Chapter Thirteen
Amara
The next two days flew by. If I wasn’t at work, Nathan and I were keeping the twins entertained. It’s not been simple reigning in their enthusiasm. Nathan and I have been sneaking in quick kisses and watching our show at night when they go to bed.
Presently, I’m fidgeting with the pencil in between my fingers. Even though I’m taking the test on a computer, tapping and moving the pencil in my hand calms my nerves. I take a deep breath and remember Nathan telling me how proud he is of me. Alden, Mom, Baylor, and even Kace all sent me text messages wishing me well. Everyone is counting on me, but I know if I do fail they’ll be there to support me.
Here we go.
I click start and possibly begin the next chapter of my life.
Baylor had taken the day off to help watch Drew and Copper since Nathan, Alden, and several other Bears had an appearance to make. Since I had my test this morning there wasn’t anyone to watch the boys.
As I walk into the house, it’s quiet. I call out a few times, but no one answers. Suddenly I hear laughter coming from the backyard.
When I step out on the porch, I find Baylor and all the boys playing, but I’m not sure what’s happening. They have four long plastic strips out in a diamond shape with three pools in between. It’s all wet and sprinklers are spraying on the long strips. It looks like a baseball diamond. I watch as Baylor rolls the ball to Drew who kicks it. Copper and Kace race to the ball as Drew slides down the plastic and into the pool.
“What are you playing?” I shout gathering their attention.
“Aunt Amara.” Kace races to me.
“Amara.” Drew and Copper follow suit.
“You are all wet.” I laugh, hugging them all. “Where did you get the swim trunks?” I asked the twins.
“Baylor,” they answer.
“Come play.” Baylor strolls over. “You can wear something of mine when we’re done.”
“Let’s go.” I take my phone and keys out of my pockets and kick off my shoes on the patio and race out with the boys.
I can’t remember having this much fun. The boys would kick the ball as Baylor and I chase it. We laugh, splash around and I’m certain we’re losing. I don’t think I’ve ever run this much in my life. I’m sweaty. I tie my tank and turn it into a halter top.
I’m able to catch the ball Kace kicks and race over to get Drew out. We both end up falling into the second base pool. Laughing.
“What’s going on here?”
We all stop and turn to see Alden, Nathan, and Bas standing on the patio. They’re all in dress pants and button up shirts.
“Dad!”
“Nathan!”
“Nate!”
All the boys run to the patio. Baylor and I are able to catch our breath. I’m going to sleep well tonight because I’ll be exhausted.
“Play with us.” I can hear each of the boys begging. “Please.”
“I’ve got clean shorts for you guys.” Alden offers.
“All right. Let’s play,” Bas says.
The guys go in to change and Baylor asks if I can help her make some sandwiches for everyone. As all the guys are outside playing, I dry off and we create an assembly line to make a massive stack of food. Baylor carries the platter as I grab several bags of chips, beers, and bottles of water.
“Come and eat.” I call out. I notice Nathan is shirtless and wet. It makes me lose focus, and I almost trip over my own feet.
We all sit around the patio and Nathan sits across from me since Copper is on my left and Baylor is on my right. My eyes kept gazing over at his bare chest – his hard, lickable chest. I feel someone nudging my leg.
“Huh?” I turn to my right.
“Alden asked you a question.” Baylor smirks catching me in the act of staring.
“What?” I turn my attention to him.
“I asked how the test went.”
“Oh.” I shrug. “I guess okay. I’ll know in a week.”
“Wow. That fast?” Nathan asks.
“Yes. Everything is all electronic.” I nod nibbling on some chips.
We chat about the appearance the guys made today. It was at a local foster home. They seemed to have fun with the kids.
When the boys finished eating, Alden suggested they go play basketball for a while.
“Are you all ready for draft day?” I know it’s a sore topic for some players.
The guys groan.
“Why? What’s draft day have to do with you guys?”
Poor Baylor. She’s new to all of this. She doesn’t understand.
“A lot of players can be traded.” Alden explains.
“Can you be traded?” She pales.
He smirks. “I have a no-trade clause. When I renewed my contract, Amara had just moved here and started school. I didn’t want to leave her alone.”
It sounds as if he’s trying to be controlling but in truth, he’s a great big brother.
“How long is that good for?” Baylor questions.
“Three years.”
“What about you two?” She looks at Nathan and Bas.
“I’m tradeable,” Nathan says sadly.
“Me too.” Bas’ tone is the same. “More than likely, I’ll go.”
“Why?” She becomes more curious.
“Because he’s young and talented,” Alden answers. “Guys like him are traded a lot.”
“Oh, Bas.” Baylor pouts. “I hope you’re not.”
He shrugs. “It happens.”
“What about you, Nathan?” She turns to him.
“I’m able to be traded.” He repeats. “Or go back to the minors.”
“I doubt you’ll go to the minors.” Alden states.
“Then I’ll be traded.”
“Who would take your place?” Baylor is now deeply invested in the conversation.
“Teo or Kit Waters, who plays for the Tigers. Or they could trade for another goalie.” He gives her every possible scenario.
“I guess I never thought about it.” She looks completely devastated by this news. “Will you be able to put in that clause next time?”
This time I speak up. “Probably not. Alden will be close to thirty and the only way he could is if he continues to have an exceptional season.”
“What does his age have to do with it?”
“Most hockey players retire between thirty-three and thirty-six,” I answer.
“Cabel is still playing. He’s thirty-ish.” Baylor continues.
“He’s thirty-seven. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was his last season,” Alden says. “He didn’t put up good numbers last season, but he’s a huge presence in the locker room and off the ice for us.”
“Now I’m even sadder.” Baylor pouts again. “I didn’t realize you all would be leaving.”
“It’s part of the job,” Nathan says.
There’s a sad silence for a moment before I suggest we start cleaning up. They guys went out in the yard and broke down the kickball slip and slide. Baylor and I clean up the patio and then she gives me a clean outfit.
When I finish changing in my old bathroom, I walk out and see Nathan coming in and closing the bedroom door.
“Hey.” I’m unsure why he’s in here.
“You’re going to have to forgive me.”
“Huh?” I repeat.
“I’m about to do something extremely rash and uncharacteristic of me, but if I don’t I may explode.”
“Huh?”
I can barely understand him, but he stalks over to me and captures my mouth with his. He guides us into the bathroom and kicks the door shut. His lips never leaving mine.
The kiss is hard and passionate as we both battle for control. He sweeps his tongue over my lips and I open my mouth wider and taste the pale ale on his tongue. He squeezes me tighter and lifts me up onto the counter. I open my legs and let him settle in between them. We’ve kissed before but this is more intense. Nathan never takes control like this. It’s sexy as fuck.
When we come up for air, I ask, “What the hell was that?”
He pants. “I’m sorry.” He hangs his head.
“No.” I grab his chin and make him look at me. “I want to know what I did for it to happen. This way I can do it again.”
He chuckles. “You just look fucking sexy.”
“Thanks.” I give him the sexiest wink I can muster. “You’re not too shabby either.”
He softly kisses me this time.
Bang. Bang.
“You two better not be doing what I think you are,” Alden yells from the other side of the door.
We both laugh. “We’re not.” I holler back.
“Well, hurry up then.”
“I guess we need to get back to the twins.” Nathan steps back.
“Hey.” I hop off the counter. “You may want me to go first. You need to calm down.”
“Huh?”
I point down to his semi-hard self.
“Fuck.” He groans and I can see he’s embarrassed.
I giggle. “Nathan, I’m well aware you have a penis. This isn’t groundbreaking information.”
“You are Alden.” He rolls his eyes.
This time I laugh loudly, give him a quick kiss and head down to everyone else.
When we get back to the apartment, Nathan plays video games with the twins as I read more comics on the couch. I can’t believe how great they are. Most of the time, I’m staring over the pages looking at Nathan. Since our heated, quick make out session, I can’t stop thinking about his take-charge attitude. It really did turn me on more than I ever thought I could be.
The twins want pizza again and we order exactly what they want. It’s their last night with us and I’m sad to see them leave. They’re a lot of fun and smart and are a lot like Nathan but smaller than his six foot seven self.
The twins are stretched out on the air mattress and Nathan’s on the couch. Fast asleep. I cover them all up before going to bed with a large smile on my face because of the great day I had.