Chapter 28 #2
Not to mention, our puppy seems to really enjoy Edna as well.
“Hello Mr. and Mrs. Jeffries,” Edna says with a smile. “Alright, boys, here is your precious baby. I fed her dinner around the third quarter, and she’s been to the bathroom already. She should be ready for a nap.”
“Thank you, Edna,” Rhodes says. “You’re so good with her.”
“She’s great company,” she laughs, handing him the leash. “Have a good night. I’m off to handle a few things.”
As Edna rushes off, Silvia’s eyes widen. “Does she ever sleep?”
“No. She has a wicked addiction to caffeine too,” Skylar says.
“I also think we keep her busy with all the accidental stuff we get into,” I admit, wincing.
“Any other issues with that awful photographer?” Dad asks.
“Not yet, though we’ve been so busy, I don’t think we’re very interesting,” I say.
“You’d think the fact that you play a contact sport with knives on your feet would be interesting enough,” Mom says. “Text me the address to the restaurant?”
“You got it,” I say, sending it to her.
“The reservation is under Koen’s name,” Skylar adds. “I don’t know how busy they get, but it’s a good weekend. I figured it was better to be safe than sorry.”
“We don’t have to run home,” Rhodes says. “We’ll meet you at the restaurant, babe. She’ll be good.”
Dropping onto my haunches, I scratch behind Princess’ ears, grinning as she happily accepts the love.
“Be good,” I murmur. “Maybe you can con Skylar into sleeping in the bed.”
Skylar snorts, and I chuckle. We are all suckers for Princess’ begging. She’s absolutely going to be snuggling with us.
“I already called you a ride-share,” he says. “It’s going to be at the side entrance in two minutes.”
Skylar gives me a kiss on the cheek as I stand, and Rhodes follows before I walk my family out a side door to catch a ride-share to the restaurant.
“They’re so doting,” Mom says, shaking her head. “Are they always like that?”
“Pretty much,” I admit.
Even when it’s against my will.
“No offense, but I’m a little jealous,” my sister sighs. “Don’t they get jealous?”
“Not at all,” I chuckle, checking the plate against the text Skylar sent me. It came in just as we stepped onto the sidewalk.
While they’re not perfect, I suppose being flawed and adoring works better.
Opening the back door, I step back for my family to get in before walking around to the front passenger door. The snow cleared up, but it’s still cold enough for the overcoat I’m wearing.
It’s just a fact of life in Minnesota.
“Hi, is it alright if I sit here?” I ask politely, poking my head into the car once I open the door.
“Of…Wow,” the driver breathes. Realizing he recognized me, I grin.
“Thank you,” I reply, sliding into the seat as I close the door behind me.
“Yep,” the driver squeaks out, pulling forward as I put my seatbelt on. He has dark hair, wide eyes, tanned skin, and is an omega. I can tell he’s a little awestruck, but I really am just a person.
“It’s okay, he’s used to people losing their ability to speak around him,” Silvia says.
“Ugh, my brother and I love hockey,” he admits. “This is my last pick up of the day, and then I’m going home to watch how the game went tonight with my brother.”
“I can sign whatever you’d like,” I say gently. I’m rarely the person who is asked for autographs, mostly because I’m not as available. “It may help that you missed seeing the game live.”
It’s not that I don’t want to be, I’m simply an introvert.
“I don’t watch hockey unless my brother is playing, and even I have to admit it was a good game,” Silvia says.
The driver chuckles before nodding. “If you don’t mind, Koen. That would be amazing. I keep a notepad with me.”
As he hands it to me, I watch how careful he is as he drives. His eyes never move from the road, and he takes his turns carefully since there’s still some icy spots.
Opening the notebook, I see there are poems written on the pages. Not wanting to pry, I find an empty page and ask, “Who can I make this out to?”
“My brother’s name is Paulo,” he says, his voice full of affection.
I sign it out to Paulo, and then ask, “What’s your name?”
Since Skylar booked the ride share, and he only sent me the license plate number, I don’t have access to that information. I don’t know why, but I have a feeling he forgets to give it. He may also enjoy hanging in the shadows.
I don’t get to do that as much anymore because of the fame from hockey, but it’s a trade off I can usually handle.
“Alfonso,” he says, blushing. He’s adorable.
Switching to another page, I sign that one out to him as we arrive at the restaurant.
“Thanks for being so careful on the roads,” I say, popping the notebook and pen in the cup holder.
The doors open as he nods, and we all get out and walk quickly into the restaurant.
“That was nice,” Mom says, shivering.
“Mom, Chicago is just as cold as it is here,” I remind her.
“It feels worse here,” she says with a grin.
The four of us chat as the hostess escorts us to our table, and I have to say I’ve missed being this comfortable around my family. I’m always holding a secret, or feeling over defensive when they ask me about my life. It also helps that they can bug my sister about these things too.
“How are you enjoying working at the school?” I ask her, looking over a menu. I’m starving.
“The principal makes me insane, but I love everything else,” she says. “The main focus is music and dance, so I’m always working on something new with students. Then, at night, I’m practicing for the orchestra.”
“A good busy?” I ask.
“For now, yes it is,” she agrees. “New York always has something to do, the food is amazing, and I love my friends. School is back in session next week, which means my vacation is ending.”
“It’s been fun though,” Mom admits, sighing happily. “We missed so much when you were kids because we worked so much. I’m so proud of you both.”
“There are days when I wish we could do things differently,” Dad says. “I’m glad you’re both working in fields you love.”
“They say that’s what grandchildren are for,” Mom says wistfully.