40. Sara #2
It’s not glamorous. It doesn’t resemble Brooks’s life in any aspect. But it worked for us. It still works for them.
My mother pops out of the bathroom with a surprised squeal.
“You’re home!” She lunges at me and wraps me in a tight embrace.
The feel of her arms around me is a comfort, and I immediately sink against her.
We’re about the same height and build. Her hair is the same blond color mine was until a few days ago, and she has it pulled back in a ponytail.
I squeeze her once more, then pull away. “Mom, this is Brooks, my boyfriend.”
Brooks holds out his hand and smiles.
My mother beams back at him. She’s practically glowing when she gives me a quick assessment, but then she’s focused on him again. “It’s so nice to meet you, Brooks. We’ve certainly heard a lot about you.”
His responding grin is boyish and almost shy. “Thank you for having me over. It’s nice to finally meet Sara’s family.”
“Sar, why don’t you go introduce Brooks to your brother, then come help me with lunch?” my mother suggests. “I’m sure you two don’t have a ton of time before the game tonight.”
“No rush, ma’am.”
My mother swats at the air between her and Brooks. “Don’t ma’am me. Makes me feel old. Call me Nancy.”
“All right, Nancy.” He gives her a sheepish smile and a nod, but I’m already dragging him down the hall in search of my other favorite person. “She’s nice,” he says softly.
I stop outside my brother’s room and knock.
“Come in,” he shouts.
The moment I open the door, my inner lunatic emerges again, and I dart for Ethan. I tackle him and squeeze him tight, drowning in relief and excitement at seeing him after months apart.
“Jeez, Sar. Let me breathe!” he teases. But when he drops the controller and swivels in his gaming chair so he can throw his arms around me, I know he’s just as excited to have me home as I am to be here.
I sigh and squeeze him tighter. “You look good.”
He stiffens in my arms, probably spotting Brooks behind me, and wriggles free of my hold. “Holy crap,” he mutters out of the side of his mouth. “You’re really dating Brooks Langfield.”
Brooks’s bellowing laugh from the doorway makes me smile and sends my heart soaring. “Believe me, I’m amazed she agreed to be my girlfriend too.” He steps into the room and nods toward the screen. “That NHL 22?”
Ethan’s smile splits his face. “Yeah.”
“Have another controller?”
“You play?” my brother breathes, his brows in his hairline.
“Not as often as I’d like, but yeah, I think I can keep up.”
Ethan laughs. “We’ll see about that.”
With that, Brooks is taking the proffered second controller and settling on the floor beside Ethan.
I’ve essentially been dismissed.
“I guess I’ll go help Mom with lunch.” I throw a thumb over my shoulder and back toward the doorway.
Neither of them so much as acknowledges me. They’re both 100 percent focused on getting Brooks set up.
At the door, I rest my head on the frame and soak in the sight of them for a moment. My brother may not be able to do all the things the Langfield kids can, but the instant Brooks met him, he found a way to bond with him. I shouldn’t be surprised. Even so, it makes my heart all gooey.
“You’re very smiley,” my mother says as I enter the kitchen.
I am, in fact, very smiley.My heart is still melting, and I’m pretty sure I floated my way down the hall to get here.
“Ethan looks good.” I sidle up beside her.
She’s standing at the counter, plating an absurd amount of food.
With a frown, I take it all in. There’s chicken and side dishes and rolls and even a plate of cookies. “Is someone else coming over for lunch?”
“You’re dating a big hockey player. He needs to load up on carbs before the game.”
With a laugh, I rest my head against my mother’s shoulder. “That’s very cute of you.”
“Your brother is so excited to go to the game.”
I warm at the thought. “I’m glad you guys are coming. It’ll be fun.”
“And things with Brooks…” She picks up the platter of chicken, but she doesn’t move. She just tilts her head and takes me in. “Are they serious?”
“I think so.”
Her eyes go wide. I’ve never had a serious boyfriend, and I’ve certainly never brought a man home to meet my family. I’m fiercely protective of them.
With a nod, she takes the platter to the table. “He better be good to you.”
“He is, Mom.” I pick up the basket of rolls and follow. “He’s one of the good ones.”
With a nod and a small smile, she leans out into the hall. “Ethan, time for lunch.” She shuffles to the fridge and pulls out a jug of lemonade, then returns to the table. “I’ll probably have to call him four more times before he’ll really hear me. He gets so lost in the game.”
As we’re plating the food a minute or two later, Brooks and Ethan appear. Of course this perfect man would turn off the game the moment he’s beckoned.
“This looks great,” he says, gripping my waist.
“You have a lot of work to do tonight, so eat up.” My mother motions for us to sit.
Brooks pulls out my chair and waits until I’m seated before pushing it closer to the table.
Then he presses a kiss to the top of my head and settles beside me.
He places his napkin on his lap, and with one hand wrapped around mine, he uses his fork to cut into his chicken with the other, as if he can’t possibly let me go.
It’s adorable.
“What’s it feel like out on the ice?” Ethan asks, his tone wistful and a little sad.
“Feel like?” Brooks scans the room for a moment, really considering the question. “It’s a lot like what I think flying feels like. If you close your eyes while you’re gliding.”
Ethan closes his eyes, almost as if he’s visualizing it, and Brooks squeezes my hand.
My little brother opens them again, picks up his fork, and gives Brooks a small smile. “Cool.”
“So, Brooks,” my mother says, “tell us about your family.”
Lennox: Did you ever leave the bathroom or should I summon your mother to come get you?
Me: Haha, you are so funny. We’re at the game now.
Lennox: Aw. How did Saint Brooks do when he met the family? I’m sure your mother loved him. He’s got a face a mother would love.
Me: eye roll emoji He’s got a face everyone would love. Literally. He was the Bachelor of Hockey for Sports Illustrated last year.
Lennox: And now he’s all yours. Smoochie face.
Me: You know they have emojis for that, right? You don’t actually have to write out the word.
Lennox: Crying laughing you’re so funny.
Me: crying laughing emoji see? There’s one for that too.
Lennox: Go watch your boyfriend. I heard he’s pretty good on skates.
Me: Ha. Love you bye.
Lennox: Love YOU!
“Brooks really went all out, didn’t he?” my mother says, tugging on her blue Bolts toque. She’s also wearing a brand-new jersey.
My brother is decked out in a jersey emblazoned with the number 13 as well. He’s beaming so brightly I swear there’s a spotlight set on him. We’re standing behind the plexiglass, watching the guys warm up. His eyes are huge, and he hasn’t stopped bouncing since we stepped foot in the arena.
“Do you see the Leprechaun, Sar?” He tugs on my shirt and points at Aiden.
With a laugh, I wave at Aiden. He flashes me a grin and waves back, officially making my brother believe I’m the coolest girl he’s ever met.
“I can’t believe they all know you,” he says, his tone filled with awe.
I muss his hair. “I am the coolest.”
He shrugs me off and points to Brooks. “Look, he’s skating toward us.”
He sure is, and I can’t contain the smile that takes over as I watch him approach.
I’m fan-girling just as badly as Ethan is.
No matter how many times I see Brooks play hockey, I’m enamored by him.
Captivated. That extends to his every move off the ice too.
Though when he’s in this setting, his cockier side comes out, and damn, is it hot.
As he gets closer, those green eyes dance, making my stomach flip, and a smile tugs on his lips. “Hey, Sar.” Even the way he says my damn name makes me swoon. “Bring Ethan to the bench for me.”
My mother and Ethan turn to me in unison. My mother is biting down on her bottom lip, nervous. Ethan’s eyes are bright and curious. Since the moment they met, he’s hung on my boyfriend’s every word.
I guide him to the gate and wave to the staff, making sure my employee badge is visible, since this isn’t our home arena.
Once they’ve waved us through, I lower myself to give my brother instructions.
“Stay back and out of the way. The guys are all in skates. They’ll crush your toes if they step on you. ”
Ethan’s eyes are wide as he gapes at our surroundings. The huge hockey players preparing for the game, the coaching staff talking in whispered tones to one another, the guy out on the ice barreling toward the boards—the same one motioning for me to bring my brother closer.
“You want to fly, Ethan?” Brooks hands his hockey stick to one of the staff and holds out his gloved hand.
“You sure about this?” I ask, shuffling closer so Ethan can’t hear me. “Seb might lose his mind.”
Brooks shakes his head. “Even he’s not that much of a dick. Come on, take my gloves and help your brother over.”
I yank the glove off his right hand, then he tears off the left. With them tucked under my arm, I wave Ethan closer.
“What do you say?”
He doesn’t hesitate. With all his might, he throws a leg over the boards. He wobbles back, but I steady him. When he’s upright, Brooks scoops him up under the arms, then instructs him to stand on the tops of his skates.
“All right, Ethan. Time to fly.” With a wink at me, Brooks pushes off, and then they’re flying.
I cover my mouth and will my heart not to leap right out of my chest as my two favorite guys maneuver around the ice.
Every one of our guys out there circles the pair, and Brooks starts pointing like he’s introducing them all to Ethan.
Then they’re taking off again, the whole group staying in a circle formation and gliding together.
“If he fucking falls with that kid…” Seb mutters.