Alden
AMARA AND I stand next to each other as the yoga Blu-ray comes on. We both take our deep cleansing breaths to find our center and go into our first position. If the guys knew I did yoga with my sister every morning they’d make fun of me until they were out of breath. However, it’s something we’ve done since she moved in with me two years ago. At first, I laughed at her suggestion of us doing yoga together. But she pouted and she knows how much I’ll fold when she does.
An hour later, I’m rolling up our mats as we finished our session. Usually the yoga helps me, but today I’m still pissed from yesterday’s encounter with Baylor. I’m not mad at her, but the prick who got her pregnant and then wasn’t there for her or Kace. As much as I’ve had sex I know the risks of fucking. But I’d be damned if I got a girl knocked up and I was not there for her or the baby. A real man doesn’t do that sort of thing. A real man is there no matter what.
“Bro, are you okay? You look as if you can grind glass.”
“I’m still thinking of Baylor and Kace.”
“You’re a good guy. She’ll see it. Just don’t be a prick who thinks with his prick and you’ll be fine.” She pats my back.
“Do you ever think about Jack?” I hand her a bottle of water.
“Do you?” She quips back.
I don’t answer her. Jack left Mom when I was ten and Amara was deep in the middle of her chemotherapy treatments. Mom kept it together even though I knew she fell apart in private. I can’t lie saying it didn’t hurt when everyone else’s fathers were around and mine never showed up for anything. I stopped inviting him. He did show up a couple of times when Amara was deeply sick. Soon, he stopped altogether.
“No, I don’t think about him.” I answer. “Your turn?”
“No.” She sips her water. “I only care about you and Mom.”
“Are you planning on experiencing life sometime soon?” I’ve told Amara several times she needs to get out and experience life.
“Studying is my first priority.” She glares.
“Just saying life experiences will help you get out of the house.” I suggest this time-and-time again, but she goes to school and comes home. The next time Mom comes into town I’ll see if she can’t persuade Amara to go out more.
“I’ve got to get ready.” I kiss her cheek and hit the shower.
I RIDE THE elevator up to the Bears offices. I have to figure out something and talking to guys isn’t going to help. I make fun of them all the time and this will be their fuel to mock me.
“Hi, Franceen.” I put on my flirtatious smile for Nova Long’s assistant. “You’re looking lovely.”
The young female blushes. “Hi, Alden.”
“Would I be able to see Nova for a few minutes? Please.” I bat my dark brown eyes at her.
“Sure, go on in.” Her cheeks flush as I wink and stroll into Nova’s office.
Nova Long just turned twenty and is Oliver Matthews the Bears owner right hand. She does everything around here lately. She and Janan are the future owners of the Bears. Not to forget she’s dating Teo and is the mother of his baby.
“Hey, Alden.” She looks apprehensive as I sit down across from her.
“You look beautiful.” I smirk. I’ve learned if you start with a compliment it eases the way for a favor.
“Cut the crap, Alden. What do you want?” Nova glares at me.
“I need a favor.”
“Oh God.” She sits up taller. “Is this going to be a PR nightmare we’ll have to clean up? Is there some sex tape or something worse we need to be aware of? Shit.” She begins to rub her temples and I see how upset she’s becoming.
“Calm down, Nova. I promise it’s nothing like that. I swear.”
She takes a deep breath and looks to the ceiling. I think she’s thanking whatever duty she believes in. “Okay. Tell me the favor?”
“The Bears still sponsor the kiddie league, right?”
“Yes. It’s the Cubs pee-wee and junior leagues. Why?”
“I need to get a kid on a team, and I want to pay for all his equipment. The catch is – I don’t want them to know it’s me. Can we rig it so he’s chosen to be on the team?”
Nova has a deeply perplexed look on her face. “What’s the real catch?”
I stare at her for a few seconds before I tell her about Baylor and her son Kace. I laid it all out and hope she’ll help me out. When I finished she smiles.
“Do you know which game he’s coming to?”
“Not yet, but I can tell you the moment I know.”
“Deal.” She holds out her hand. “I’ll make sure it happens.”
Instead of shaking it, I kiss it several times. “Thank you, Nova.”
“Alden, why are you kissing my girlfriend’s hand?” Teo interrupts us.
“Nova just agreed to leave you and be my wife.” I pull her hand to my chest. “It’s because my penis is bigger than yours.”
Nova gasps and yanks her hand away. “Get out, Alden!”
“But our love is real.” I clench my chest in fake pain.
“Alden, you’re such an idiot.” Teo rolls his eyes. “Get out!” He points to the door.
“Fine.” I solemnly walk away. “I’ll be weeping away my broken heart.”
Teo shoves on my shoulder and slams the door. This makes me chuckle all the way back to my car.
“I’M HOME,” I yell coming into the house.
“Come into the den. I have a surprise.” Amara answers back.
I head toward her and I’m not shocked when I see her in the recliner. “What’s the surprise?”
“I am.”
I quickly turn around and my jaw drops. “Mom.” I wrap my arms around her.
Mom is the most incredible female—besides Amara—I know. After Jack left us, she was Mom and Dad to us. She worked the late shift at the hospital in the janitorial department. Night after night, she broke her back at work to provide for us. I remember her losing sleep to be at my games, Amara’s treatment, and all our school functions. I hugged her first when my name had been called at the PHL draft. She argued with me when I received my first large endorsement check and paid off all her debt. She still works part-time since she won’t retire and move here with me.
She’s stubborn.
“Mom, I’m so glad you’re here.” I release her but keep her close. I’ve been defined as a mama’s boy and I absolutely hold the title well. I’m not ashamed of it either. I’ll kick anyone’s ass if they hurt my mom. It’s why I still want to kill Jack.
“I’ve missed you, Alden.” Mom speaks choppy English but is getting better at it, especially since I’ve been living in America.
“Why are you here?” I lead her to the couch.
“I had some time I needed to use.”
“You need to quit the pissy job and move in here with us. I told you we could sell the shack and you can keep all your belongings.”
“Bro, give it up. You two have this discussion every time you’re in the same room. Please can we skip it this time.” Amara tries to reason with us.
“I promise.” I lean my head on top of Mom’s head. I’ve been taller than her since I’ve been eleven.
“I promise as well.” She pats my knee. “And another reason I’m here is because I’ve not seen any games this season. Plus, Amara and I need to go shopping and get manicures.”
I smile. “Sounds perfect. How long are you staying?”
She shrugs. “Depends.”
I sit up and seem confused. I glance at Amara who is smirking. “Depends on what?”
“I’ll have to go back when the house sells and to sign papers. I don’t know when that will be.”
“W...wh...what?” I jump up. “Are you moving here?”
“I’ve already moved. Amara helped me find a place and scheduled the movers.”
I’m in shock. A happy, speechless shock. “You did this all without me knowing.”
“Don’t worry though, I used your credit card.” Amara smiles.
“I don’t care. I’m too damn elated.” I have waited a long time for us to be together again. “Tell me all about your new place.”
Mom excitedly tells me how she officially retired and put the house up for sale. She sold a lot of things already and emptied most of the house. It only took a small moving truck to get her here. She’ll be living in a small studio apartment near downtown.
“You could have moved in here.” I counter.
“You and Amara don’t need to have me hanging around and cutting into your adult time.” Mom tried to reason. “Anyway, I’m staying long enough for my place to be painted.”
“What are you saying? Is it because you don’t want me to parade my vast number of beauties in front of you.”
Mom slaps my chest. It hurts a little. “I didn’t raise you to be a man-slut.”
“The term is manwhore.” Amara corrects her.
“Why can’t you settle down with one girl? A nice girl,” Mom asks.
“My gift is to spread my love all around the world. To all women. Or as many as I can stick my dick in.”
“Your love is an unnamed STD.” Amara groans.
Mom sighs in disgust. “Alden, I shouldn’t have dropped you on your head as a baby. You need to treat women with respect.”
I hold up my hands in a defensive pose. “All chicks I fuck know the rules.”
“Good grief.” Amara rolls her eyes. “Please don’t go over your rules.”
“I’m just saying.” I drop my hands and shrug. “Let’s drop the subject and get dinner.”
Amara, Mom, and I head over to the steakhouse. It’s my favorite place to eat besides the Red Arrow Diner. Plus, Amara doesn’t complain when I eat a huge steak at the restaurant.
We sit and talk about random topics of work, school, and the latest books.
“Bro, why is Nathan sitting alone at the bar?” My sister nods over my shoulder.
“Hmm…” I’m not sure why he is. I know since Teo moved out of their apartment he makes excuses not to go out. He has come out a few times but the majority is no. I get up and go over to him. “Nate, what’s up?”
“Hey, Alden. What are you doing?” He looks a little sad.
“Having dinner with my family. Come join us.”
“Nah, I just ordered and I don’t want to crush family time.”
“Bro, come on. You’re family too. Come on.” I pick up his beer and tell the bartender to send his food to our table. I walk away from the bar making him follow me.
“Mom, Amara, I believe you both know Nathan Paxton, goalie extraordinaire.” I know he’s rolling his eyes behind me.
“Nice to see you both again.” He sits down next to Amara.
Mom continues her topic of books as I continue to drink. I silently chuckle when Nathan joins in and discusses his latest read. There aren’t many who know Nathan is a huge nerd. He is always reading comics, collecting toys, and playing weird computer games like World of Warcraft, and even anime, which I completely don’t understand. He even goes to nerd conventions. Teo said Nathan would dress up in costumes and makeup.
He’s so strange.
Our food comes and Mom asks us about our weekend games. Nathan and I go into an in-depth hockey talk. Mom and Amara both are huge fans. Amara even wanted to play as a child but couldn’t because she was too sick.
“Thank you for letting me crash your dinner.” Nathan is quick in grabbing the bill and paying.
“You didn’t crash.” Mom smiles. “We enjoyed you being with us.”
“We should do it again.” Amara happily stares at Nathan.
Something is going on. I know Amara has a kind heart, but I see the glint in her eyes.
“I’d love to.” He smiles at her.
“Hey.” I slug his arm. “No hitting on the sister.”
“Grow up.” Amara sneers.
Before I can say anything else Mom says she’s tired and is ready to go home. We all say our goodbyes and I drive us home.
I really love my house. Many found it strange for me to get a four bedroom house when I’m forever going to be a bachelor. However, I did it to always make sure Mom and Amara had their own rooms. I’m still over the moon that Amara moved down to New Hampshire to go to school. It made me happier because she and I are so close. I missed her a lot when I was being traded around the league. We talked every day on the phone or by email. I’m extremely protective of her. I know how she wears her heart on her sleeve. She’s the kindest person on this planet.
I tap on her door. “Amara, you have a moment?”
“Come in.”
I push open the door and smirk. The room is purple. I mean...really purple. The walls, the bedding, the furniture...all different shades of purple.
“Let’s talk.” I sit on her lounge chair as she swings her legs off the bed, planting them firmly on the floor.
“No.” She crosses her arms.
“Amara.” I slightly glare at her.
“I already know what you’re going to say and you’re wrong. So, no we can’t talk about it.”
“I saw the way you were looking at Nathan.” I hadn’t noticed it at first but now I realized what was happening.
“Stop!” She holds up her hand. It reminds me of when she was a pre-teen. This time she omitted the head bob with it. “Nathan is alone. Don’t you get that?”
I remain quiet. I know she’s going to keep yelling at me.
“Teo moved out on him. He has no real family to speak of because they’re back in Sweden. Plus, he’s not close to them. He has no real friends on the team.”
“Wait.” I stop her. “I’m his friend.”
“How many times did you visit him when he was off with his injury?”
“Well...I...well…” I can’t answer her because I didn’t visit him. “Shit.”
“I was being a friend to him. And! And!” She points her finger directly in my face. “You, of all people, should understand how hard it is on a new team. Especially when you have no one else.” She drops her hand and steps back.
I let her words sink in. I do remember what’s it like to be without family around. No, I didn’t visit him when he was injured either.
“Damn, I hate when you’re right.”
“Maybe if you used the head on your shoulders more than the one between your legs, you’d be smart like me.” She smirks flipping back her long black hair.
“You made your point. Don’t be a bitch.” I stand quickly and dodge her flying hand as she tries to slap me. “Love you.” I call over my shoulder, racing out of my room.