Chapter 2- Tate
After a blur of moving boxes, paperwork and phone calls, Matty has his first day in his new school today.
It's a fancy private school that my mom found.
She also helped me find this house in a nice neighbourhood, not far from the arena.
She even hired a nanny for me, all the way from Texas.
That woman can do anything if she has a solid Wi-Fi connection.
Matty stands by the door looking grumpy with his handheld gaming system that he got for his birthday, his hands and his backpack on. I don't ask what's wrong, I already know. It's hard being the new kid. Well, I don't know but I can imagine.
I insisted on taking Matty to school today and let the nanny have the time to get settled into her own provided housing.
I don’t know much about moving kids to a new place, but I figure this is a good way to show up for him.
He follows me out the door and slumps against the wall while I grab the recycling.
I hear the neighbor's kid yell out next door, “I got it, mom!” followed by a slam of the door.
I turn my head to see the kid around the same age wearing a similar uniform to Matty and smacking on gum. He has a backwards cap on his head and is pulling the trash and recycling cans to the road. I use my keys to lock the door slowly and watch this interaction.
Matty hasn't even looked up.
The kid runs over anyway like he owns the place. “Oh, is that the Nintendo Switch Lite? So cool. I should've asked for one of those instead of the PlayStation because you can take it with you.”
That gets Matty's attention and he finally looks up with a smile. “You have a PlayStation? Maybe we can work out a trade, I'll let you play on this if you let me play on your PlayStation sometimes too.”
“Oh, good idea. Then it's like having both.” He gives Matty an appraising look. “What's your name?”
“Matthew Bridges. You?” Matty stands taller and gives the other boy the same look.
They're sizing each other up and I try to hold back my chuckle.
I'm pretty sure I'm witnessing the meeting of two lifelong friends right here.
“Hudson Crowder. But I hate that last name, it's my dad’s.” The kid just shrugs. “You play any sports?”
“Me and my dad both play hockey. I might play soccer this year too. I haven't decided yet.”
Hudson just now seems to notice me but doesn't give me much of a glance as he says, “Hi mister.” Then he and Matty go back to chatting away about this school and some A-hole named Trevor. At least that's how Hudson puts it.
I lock up the house and drag my cans out.
I don't want to break up their conversation just yet.
Not to mention I got Matty out the door extra early to sit and have donuts with him.
I think this is better for now though. I'm glad to see Matty making some allies before he even sets foot on the school grounds.
I lean against the back of the SUV I bought to be better on gas here in the city instead of my lifted truck. My little brother enjoyed inheriting that. I pull out a pack of cigarettes and light one up, ignoring the self-loathing that always settles in my chest alongside the smoke.
The kids are still by the front door but now they sit on the step together messing with Matty's game.
“Want to ride to school together?” Matty offers.
“Oh, don't you have to ask your dad?”
“Dad! Can Huddy ride to school with us?” Matty calls way louder than he needs to. I just offer a yup.
“Huddy?” Hudson asks, nudging him with his shoulder. I just grin.
“My friends back home call me Matty.” Matty looks a little sheepish, “So I thought I'd call you Huddy then we kinda match.”
“Cool.”
I snuff out the cigarette and try to covertly toss it in the trash without Matty seeing. It's a bad habit I've been trying to kick for a while now.
“Time to go, Matty.” I nod to the car as I make my way up the drive. I open the door for Matty, and he ducks into his seat, but before Hudson can follow, I hold up a hand.
“We gotta ask your parents first, kid.” I say in a kind but firm tone. He gives a little slump of his shoulders.
“Aw, man. Do we have to? She's kinda weird about strangers. She didn't let me stay over at Dylan’s house just because he had a big brother that she thought was too old to still live at home. What does that even have to do with me? And then Dylan didn't invite me ever again.”
“Sounds like a smart woman. I'm the exact same way. It's a good thing you have such a good mom to look out for you, huh?”
Hudson looks me up and down with narrowed eyes.
I knock on his door without breaking eye contact. Why is this little shit trying to intimidate me? It ain't gonna work, I'll tell you that for free.
The door swings open almost immediately as a five foot nothing blonde woman comes out digging in her purse and muttering to herself.
“Where are those fucking keys? I swear...” She's got professional looking folders tucked under her arm and Hudson's backpack hanging off her wrist. Her red bottom heel clacks as she stamps her foot in frustration.
I track the movement and bite back my smile. Her silky golden hair is up in a clip. I can't help but let my eyes wander over the curve of her slender neck and down to the skirt that hugs her curvy waist and hips perfectly.
Hudson pops a bubble with eyes narrowed on me.
“Mom, Matty offered me a ride to school. Can I go?”
“Who's Matty?” She turns and her eyes widen. Her mouth pops open in a perfect o as she must crane her neck up to meet my eyes. My six-foot-three frame towers over her even in her heels. I note the mascara making her eyelashes longer, the soft dusting of freckles across her nose and the lipstick swept across her pillowy lips. My eyes linger for a beat. It’s then that I realize how close we are.
Too close. “Hi there, ma'am.” She takes a step back to put some space between us, but stumbles when her heel catches the miniscule crack on the pavement.
Instincts kick in and I steady her by the elbow.
Her perfume fills my nose with something clean and soft. It makes me want to lean even closer.
Her eyes flick to mine for a moment, startled. Then her green eyes narrow and her full lips pull down on a frown as she pulls her arm back gently. “No, sorry. We are in a hurry.”
Hudson just groans. “Told you.”
I bite back a laugh, “Matty is my son. He's waiting in the car there.” I jerk my chin to where Matty has the window down and is waving Hudson to come and whisper-yells, “Come on already.”
Hudson just shrugs and gestures to his mom with both hands.
“I’m Tate Bridges.” I hold my hand out to her, and she takes it with hers. My warm calloused hand engulfs her smooth cold one. I note the shiver that runs through her.
“Allison Campbell.” She finally gives me a small smile. It hits me right in the chest. I almost forget myself and her son standing next me, but I don’t.
“We just moved in next door, and the boys really hit it off this morning. Hudson is his first friend here and I really would appreciate it if you allowed them to walk in together today. I did plan on taking them for smoothies before, if that's alright with you, ma'am.” I keep a polite smile on my face. “I’ll even share my phone location with you if you’d like.”
I swear the boys are holding their breath as she looks from Hudson to Matty to me. She chews her lip. Her scrutinizing eyes look me over, as if she could see right through my forehead, into my thoughts. I straighten.
I never cared before what any woman thought of me. Save for my mom and baby sister. But this woman? Something about her makes me want to earn her trust. Her respect.
“Alright, I suppose that's okay. Just this once though, ok?”
Hudson nods furiously, surprising her with a tight hug around her trim waist and a kiss on the cheek before taking off to my car.
“Don’t forget to give those treats out to your teachers!” She calls after him. She huffs a laugh at his excitement.
My eyes are still on hers when she chances a glance up at me. They widen slightly when they land on mine.
I know I should follow him, but my feet are glued to the driveway. Why is my heart pounding like this? She’s off-limits. She’s my neighbour. My son's new friend’s mother. I’ve never had any kind of relationship and starting one up this close to home isn’t a good idea.
Stop staring, idiot.
Just as I open my mouth to say something- anything before it can get awkward, she beats me to it.
“Well, welcome to the neighbourhood. I’ll be watching that little dot the whole way.” She gives me a little finger wave. I swear there’s a little sway to her hips just for me as she walks to her Mercedes.
Later when we are sitting inside drinking our smoothies, the boys are ribbing me for not getting a peanut butter and banana one like them. I just shake my head, loving that they're getting on so well already.
I pull up my phone to answer some emails when their conversation moves towards video games again. I'm replying to the team's nutritionist's email when I hear Hudson say casually, “Yep, my mom's been happier since she can have a job now that my dad’s gone.” “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why’s your dad gone?” Matty asks after a sip of his smoothie. Hudson takes a big sip, and I can tell by his little frown he’s deciding what to share.
“I don’t think I’m supposed to say.”
That just confuses Matty more. “My mom's gone cause she died when I was a baby. Did your dad die?”
Hudson just keeps his eyes on his smoothie and shakes his head. I figure now’s the time to jump in and change the subject.
“I think you’re right boys. Tropical sucks.
I’m gonna get peanut butter too from now on.
” I make a show of basketball shooting my smoothie into the trash and usher them out the door.
I get them to school with five minutes to go.
Matty's nerves seem to have disappeared now that he has a buddy to walk into school with him.
If he can make a home here so easily then so can I.