Chapter 34ROBBIE
CHAPTER 34
ROBBIE
A fter an overtime win, I couldn’t say no to the guys when they asked me to go with them for drinks. I stayed for one beer I, of course, didn’t drink, and the second Dallas met a cute redhead, and Logan and Happy paired up with a pair of blondes, the puck bunnies started to circle me like a school of great whites, and I knew it was time to tap out.
By the time I make it home, it’s nearly midnight and, assuming everyone is in bed, I’m quiet as I make my way inside. But then, just as I’m removing my coat, I’m stopped by the distant sound of a shrill, cackling laughter coming from somewhere, and it sounds distinctly like my ma.
Confused, I allow the laughter to guide me through the front sitting room lit only by the flames left to burn out in the hearth. I continue through the kitchen, my brows knitting together as a Journey song starts to drown out the merriment. As I stop at the sliding glass door that opens to the back yard, my confusion piques at the sight of Ma, Fran, and Rhonda, seated on the lawn chairs surrounding the pit fire, all three of them singing horrendously off key and really fucking loud. What the hell?
I pull open the glass door and step out onto the landing, looking down at the trio who are yet to notice me. Then, my eyes zero in on something in my mother’s hand. Something smoking. Is that a fucking joint?
I make my way down the steps and cross the yard, stopping just shy of the group. Still going unnoticed, I watch on as Ma passes the joint to Fran who places it between her lips and tokes on it like a goddamn pro.
“Um, what’s going on?” I ask, raising my voice so I’m heard over the sound of “Don’t Stop Believing” blaring from Fran’s phone.
Instead of alarm, they all turn slowly, their gazes understandably dazed and hazy, grins lopsided. Thankfully Rhonda appears to be sober, standing from her chair and doing her best to hide her smile. But Fran and Ma simply look at one another, something passing between the two of them before they both start giggling uncontrollably.
I place my hands on my hips, eyes darting between the two, but it’s pointless. I turn to Rhonda because clearly she’s the only one here who might be able to offer an explanation.
“Your ma’s been in a bit of pain,” she says quietly, placing a hand on my arm. “Having trouble sleeping.” She indicates the weed currently being shared between Ma and Fran. “The doctor suggested marijuana, and it’s the only thing that helps.”
“How long’s this been going on for?” I ask, lowering my voice.
Rhonda smiles sadly. “A few weeks. She pleaded with me not to tell you, especially with everything you have going on.”
I press my lips together in a firm line, looking from Rhonda to Ma and Fran. I’m pissed because Rhonda should tell me everything about Ma; it’s her literal job. But the reasonable side of me gets it. The last thing Ma wants is for me to worry.
“Come sit, my sweet boy!” Ma waves me over, joint perched between her lips. She pats her lap, like I’m nine years old again and not a grown ass man.
“Ma, I will crush yo u,” I say with an eye roll, unable to hide my grin.
Instead, I lean in and press a kiss to her cheek before continuing to Fran. She smiles up at me, and I gently nudge her shoulder, indicating for her to get up. Dopily, she pushes herself up, and before she goes falling face first into the fire pit, I link my fingers into the waist of her jeans as I steal her seat, pulling her down onto my lap. When she cuddles into me all sleepy and soft and warm, I’ll be damned if I don’t feel my heart do another weird ass somersault in my chest.
“Have you ever smoked weed before?” I whisper in her ear, because I need to prepare myself with exactly how this night is going to go.
Ma smiles at me, glassy eyes reflecting the flames of the fire.
Fran bristles, glancing pointedly at me. “I’ll have you know, I was quite the rebel in college.” She waggles her eyebrows at me, and I can’t help but laugh. Fran Keller a rebel? I’d have loved to see that.
“I was!” She touches her chest indignantly before a smile blooms across her face. “Do you know I even had a—” her eyes flit side to side all devious-like as she leans and lowers her voice to a whisper, “a threesome with two guys at a frat party.” She holds up two fingers for emphasis.
My eyes go wide. She fucked two frat assholes? I’m suddenly overcome by a foreign feeling, possessiveness or jealousy, I can’t quite tell. Maybe both. I decide that’s enough for tonight and gently slap her thigh. “Time for bed. We gotta leave early in the morning.”
“Aw, but your ma and I were just trading stories …” she says in a teasing tone. “Who knew you liked to tuck your penis and pretend to be a girl?” She jabs me in my chest.
Ma bursts out laughing, and I throw my head back on a groan. “Yeah, when I was like six.”
I spear my mother with a mock look of betrayal, but she just keeps laughing and laughing, and I can’t help but laugh too because seeing her like this, so happy and carefree… it’s been a long time.
Fran stifles a yawn, and I squeeze her thigh, leaning in. “Seriously. Head on up to bed. I’ll help Ma get settled and then I’ll be up.”
When her glazed eyes meet mine, there’s something there, and I don’t know exactly what it is, but I feel it straight in my chest, right where my heart is.
“What?” I lower my voice, quirking a curious brow.
She leans in, her breath warm as it fans against my neck. “This whole nurturing side of you is really fucking sexy…” Pulling back just enough, her eyes dance across my face, down to my lips where it looks as if she’s about to kiss me. And there goes my dick.
“Bed.” I lower my voice, staring deep into her eyes. “Now.”
“Okay, bossy.” She smiles coyly, and I hold her hand, helping her up and standing with her to put myself between her and the fire.
“Goodnight, V,” Fran says, stopping by my mother and leaning down to wrap her arms around her. She whispers something in Ma’s ear—something I’m not privy to—and I notice the way it makes my mom’s features soften, her smile wavering as another emotion seems to come over her.
“Goodnight, baby,” Ma says, kissing Fran’s cheek.
“Alright, I’m outtie five-thousand!” Fran shouts, holding her phone in the air as “Any Way You Want It” starts playing from the device, causing her to dance up the steps, shaking her ass at the landing before disappearing inside the house.
Standing there, hands on my hips, all I can do is shake my head and laugh because who knew Fran Keller stoned could be so fun?
“You’re in love with her.”
Startled, I glance down at Ma to see her watching me with that knowing look in her eyes. The look she’s used on me since I was old enough to lie to her, thinking I’d get away with it without realizing that moms really do know best.
Looking at the glass door Fran just disappeared through, I swallow the lump that tries to wedge itself at the back of my throat, confused because the sheer mention of being in love doesn’t immediately make my balls shrivel up and retract inside my body like they usually do at the first hint of the L word. And I don’t know what to think about that.
“You’re a different man around her,” Ma continues. I meet her glistening eyes, and she smiles. “The man I always knew you’d grow up to be. It makes my heart full.”
I swallow another lump. Only this one is a lot harder to get down. Because I hate lying to my mom, but fuck I love seeing her happy.
Not even ten minutes later, I’m walking into my bedroom to find Fran sprawled across the bed, still fully dressed, snoring her little heart out.
Pulling on the back of my neck, I hesitate in the doorway, smiling to myself before continuing in. Crouching down, I slip off her Vans, and then I make my way up, crawling over her and unfastening the button on her jeans. She snorts, mutters something, but doesn’t wake as I tug them down her thighs.
Standing back, I stare down at her, and I know it’s all sorts of creepy because she’s literally passed out, but fuck she looks hot. But it’s not just that. She doesn’t just look hot. The sight of her there in front of me, at her most vulnerable, does something to me. Something I’ve never felt before. I don’t know if I love it or hate it, but as I look down at her sleeping blissfully, it’s almost as if I can’t bear the thought of her not being here with me. Like, if whatever this is between us comes to an end tomorrow, I don’t know if I could cope without having her around me.
I drag a hand down my face and turn, heading for the bathroom, but just as I’m through the door, I hear t he soft, sleep-filled whisper of Fran’s voice. And I’m stopped. Dead in my tracks.
“Why did you lie to Andy about me falling asleep in your hotel room?”
Frozen in place, eyes wide, heart in my throat, panic consumes me.
Did she just say what I think she said?
Fuck. Me.