Mom. Love you,” he says without a glance her way as he pushes through them.
“Here, I’ll carry you and you carry your shoes.” I pick him up and Brooke only has the chance to call out an ‘I love you’ back to him before we’re out the door.
“Did you get my message?”
“I did.”
“You got into a fight,” he states.
“I did.”
“It was cool.”
I laugh, feeling better and happy that I went to pick him up, even if I did piss Brooke off. She’ll get over it. Maybe Lexie was right to end things. She did okay before me and I did okay before her. She has Sadie to make her happy, and I have Reed.