Rushing the Goal
Page 8

News of their mother’s engagement had run through the family like wildfire. That was the problem with being such a close-knit family who were in each other’s business all the time. They all acted very happy for their mom, and they were, but it was odd. Lucy and her siblings had only known their mom and dad together. Now that their sperm donor, cheating-ass father was out of the picture, it had been only a matter of time before their mom moved on.
It just seemed so soon.
Or maybe that was the jealousy speaking again.
It had been four years since Lucy had gotten divorced, and she hadn’t even had a boyfriend. Mom, though, only two years after a nasty divorce, and she was back on the horse and getting married.
If she gets pregnant, I quit, she thought to herself as she parked the car, her phone going off like mad.
Jayden: Shut up! He’s not my dad! Gross! And I am happy. Just weirded out.
Jude: Yeah, what he said ^^ and technically, he’s all of our stepdad.
Jayden: Shut up, dude, you’re making this worse.
Jace: For real, but Lucy, sounds like someone is guilty cause they aren’t happy for our sweet, amazing mother and our new, gag, dad.
Jayden: Ugh, don’t call him that.
Jude: Coach, his name is Coach.
Lucy: For fuck’s sake, shut up, of course I am.
Jace: Sure you are. Crazy mom got married before you and she divorced way after you.
Lucy: Wow. Really? You used to be my favorite.
Jude: We were all thinking it, and plus, you’re the only one who hasn’t made a congratulations Facebook post for Mom and Coach. Even Jayden did it, and soon his wife will be his sister.
Jayden: I hate you guys.
Lucy: Since I’m not a child like you assholes, I don’t need to blast all over Facebook my happiness for my mother. Y’all know she loves me more, so fuck off and leave me alone.
When she was answered by them laughing out loud at her, she shoved her phone in her purse before pushing her door open with more force than needed, but man, they just pissed her off. Stupid brothers.
“Dumbasses,” she muttered as she popped the trunk while Angie bounced beside her.
“I get to be the flower girl, right, Momma?”
Sucking in a breath, Lucy smiled. “I’m sure you will be.”
“Yay! Today is, like, the best ever. Grandma is getting married, and I’m playing hockey! Isn’t it the best?”
Not really, but she wouldn’t tell her baby that. “Yes, honey. Come on, we’re kinda late, even though I don’t see Jayden’s car.” Lucy looked around as they made their way into the ice rink, still not seeing her brother’s big truck.
“I wish Jace and Jude were here. I like when I get to play with all three of them.”
“I know, but Jace and Jude will be home for Christmas.” Still looking for Jayden’s truck, Lucy felt an uneasiness settle in her gut as she reached for the door handle. Maybe he parked in the back? Apparently, she was the only one worried about it because Angie was giggling with excitement. As they entered the building and went toward Rink B where they would be practicing, according to the email she received that morning, she kept looking for her brother. Thankfully, the texts had come to a stop. She loved her brothers, really, but they were exhausting.
When her purse vibrated, though, she closed her eyes, figuring she could answer it later. She needed to find Jayden, but she still didn’t see him and that made her anxious. She may have grown up with the sport and loved it, but she sure as hell didn’t know how to get Angie ready to hit the ice. Plus, Angie was looking forward to being with him on the ice.
Pulling her phone out, she turned her phone on to see it wasn’t Jayden who had texted her, as she had hoped. It was Rick.
Fuck.
Ignoring the text since she was already on edge, she sent Jayden a quick message asking where he was. When she looked up, hoping to see him, she didn’t. Instead, a very big and well-known man was coming toward her with a grin on his face. To say Shea Adler was a looker was an understatement. If he weren’t a devoted husband and an amazing father, Lucy would climb that man like a tree and attach herself to him with no plans of letting go. Even with the years starting to be visible on his face, Shea was gorgeous. A fine wine that man was, and wine always made Lucy want to take off her clothes. God, she was going to hell. But Jesus, he had thick, dark hair, blue eyes that looked into your soul, and a smile that could stop a room.
Man, that Elli Adler was one blessed lady.
Lucky bitch.
“Hey, Lucy,” he said, his Boston accent still very much present even after living in Tennessee for so long.
“Hey, Shea,” she said with a dreamy smile.
Why couldn’t she meet a Shea Adler type who would look into her eyes and make her feel like Ed Sheeran was singing in the background?
All she ever got was Rick the Dick.
Horror music played when he was around.
Directing his attention to Angie, his smile grew. “Angie! Girl, you ready? Posey and Shelli have been asking all day if you were coming.”
Angie beamed. She loved the Adlers. Everyone loved the Adlers. They were just great people. “Yup, Coach Adler. I can’t wait. I’m so excited! My uncle should be here to help me get ready.” She was so excited, but Lucy didn’t miss the same little fairy-tale look in her eyes that probably mirrored hers.
Shea was dreamy.
But when his face displayed confusion, the dreaminess Lucy felt disappeared and her eyes narrowed, the uneasiness back in full force.