Luc
The buzz of Luc’s cell phone woke him up from his afternoon nap. Hoping it was Kassie, he didn’t mind the interruption. Things had been crazy, ending up in bed with her and then Kaden knocking down the door like the big bad wolf. Then there was more overdue bedroom fun for the rest of the afternoon and into the next day. It was an exhausting, yet satisfying, use of his days off. It took a moment before his eyes focused on the phone. But it wasn’t Kassie. It was an unfamiliar number. He was already awake, so he might as well answer it.
He tried to clear his rough voice as he grumbled into the phone. “Hello?”
The male voice at the other end was familiar. “Luc? It’s Drake.”
Drake was a guy Luc had met after spending way too many nights at the local casino. Luc had been young and new to the Renegades, didn’t know many people in the city, and in the beginning, money and fast women were a comforting replacement for friends.
Drake, an employee at the casino, had befriended him. Drake kept an eye on him and made sure he didn’t overdo it at the table games. Being young and stupid, a buddy like Drake was just what Luc had needed.
Maybe he was just still sleepy, but he was confused as to why Drake was calling him. Luc hadn’t been to the casino lately. He had Kassie and actual friends now; he didn’t need to gamble.
“Luc, I have your dad here.” Drake’s words rattled around Luc’s brain.
“My dad?” Luc pulled the phone away from his ear and double checked the date. The annual Dads’ Trip, when the players’ fathers got to spend a week of hockey life with their sons, was in a few days. It was important to the players, and it gave the dads a chance to see inside their sons’ world of hockey. They got to experience every step of the away trip, breakfast, the bus, meetings, practices, the plane, and games in the suite. Then back home for more. But Luc wasn’t expecting his dad for at least another day.
“Yeah. It wasn’t easy getting him to admit his identity. He’s not in any trouble, but I really think you should come get him before he is.”
Drake didn’t have to say much more. Luc knew the situation. He’d been through this a few times as a teen. He had lost his mom to illness when he was five, and his dad hadn’t handled it well. His father had worked a lot to provide for them, but after a full day of hockey, and once Luc was tucked away in bed, his dad would often turn to the bottle. After Luc moved away to play juniors, the drinking got worse. It was his dad’s selfish way of coping with being alone.
Young Luc would help out by making peanut butter sandwiches and mac ’n’ cheese for dinner and have it ready when his dad got home from work.
“You still there, Luc?”
Shaking the past away, like he had done so many times before, Luc snapped back to reality. “Yeah. I’m here. Can you hold him till I get there?”
“Absolutely, my friend. See you soon.”
Luc lay in his bed, staring at the cell phone. The call was now disconnected, but he couldn’t help questioning the conversation he just had. Over the last year, his dad had gotten better with the gambling, or so Luc had thought.
Tossing his cell phone to the comforter, Luc’s glance moved along his walls. He had framed his Renegades jersey and hung it up. He had a stick signed by all his Renegades teammates, as well as one from his minor team. There was other memorabilia in his closet; he just never got around to putting them up. They would be best displayed in a large house with a man cave. His bachelor pad was nice, but not worth all his memories. Plus, in earlier years, he would’ve had to worry about bunnies taking them while he was asleep.
His phone buzzed again. Slowly reaching for his phone, he assumed it was Drake telling him how difficult his dad was being. But it wasn’t. This time it was Kassie. Her timing couldn’t have been worse.
Kassie: Since there’s no game tonight, you wanna grab some lunch or early dinner?
If only he could do that, rather than deal with his dad, who was more than likely drunk. Drake didn’t say as much, but Luc knew how things went at the casino. He played and won, then kept playing, and when his winnings ran out, he kept playing and added alcohol. That’s what Luc had done his early days alone in a big city. The next day hangover was never fun, either. It didn’t take long for Luc to figure out that wasn’t who he wanted to be.
Luc typed a message, explaining what his afternoon would be spent dealing with, then deleted it. She didn’t need to know all that mess. At least, not yet. Only his closest friends knew about his dad’s periodic alcohol issues. Luc wanted Kassie in his world, and that would include sharing this with her, but he just wasn’t sure that she would want to be that deep into his family issues yet.
The way she stood up to her brother about them was a good sign. But Luc needed some kind of a commitment before he disclosed anything too personal about his family. Maybe being an only child caused him to not be too trusting of others, or maybe he was overly trusting and had been hurt too many times. Whatever the case, he should be ready, but he wasn’t.
Luc: Wish I could say yes, but I have plans this afternoon. My dad is coming in.
At least it wasn’t a lie. He hated lying to people he cared about.
Kassie: Oh, okay.
Kassie: Maybe I can see you before you leave for the road trip?
He hated turning her down. He’d prefer to be spending his afternoon with her than babysitting his dad while he slept it off. Maybe if he cleared things up with his dad, and if his dad wasn’t too hung over when he woke up, they could meet up. Luc wouldn’t mind some fatherly advice, either.
Luc: Absolutely.
Luc: And sweets, if I can get away later, I’ll let you know.
Kassie: I’d like that. Hope you can.
Luc: Me too. I’ll see what I can do.
Things with Kassie were still weird since they’d slept together. They hadn’t defined what they were yet. Were they just friends with benefits, or were they a couple? It sure didn’t feel like just friends with benefits. All he knew was that he would spend every minute of every day with her if he could. That had to mean something.
There wasn’t much said as they left the casino, and Luc’s dad passed out as soon as they pulled away from the parking garage. There was no discussion, no excuses, just snoring. It was better that way. Luc was irritated and needed to calm down before they had this discussion. He let his dad finish his alcohol-induced nap in the guest room for the good part of the afternoon.
Not wanting to leave him alone, Luc stretched out on the couch and channel surfed. Sitting here was not his ideal plan for the afternoon. They didn’t have a game tonight, and he could’ve been hanging out with Kassie.
After about an hour, he was bored with television and picked up his cell phone. He wanted to text Kassie. Maybe having her here wouldn’t be such a bad idea, after all. As Luc was contemplating that idea, the sound of the guest room door opening startled him.
His dad slowly shuffled out to the living room. His shoes scraped against the hardwood floor as he walked. He yawned before flopping down in the armchair. Luc studied him as they sat in silence. Luc was aware that his dad had aged, but the lines seemed deeper and the hair grayer since the last time he’d seen him.
Luc was the spitting image of his father, even though relatives and friends always told him he looked just like his mom. He didn’t have a lot of visual memories of her; his memory of her was more like just a sense of love. Referencing old photos, it was possible that he was the perfect blend of them both. The thought of him being like his mom made him happy and sad all at the same time.
His dad had the same haircut as Luc had, but his father’s was just less styled, and honestly, less neat than Luc’s. The back was shaved short, while the top was longer and brushed backwards. His eyes were once dark brown like Luc’s, but now they were dull and faded, like a stormy sky.
“Feel better, Dad?” Luc hated seeing his father like this. Maybe staying here for a few days would do him good. At least Luc could take care of him and make sure he stayed out of trouble.
His dad shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah, I guess. No worse for the wear. Thanks for picking me up, son. Sorry I had to drag you out for that. I thought I had everything under control this time.”
Luc could tell his apology was sincere, even if it was one he had heard all too often. Their relationship was a weird one. After his mom died, Luc’s father did his best, although it was a struggle while he worked through his grief. He was a kind man who had tried to teach Luc the value of honesty and hard work. But things seemed to get worse once Luc moved away to play hockey. Luc was sure that being all alone in that house had created in his dad that need for an escape.
The gambling was new, and not a common situation, as far as Luc knew. But then again, he wasn’t around all that much. And no matter what trouble his dad got himself into, he was still Luc’s dad. He had done his best as a single parent to raise Luc, and had still managed to push Luc to play hockey, and succeed. Luc owed him, and it might just be time to repay that debt.
“Dad, is everything okay?”
“Luc, I’m fine. I had a little too much to drink, and things got out of hand. You don’t need to worry about me. I’m here to see you, for the Dads’ Trip and to see my son play hockey. Let’s focus on that.”
“When did you start drinking again? I thought things were going better for you the last few months. Is there something going on that I should know about?”
His dad scrubbed his weathered hands over his face and sighed heavily before answering. “Things are fine. I just slipped up.”
That sentence told Luc that something wasn’t right, not like he needed any more clues to tell him that. “Dad, what happened?”
“It’s no big deal.” His dad shrugged off his concern. “You don’t need to worry about me, son.”
“I’m pretty sure that I do need to worry. Did you get behind on your bills?” There’s obviously more to the story.
“Luc, I’m fine.” But the worry lines on his face said otherwise.
Luc urged, “Dad. Please.”
His dad’s tired eyes closed, and he sighed again. “Son, you shouldn’t have to worry about me. I’m the parent.” But even as he said the words, they both knew the truth.
No, Luc shouldn’t have to worry about his father, but this was the reality. His reality. “Dad, we both know how this goes. If there’s something I can help you with, please just tell me.”
“That’s just it. You’re the son and you shouldn’t have to provide for me. I went to the casino, just to play a little. I started to win for once. You know how it is; they suck you in. I couldn’t give you a lot growing up. I just wanted to…” His dad wasn’t making a lot of sense, and he looked more tired than usual. Maybe the years were catching up with him.
“Dad, come on. The casino is never the answer. If you need money, it’s time you look to me for help. That’s what I’m here for.” Luc knew that was not what his dad wanted to hear.
With a sad look on his face, his dad nodded.
“I know you were at the table games, and those aren’t cheap to play.” This was one time a sibling or two would come in handy. But instead, Luc had no one to lean on, and no one to help with his dad.
“Well, I was winning, until I wasn’t.”
“That’s sort of what those places rely on, Dad. Let me help you.”
“Ah,” he protested with a scowl and waved his hand in the air. “I don’t want to owe you money, son.”
“I’m your son, you don’t owe me anything.”
“Luc, can we stop talking about this now? I’m the father and you’re the son. Let’s leave it at that for now. Please?”
“For now.” Luc had never seen his father so down before, and he’d been really low before, being a widower and trying to raise a little boy. They had been through a lot together. But this was different. His father was almost sad, or embarrassed.
Whether he liked it or not, he was going to stay with Luc for at least a week, maybe more. And his dad was going to have to let Luc take care of him for once. Luc wasn’t giving up, just moving on for the moment. Because in all honesty, there wasn’t much left to discuss. “Okay.”
His dad’s face brightened up as the subject changed. “You got yourself a girl yet?”
He did have a girl, and he wanted to scream it from the rooftops. The only thing stopping him was a pebble of fear. Fear that his working relationship with Kaden, and the fact that Kaden was her brother, might be the one thing that pulled her away. “That’s complicated. It’s something I’d like to talk to you about while you’re here. But not right now. If you can behave, then I have a friend I’d like you to meet. I’ll ask her if she wants to stop by tonight for pizza.” Luc had already decided he missed Kassie and needed to see her tonight.
“A girl, huh? Friend? I’ve got a feeling there’s more to this than you’re saying. But I’d love to meet her. And don’t worry; I’ll behave around your girlfriend.” His dad winked.
Luc opened his loft door to a smiling Kassie. She had a six pack of hard lemonade in her hand. Her long brown hair was up in a ponytail, and she was dressed very casually, as though his text invite to dinner had interrupted her day at the gym. She had on leggings and a long sleeved Renegades t-shirt, covered by a hooded sweatshirt.
“Hey, sweets. Did I interrupt your run?” Luc nodded to her outfit.
“Actually, you kind of did.” She giggled in her girly way. “I was getting ready to go running when I got your text. So instead of my run, I grabbed my keys and hit the beer distributor. I can always run twice as long tomorrow.” Kassie set the six pack in his hands and walked into the loft.
Luc’s eyes followed her hips as she entered his home and moved down the hallway. “I should interrupt your runs more often,” he said, as low as he could manage.
Kassie threw a sly look over her shoulder, her ponytail flipping as she did. Her lips formed a tight line, and the edges turned up in an almost evil grin. It was hot. Her swagger quickly halted when she noticed his dad.
“Sorry, I forgot to mention my dad was here. You know, for the Dads’ Trip and all.” He should’ve put that in his invite. Assuming she remembered the Dads’ Trip was poor judgement, because her and Kaden’s dad was no longer with them, so it wasn’t like they were planning their week around the special event.
Luc wrapped his arm around her waist and ushered her into the living room of his loft. “Kassie, this is my dad, Joe. Dad, this is my—my friend, Kassie.”
He hated how the words sounded as they exited his mouth. My friend. But she didn’t even flinch at them. Instead, she stuck her hand out to his dad.
“Mr. Marcella. Nice to meet you.”
“You too, young lady.” He shook her hand. “If my son had any brains in his head, you wouldn’t be just his friend.”
“Dad!” Heat filled Luc’s face. He threw his dad a look to cut it out, before he offered Kassie a seat on the couch beside him. “The pizza just got here; we should eat while it’s hot.”
But Kassie just grinned at the comment from his father.
They hadn’t talked labels. Were they friends? Were they more? After yesterday, he hoped they were more than just friends. But he wasn’t used to having that discussion.
“Did I hear that you run?” his dad asked.
Kassie nodded with pride. “I try to run almost every day. I ran track in school. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed doing.”
“Here Dad, eat.” Luc handed him a plate with a slice, hoping it would shut him up. Not having the time to talk about Kassie yet, he was now thinking this little meeting was a bad idea.
His dad graciously accepted and nodded as if he had read Luc’s mind. He never brought it up again as they ate pizza and enjoyed the cold alcohol. Well, his dad enjoyed bottled water. The conversation stayed far away from Kassie being Kaden’s sister.
Luc did his best to guide what they talked about, but it was unnecessary. The food and the drinking filled the gaps, and it turned out to be a nice evening.
The one thing he didn’t enjoy was how far away Kassie felt. He couldn’t flirt like he usually did; his dad would see right through that. He tried to keep his hands full with a drink to make sure he didn’t slip up and move a rogue hair behind her ear or put his hand on her thigh. All things he desperately wanted to do. But the way his dad watched them with a smile on his face, it was obvious that he already knew.
The pizza was gone and it was getting late. Taking her hand in his, and folding his fingers in hers, Luc walked Kassie to the door. A quick check over his shoulder told him that his dad was within ear shot. The older version of Luc turned on the television and flipped through the channels, but Luc knew from experience that he was listening.
At the closed door, Luc held onto the doorjamb with one hand and her hand in the other, doing his best to keep his cool. It had been a long night of too much space between them. He wanted to be back where they were yesterday. His dad being there hadn’t given them a chance to really talk about where they stood, or what came next.
“Let me walk you to your car.” Luc grabbed for his jacket.
Kassie shook her head. “No, you have company. Stay and visit with your dad. I’ll be fine.”
“It’s no problem. I’d feel better if I walked you out.”
Kassie shyly chuckled. She looked over her shoulder at the parking lot. “Luc, my car is right over there. You can watch me walk to it, but it’s a safe neighborhood.”
He felt like he was being rude not walking her out, plus it was the perfect opportunity to grab a kiss.
Looking at her car, it wasn’t but a few yards away. Kassie was right; she’d be fine. Luc bent his head down close to Kassie’s ear, his voice low. “Sweets, we have practice early afternoon tomorrow. The dads will all be there, but do you think you can make it? I’d love for you to be there, too.”
He didn’t mean for their faces to be so close, his lips only inches from hers. His heart thudded in his chest, and his pulse raced. Her brown eyes were trained on his, and eventually she nibbled at her lower lip. She obviously felt the same warmth that he did; it showed all over her blushing face.
“Um, I work tomorrow, but if I can get away early, I’ll be there,” she said, looking into his eyes.
Luc’s grip tightened on the doorjamb. He ran his thumb along the palm of her hand. It was all he could do to not tip her chin up and kiss those luscious lips. “I hope to see you there.”
“Maybe coffee after?” Her eyes met his again. They sparkled with what he thought was desire.
This was the first time in his life that he didn’t know what move to make next with a woman. She wasn’t just any girl, and a simple roll in the hay wasn’t fit for a girl like Kassie. After yesterday, he certainly wanted the alone time with her, but he didn’t want to treat her as if she was just a piece of ass, because she was far from it. If he made the wrong move, he could lose her forever. She deserved the moon and the stars, and anything else he could give her.
“Bye Kassie. Nice meeting you!” Luc’s dad called from the living room.
Luc sighed. The small interruption sliced through the sexual tension, making her giggle and pull away. He should just kiss her. His dad would know about her soon enough. He wasn’t a kid anymore and really didn’t know why he was being so shy about it. Not letting her get too far from him, he lowered his mouth to hers, dropping a light, teasing kiss on her lips.
There was no way he could let her leave without at least tasting her lips.
As he pulled away, a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Okay, well, hopefully I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I sure hope so.”
After a moment, Kassie pulled open the door and slowly walked down the porch towards her car, her hand slipping from his. Luc hung onto the door, not wanting her to leave yet. Her movements were unhurried and her body rigid. The small smile on her lips was forced. Then he realized he never answered her about coffee. Maybe she was hanging back in the hope he’d answer.
“Let me see what’s going on here tomorrow.” Luc nodded over his shoulder in the direction of his dad. “I’ll let you know if we can turn coffee into dinner.”
Her face brightened at his words, as if that was what she was waiting for.
She tilted her head to the side, her whole body more relaxed now. “I’d like that. Goodnight, Luc.” Before turning to leave, she reached out and pulled him into a hug, placing a small kiss on his lips.
He held her for a moment, her sweet apple scent intoxicating him.
“Goodnight again, Luc.” Kassie’s voice was soft and flirty as she turned to leave.
He watched until she drove away. Closing the door behind him and leaning against it, he tried to take a minute to let that moment of having her in his arms be burned into his brain.
“Kassie, huh? She’s pretty. I always knew you had good taste.”
“I need a beer.” Luc brushed by his dad, making a beeline for the refrigerator. He placed the remaining hard lemonade on the shelf to save for the next time Kass came over. Then he grabbed a beer and took a long sip.
“You already had two while your lady friend was here.”
“Well, I can use two more.” His words were sharp, even though he didn’t mean them to be. After that goodbye hug, he was a bit salty that his dad was here. Maybe he would’ve invited her to stay. Or maybe not. Somebody had to be the responsible one. “Sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean to sound so curt with you.”
“You want to talk about it?” The older man took a seat across from him in the armchair, and taking a drink of water, he waited.
His dad had his flaws, but all in all, he was a decent father. Sure, Luc had had to put up with a little drama after he got older, but he’d had a good life for a kid without a mom. His dad wasn’t always there, but he did what he needed to do so that Luc could live out his dream.
“Actually, I do.”
His dad chuckled. “I didn’t really think you’d take me up on it. But I’m glad, so let’s talk. What words of wisdom can your old dad give you?”
“Kassie.”
“Yeah, I figured as much.” His dad let out a low chuckle. His genuine enjoyment twinkled in his hazy eyes. “She seems like a sweet girl, and easy on the eyes, too. What’s the problem? I’ve never known you to be shy around the ladies, son.” He wasn’t lying. Luc was known to get any girl he wanted with a single smile. Kassie was not just any girl.
“She’s got me all kind of confused. I really like her. A lot. But did you notice she didn’t even flinch when I introduced her as simply my friend?”
“I did. Does that bother you?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know. Should it?” Luc rested his elbows on his knees and dropped his head into his hands. Raking his hands through his hair, he tossed strands every which way. Finally looking back to his dad, he continued. “It’s more complicated than wanting her.”
His father stayed quiet, as if he was waiting for Luc to work out things in his head. Luc knew that nothing he said was making sense. Everything was a jumbled mess, his thoughts, his words, even his feelings.
“When I met her, I didn’t really know who she was, but she damn sure caught my eye.” Nothing was coming out right, and he knew he was confusing his dad more by the scrunched up look on the older man’s face.
“Son, maybe start from the beginning. And by beginning, I mean what exactly is the road block with this girl? Because I sense there is one.”
“You know Kaden O’Conner? One of our goalies? Kassie is his little sister.”
“Oh,” his dad muttered. But that one word held all the words that he didn’t say.
“Yeah. Her last name is what’s in the way.”
“Have you talked to Kaden about it?”
“Well, not exactly talked. He hates the fact that I’m even hanging out with her. And after he found me at her apartment the other morning… Let’s just say there was a lot of yelling and anger, not so much talking. I get that there’s this code among guys and among teammates. But Dad, I’d break every guy rule there was to continue seeing her. It wouldn’t be so bad if we didn’t have to work together. That damn code!” Luc slammed his fist on the coffee table. Shaking his now sore hand, he avoided his dad’s stare.
“Now we’re getting somewhere.”
This time Luc’s eyes met his dad’s. “That’s the issue. The code among teammates. The guy code part, eh, he’d get over it. We might not remain friends, but whatever. But we’re more than just buddies; we’re teammates. Can I really turn my back on that loyalty? That brotherhood? Can I burn that to the ground?” His brain was going in circles now.
“That depends.”
“On what? Is there really anything that trumps the teammates’ code?”
“I think that’s up to you. What are your intentions towards her?”
“My intentions? What is this, 1955?”
“Luc, you have a rep with the bunnies. Is she just another bunny?”
“No!” That’s what his dad meant by his intentions. He wasn’t using her for his entertainment. She wasn’t a fling, nor a one-night roll in the hay. She was all the things he hadn’t experienced since he was in college. “She is not a bunny.”
“I didn’t think so. So what’s with the friend label?”
Luc sighed and shook his head. He didn’t mean to call her that. It’s just what slipped out. “I don’t know exactly what we are. I like her, I mean, really like her. I’m always thinking about her. And when I’m not with her, I want to be.”
“Does she feel the same about you?”
“I don’t know. I think so. Kaden is like this wall between us. I know how I want to feel about her, but then I remember she’s his sister, and I feel like I should pull back. Because I’m not supposed to feel like that about my teammate’s sister. I’m pretty sure it’s the same with her.”
“I hear what you’re saying, but I saw your body language at the door. Son, I know you better than anyone. You already know how you feel and what you want. You just haven’t admitted it to yourself yet.”
“Am I wrong to want to be with her? Should I obey the code and back off? Be a good teammate and respect Kaden? Or do I…?”
“Oh, that’s what you really want me to tell you. But what is it you want to do?”
“I want to be with Kassie. But—”
“No buts. The first thing you answered is that you want to be with her.”
“Dad, it isn’t that simple.”
“Why not?”
“Because of Kaden. He’s my teammate, my friend. The code.”
“Do you plan to hurt Kassie? Throw her away like all the other bunnies?”
That word was starting to make Luc’s face burn. His jaw clenched and his teeth gritted as he answered. “Kassie is NOT A bunny. I never have and never will treat Kass like a bunny. And I would never do anything to hurt her. Can we stop talking about bunnies?”
“Fine. No more bunnies.”
Luc’s head was spinning. And one question still ate away at his gut. “Dad, obviously people break the code. If they didn’t, half the athletes wouldn’t be married. And I’m talking about a good bit of my team. What am I missing? What’s the catch?”
“Catch? I’m not sure what you’re asking, son.”
“People do break the code.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Then why do we make such a big deal out of it? I mean, I get that some of us, athletes in general, aren’t the most stand-up guys. And what brother would willingly want their sister dating someone they knew was shady and who was going to break her heart? Okay I understand that.”
Luc’s dad nodded without a word.
It was all starting to make more sense to Luc as he talked through it. “The code avoids that, and all the bad feelings that go along with it.”
“Yep. It was probably made up by an athlete to protect his little sister from some creep. But not all athletes are creeps. And you know there are exceptions to every rule.”
“I know a few exceptions personally.” Luc thought about his happily married teammates. Especially Sam and Tyler. Sam was married to Tyler’s sister, and they were still very close friends and teammates. “I think the secret is respect. And proving that you’d never do anything to hurt that girl.”
Luc’s dad nodded with a smile. “Son, there’s only one thing that trumps the code.”
“Being traded?” At this very moment, Luc figured that would be the only way Kaden would be okay with this. He was joking, obviously, but with how Kaden had reacted so far, he might not be far from the truth.
His dad held his belly and chuckled a deep laugh. “No! Love. One night stands can be wiped away, ”
“It’s a little soon for love, don’t you think?” Luc had never believed in love at first sight or falling head over heels for someone. Maybe it was the fact that it was just him and his dad growing up. He never saw two loving parents doting on one another. That could also be blamed for his life as a bachelor, always on the lookout for his next thrill.
“What do you think, Luc?”
“I know that I can’t stand to be without her. And if she decided this was a bad idea, I’d understand and accept her decision, but I don’t think I would ever be the same.”
His dad grinned wide, and his voice was soft. “My boy, that’s love.”