Chapter 3
Damien
It’s been almost a week since the game, and I’m in the middle of traveling to Sandy Cove on my motorcycle to visit with my family, plus get together with Tanya for a drink. Needless to say, my last few nights of sleep have been an absolute wreck. I’ve been so concerned about meeting with Tanya, and my hopes and dreams for the future. She’s the proverbial one, I just know it. Yes, in the past I’ve dated around, but I’ve never actually done the deed. I figured why do it with just anyone when my soulmate is out there somewhere. As it turns out, she is in Sandy Cove, my hometown, which I’ve been trying to escape since I graduated high school. Funny how things turn out.
I’m just passing by the ‘Welcome to Sandy Cove’ sign when I decide to re-explore the town before I head to my childhood home.
Twenty minutes later, I’m pulling into my mom’s driveway and parking my bike.
“Woot! Nice ride!”
That earns my youngest brother a smile. “Thanks man. You still living at home?”
“Of course, I am. Why would I move out?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. Maybe to have your own space, and to let Mom have her house back fully.”
Finn lets out a belly laugh. “That’s funny. Mom with an empty house. That’s never gonna happen.”
He’s not wrong. Mom actually prefers her house, always being full and boisterous. But, then again, she and Dad did have twelve kids, so I guess it makes sense. “Where is she, anyway? Kitchen?”
Finn shakes his head. “She’s still out having lunch with Ellie and Tanya. Should be back in maybe an hour or so.”
That piques my interest. “Hope they’re having a good time. Guess I’ll head up to my old room and unpack.”
He nods. “You do that, and I’ll take the keys to your bike.”
I gave him a glare. “That’s not happening, Finn.”
He pouts. “Oh, come on, Damien. I’ve only been in a few accidents.”
“The answer is no, and that’s final.”
“Ugh, fine. You don’t have to go all dad on me. I got it.”
The truth of the matter is that no one except me rides my bike. It’s one of the first things that I bought and paid for with my own money. If someone ends up wrecking it, it’s gonna be me.
Once I enter the house, I head upstairs to the bedroom that I used to share with Declan and Adrian. Looking back at it, it’s kind of hard to believe this house at one point housed fourteen people. Boggles the mind.
After I unpack everything, I take a quick shower then head to the kitchen to bake some ready-to-bake chocolate chip cookies I picked up on my way here before mom gets back. Mom and Soren are the bakers in the family. I’ll take the easy way out when it comes to baking every time.
“Damien, I’m home!” My mom calls, her melodic voice filling my heart.
I wipe my hands on my pants then dash to the front foyer, where I find Mom, Ellie and Tanya standing. “Hi everyone,” I wave. “Mom, how’d you know I was already here?”
She smirks. That must be where I get it from. “Your baby brother is outside salivating all over your ride. I’m surprised he hasn’t tried to hot-wire it yet.”
I hug mom, then Ellie, then am directly in front of Tanya. “Hey.”
She smiles, then responds. “Hey.”
“Uh, I baked some cookies you can have.”
“Thanks?”
My mom gently lays her hand on my shoulder. “Ellie. Tanya. How about you join Damien and I for coffee and cookies?”
The girl of my dreams—literally for the past week—grimaces. “I wish I could, but I have to relieve my part-time girl at my shop for her doctor’s appointment. Maybe next time.”
I run to the kitchen, then rush back within a few minutes, now holding a sandwich bag filled with chocolate chip cookies. “These are for you.”
She beams. “Thank you. That is really sweet of you, Damien. I’ll text you later on tonight after I close the shop.” She turns back to my mom. “Thanks again for lunch, Mrs. Shaw. I really appreciate it.”
“Anytime dear.”
After both Ellie and Tanya leave, mom and I head to the kitchen. “What’s so funny, mom?”
“Nothing dear, it’s just that you don’t bake. You always turned me down when I offered to teach you.”
I shrug my shoulders. “I can at least follow directions, unlike Finn,” I say, pointing to the cookie wrapper in the garbage can. “Remember the time when he tried to boil water? He ended up causing a kitchen fire.”
Mom sighs. “Yes, I remember. And I also remember that I was able to remodel the kitchen. You have to look at the silver lining that presents itself.”
I nod my understanding as she takes a seat at the huge kitchen table that can seat twenty people at maximum when both of the leaves are put in. I step over to the coffeemaker, then proceed to pour three cups of coffee just as the front door bangs shut. “Finn? Coffee?”
He strides in then and plonks himself down beside mom. “Yes, please. Ooh, cookies, my favorite.”
I chuckle. “You have a sweet tooth. You love anything sweet.”
He nods with a mouthful of cookie. “Yeah, but not everything sweet loves me back.” He says, eying me.
“Finn Riley Shaw! Don’t you dare do it!” Mom chastises him, her hand raised as she shakes it at him.
“What are you talking about, Finn?”
“Tanya. The one you’re sweet on. When she first joined the scene, I tried to offer her the Finn experience, but she declined, saying she wasn’t the least bit interested.”
I can’t help but guffaw loudly at my brother’s expense. “Oh, that must have been priceless.” I turn to mom. “Please tell me you videotaped it.”
“Sorry.” She says as she pats Finn’s hand. “You’ll find the right one, one day sweetie.”
Finn shoves another cookie in his mouth.
Mom and I continue our conversation over coffee while Finn takes his coffee and the last few cookies up to his room.
“So, you and Tanya, anything going on that I should know about?”
I shake my head. “Mom, we’re just getting to know one another. Hell, I mean, we only just met last week.”
“Watch your language, dear.”
“Sorry, Mom.”
“Damien, it’s just that I know you, and I’m just concerned you might end up getting hurt.”
I lean into hug her. “Mom, I appreciate everything that you do, but whatever this is, is between Tanya and me. No one else.”
She nods. “I understand, dear. I said the same thing to your grandparents regarding your father and me. But I’ll tell you what they told me. No matter what, I’ll always be their little girl, just like you’ll always be my little football star.”
“Aww, Mom.”
She laughs. “Now that you spent some time with me, go be with your brothers and friends. I’m guessing you have some plans for tonight?”
I nod. “A few of my high school buddies and I are meeting at the local pub to drink and play some poker.”
“Just be safe, dear.”
“I will.”