Chapter 3
Heather
My mouth is definitely hanging open, but I don’t care. Grant Parker—the towering, always-grumpy goalie who seems like he would rather endure a root canal than make small-talk—has offered me and April a place to stay.
His place.
As in… living in Grant Parker’s house. Sitting across the table from him at dinnertime or sipping my morning coffee while he reads the paper or does push-ups or ab crunches or whatever professional hockey players do when they’re not knocking each other’s teeth out on the ice.
I haven’t shared a space with a man like that since I was married, and even though Grant seems to be the polar opposite of my ex, I’m not sure how I feel about moving in with anyone on a moment’s notice.
“I… I…” I have to stop and let my brain catch up, because it’s in serious danger of short circuiting at the moment.
“Grant, I can’t let you do that. I appreciate the offer more than I can say, but I can’t.
Maybe if it was going to be a day or two.
Even a week. But we could be talking about close to a month.
Several months, in a worst case scenario. ”
My cheeks are starting to flush, and I can feel everyone’s eyes on me. Lord, I must look like a deer caught in headlights. Am I making the wrong decision? Am I being foolish by turning down his offer?
Noah is looking back and forth between us like he’s watching a tennis match while Margo is giving me that expectant, hopeful expression she gets on her face whenever she thinks a problem has been perfectly solved and disposed of.
If only this could be one of those custom-made, neatly-packaged solutions.
April tugs on my sleeve. “What’s going on, Mom? Are we going to live with Grant Parker? Because that would be—”
“No, sweetheart.” I cut her off before she has a chance to start pouring on the excitement and the puppy dog eyes that never fail to sway me.
“We’re in a bind here, but it’s not the end of the world.
I’m going to get back on the phone with my boss and figure out some way to fix this. That’s really the only option.”
Grant shrugs like he’s just offered to help carry our groceries to the door, rather than completely turn his life upside down for two people he’s only met a handful of times. “It’s not that big of a deal, Heather. My place is way too big for just me anyway.”
“And I do appreciate the offer. I can’t even tell you how much. But again, this could be more than just a short-term thing. It could be weeks at best, or it could drag out into months while the legal process plays out. There’s no telling how long that might take.”
Another shrug, and he dismisses all those very valid concerns without even blinking.
Again.
“It sounds like you really need a place to stay, though,” he says. “And you don’t have much time to figure something else out.” I can’t argue because he isn’t wrong. “So if you need somewhere to stay for a while and I have plenty of space for guests, doesn’t that solve your immediate problem?”
I should be firm and tell him no. I should stop even entertaining the idea, because I already know that it’s not going to work.
But do I actually know that? I know all the reasons it shouldn’t work. I know my gut—and yeah, maybe even a little bit of my pride, since I’m used to being the superhero single parent who also helps other women in need—is telling me how crazy it would be to accept Grant’s help.
But I guess the rational part of my brain is still too surprised or overwhelmed to put up a good fight, because even when I open my mouth to say no, I can’t come up with a good reason to reject the offer outright.
“Please, Mom?” April tugs at me again. “Please, please, please? Can you imagine how popular I’ll be at my new school if my roommate is the goalie for the Aces?”
I frown. “That’s not how we make important decisions, sweetie. Especially housing decisions.” I turn back to Grant. “I’m sorry. This just feels like it’s too much. Like I’d be taking advantage of your kindness.”
“How is it taking advantage if I’m the one offering?”
“Because you’re being nice, and I’m in a desperate situation, and—”
“And you think I’m the kind of guy who makes offers but doesn’t follow through?”
His tone isn’t confrontational, but I can tell he isn’t going to let me off the hook without a good reason.
Damn it.
I open my mouth to say something, then close it again as I try to read his expression. “No. No, I don’t think that.”
“Good. Because I’m not that kind of guy.”
Margo gives me an understanding look and leans in closer so I’m the only one who can hear. “You know you don’t have to decide right now. But maybe don’t say no just because you’re scared.”
My reply is so reflexive it’s out of my mouth without a second thought. “I’m not scared at all.” Only when Margo gives me another knowing look do I backtrack a little. “Okay, maybe I’m a little scared.”
“Scared of what?” Grant asks, lowering his voice just a little. “I promise I’m not quite as big of a jerk as I play on TV.”
Noah snorts. “I think that’s debatable, and highly dependent on who you ask.”
I have to laugh, even as Grant shoots a semi-mocking glare at his teammate.
It’s obvious that the guys respect each other, just by the way they trash-talk back and forth.
Every member of the Aces is big enough to put a stop to it otherwise—especially Grant, who is half a head taller and more muscular than most of them.
“Seriously, though,” I say. “The last thing I want is for us to be a burden. What about your privacy? Your routine? You’re a professional athlete. Don’t you need your space?”
“Like I said before, I don’t even need half the space I actually have. Probably closer to ten percent, if I’m being completely honest.” He shrugs. “And my routine isn’t that complicated. I get up early so I can train. I eat three boring meals a day. I sleep. Rinse and repeat.”
He makes it sound believable, but I know it’s not going to be that simple. Not when we’re talking about meshing three lives together and hoping for no major disruptions.
“See, Mom?” April is in full puppy-eye mode now. “He said he doesn’t need all that space. He probably won’t even know we’re there.”
I sigh and consider putting my foot down once and for all, but even Margo and Noah are looking at me like I’m making a mountain out of a molehill. Is there any chance for this to go as easily and seamlessly as they all seem to think it will?
I guess there’s only one way to find out.
“Okay.” I put my hands up to show everyone I’m surrendering. “I mean, if you’re absolutely sure?”
Grant nods, and I can finally see a hint of a smile. “I am. Anyway, it’s not forever. Just until you know what’s going on with your place or you find somewhere different.”
He does have a point. It’s not like April and I are going to be staying with him forever, or even indefinitely. His offer has been more than generous, but it’s still an offer with an expiration date.
And now that the hard part has been settled, there’s only one thing left to say.
“Thank you,” I breathe, already feeling some of the stress lifting off my shoulders. “You just helped us out of what was going to be a huge headache.”
That hint of a smile is gone, but his frown isn’t as deep as it was before. Instead, he’s giving me a thoughtful, almost considerate look. Almost like he’s trying to figure something out, or has something else to say.
It’s an innocent look, but there’s something about it that makes my stomach do a little swoop.
I wrap an arm around April just as she starts to yawn. “Looks like it’s past someone’s bedtime…”
“Is not,” April says just before another yawn makes her pause. “I’d stay up all night if you’d let me.”
“That’s not going to happen. Just look at Grant.” I nod in his direction. “Do you think he stays at the top of his game by staying up all night getting into trouble?”
I pause and give him a quick, pleading look, hoping he’ll back me up. And of course he passes with flying colors.
“Your mom is right,” he says. “A good night’s sleep is one of the most important parts of my training regimen.
” He turns his attention back to me. “Just let me know when you want the movers to come with your stuff, and I’ll make sure you have keys and security codes and everything you’ll need before then.
Or if you need any help moving, I can do that too. ”
“No, no—I mean, thank you. But no. You’ve already gone out of your way to help. The last thing I want is to take up any more of your time with the actual moving.”
He shakes his head and looks over at Noah. “Should you tell her, or should I?”
Noah grins. “Heather, he wouldn’t offer if he didn’t actually want to help. Trust me, Parker knows better than anyone in this room how to say no.”
“And mean it,” Grant adds. “But honestly, I don’t mind. Whatever you need, okay? I’m here to help. I’m sure you’ll be busy getting April enrolled in her new school and getting ready for your new job and everything that goes with all that. If I can take some of that pressure off, I’ll be glad to.”
I want to ask him why he’s being so nice or if he has some kind of ulterior motive, but he’s honestly not giving off that kind of vibe, and I trust Noah enough to step in if he didn’t trust the guy around me or my daughter.
Maybe Grant Parker is just one of the few good men left in the world. Or maybe I’ve built up enough good karma in my life that the universe has finally let me cash some of it in.
Whatever the reason, I’m not going to ask too many questions. I’m also not going to say or do anything that might make me seem ungrateful, because he literally swooped in and saved my ass from a lot of stress and sleepless nights.
“Thank you, Grant. I know I sound like a broken record, but you truly are a lifesaver. I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate you stepping in and helping out like this.”
“You don’t have to thank me. Your sister managed to tame our wild captain and settle him down, so the way I see it is that the whole team should be lining up to help out wherever we can.”
Noah mutters something about not being tamed, but Grant is starting to ask me another question that drowns out everything else.
“So, should I go ahead and get your number?”
I blink and look over at Margo, whose eyes go wide for a moment as the whole world slows down and that feeling in my stomach comes roaring back with full force.
“Or…” His blue eyes search mine, and I belatedly realize I’ve been standing here with my mouth open again. He’s going to think it’s some kind of medical condition if I don’t get it together.
“My number,” I nod. “Sure, I mean—”
“To coordinate with the movers and everything. We don’t have to exchange numbers if you don’t want to, but I thought it might make logistics a little easier.”
Of course.
The logistics.
It would’ve been ridiculous to think he meant anything else.
“Right, yes. I’ll give you my number and we can coordinate… everything.” I grab my phone from my purse, then nearly fumble it so badly that he has to reach out and steady it in my hand.
“Easy there.” He closes his hand over mine and holds it there until my grip is steady again. “Got it?”
I nod, wishing again that I could just pull myself together. “Got it. Thanks. I don’t know what’s wrong with me tonight. I think it’s just…” I clear my throat. “Everything, you know?”
“I get it. You’ve had a roller coaster of a night.”
He takes his surprisingly warm, surprisingly gentle hand away and it takes me another full two seconds to remember what I was doing with my phone in the first place.
“Exactly. A roller coaster.” I swipe to get to my contacts, still acutely aware of Noah and Margo and even April watching us. “So should I give you my number, or…”
“How about if you text me? Then I’ll have your number too.”
Thank goodness he’s on top of this, because I’d still be scrolling through my seemingly endless contact list, desperately trying to remember how to add a new one.
He’s not flirting, not even giving flirty vibes, but there’s something about the way those blue eyes seem to see through all the craziness and all the noise. Something simple and real that keeps throwing me off.
I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. For the quid pro quo to kick in.
But there’s nothing yet. Not even a hint.
“So I guess we’re all set?” And there’s that serious look of his that’s also somehow disarming at the same time. “Anything else you can think of that we need to take care of tonight?”
“Um, no, I think we’re good,” I say. “Thanks again. I’ll be in touch once I have more details about the movers.”
“Perfect. See you soon.”
We say our goodbyes to Grant, Noah, and Margo, then I drag April out of the lounge before she can talk me into staying “just five minutes longer.”
She shuffles along beside me out to the parking lot, still trying to hide the fact that she’s yawning every few minutes. “Mom, can you believe we’re going to be living with Grant Parker?”
“We’re going to be staying with him for a little while. Not quite the same thing.”
“But still, isn’t that crazy?”
“Yeah,” I nod. “It really is. Everything about it is just a little crazy.”