Only One Forever (Only One 8)

“It gets easier,” she replies. “Or you become numb. I’m not sure which one.”

“Okay, yin and yang,” Wilson says. “What the fuck was that?”

“That was Maddox Smith,” Julia says. “Eight years old, born to Melissa Smith, father unknown. She was in foster care her whole life and had him the day after she turned eighteen.” I close my eyes and fight away the burning that starts in my eyes. “That’s all I can tell you.” I open my eyes and see Wilson with his mouth open. “I’m going to need his whole file.”

“You have it,” I told her. “It was a two-page application. We got it from Wayne.” I look at her. “He’s with the after-school program. I don’t know if he has more information, but you can call him.”

Julia just nods and gets up. “I have a whole desk full that I need to get to.” Julia looks at me. “I’ll call you later. I’m working on a couple of things.”

Wilson shakes his head when she walks out, and I fill him in about Maddox. “Whatever you need from me.” He puts his hands on his hips. “You just name it.”

Commotion makes us turn our heads toward the door, and I see most of the men in my family coming in. Uncle Matthew leads the way with Cooper beside him, all of them with their hockey bags over their shoulders. “We have arrived,” Uncle Matthew announces.

“Yes,” my father says from behind him. “Because no one can see us coming.” He smiles at me, and I see my grandfather looking around.

“This reminds me of when I met your grandmother.” He smiles, and I see his eyes light up. “She told me to get the fuck out of her rink on the first day.” He laughs. “I knew then that she was mine.”

“Nothing says you’re mine like fuck off,” Chase says from beside him. “Where do we change?” he asks, and I look at him with his hair tied up on his head, pointing at the hallway.

“This is fantastic,” my grandfather says and looks at Wilson. “You did good.”

He walks to the back, and I look at Wilson. “Are you going to be okay?” I ask him, and he just looks at me.

“I’m,” he says, standing. “Every time he talks, I’m in awe.” I roll my lips, trying not to laugh at him. “Fuck off,” he tells me, storming away from me, and I get up, walking to my office.

I set up the ice schedule for the month and get the forms ready for the preseason tryout training. Something that I came up with the week before I left, where the elite hockey players can come and get ready for tryout season. The interest was there, and the form will be going live tomorrow.

“Knock, knock, knock.” I hear my mother’s voice and look up, shocked.

“Mom,” I say, surprised, getting up and going to her and giving her a hug. “What are you doing here?”

“Your father forgot his socks,” she says, shaking her head. “He forgets at least one thing every time he repacks that hockey bag.” I look over at my desk, seeing all the files piled high. I am going through them, making sure all the contact information is inputted properly. “You look busy. I can see why you took off on an emergency.”

“Yeah, just a couple of things,” I respond, and then I know she’s looking at me. I avoid her eyes; afraid she’ll see that this isn’t the real reason.

“So you’re really going to lie,” she prods, and I look at her with my eyes wide now. “Oh, come on. You think I didn’t know that there were other reasons you left.” She shakes her head. “You aren’t as good an actress as you think you are. I saw you the whole week, you were guarded and you had one foot off the island even before we got there.”

I look at her and then look out of the office and see that people are coming in and walking around. Walking to the door, I close it and turn to look at my mother. “You’re right,” I admit, and she tilts her head to the side. “I didn’t leave because there was an emergency here.” I don’t even know how she is going to react to the next news. My heart hammers in my chest. “I left because …” My voice trembles with nerves, and she reaches out her hand and holds mine.

“Let’s sit down,” she suggests, bringing me over to the couch. “You’re shaking like a leaf.”

“Yeah,” I say, rubbing my hands on my jeans now. “I’m in love with Dylan.” I turn to look at her. “There, I said it.”

“Oh,” she says.

“I know that it may be a shock to you, and I know that this might be a lot to take in.” My mouth just has diarrhea. “And I know that it might even tear the family apart. I get it, but …”