Chapter 25
DECLAN
Brielle smiles warmly at me as she balances Wyatt on her hip and grabs a treat from the jar for Puck who is jumping up on his back paws.
“He’s been waiting for you, you know,” she mentions.
“Ford or the dog?”
She laughs. “Both. Ford will be down in a minute. Want something to drink?”
“Nah, it’s okay.” I take a seat at the kitchen island, scanning the area. Every time I’m here, I’m reminded what a home looks and feels like. Toys scattered on the floor, an overzealous dog wagging his tail, and the music from upstairs which means Connor is home.
“Thanks for the maple syrup.” She indicates with her head at the new bottle on the counter.
It’s a glass bottle with gold foil around the cork. “It’s a special edition, all the way from Quebec,” I explain.
She tickles her son. “This guy loves it on his waffles and pancakes. It’s so strange too, because we had like a full bottle, then suddenly it disappeared. “
A light feeling hits me because I know exactly what happened to it.
“How much longer?” I indicate to her belly.
“Too long, still another month… but you didn’t come here to make small talk or discuss hockey with Ford, did you?” She gives me a pointed look.
Wyatt points to me. “Paper bird.”
“What?” Brielle asks her son, grabbing his little hand.
“We made paper animals together that one time, didn’t we, buddy.” I smile at him.
He proudly nods his head.
“Oh yeah, I remember that now. The weekend we all want to forget.” Brielle exhales a long breath.
Except me, I kind of enjoyed that weekend a lot.
The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs is slightly daunting. I’m not sure what mood Ford is in, but I need to talk to him if I have any chance of saving a friendship and possibly more.
“Hey.” His tone is neutral as he walks to Brielle and takes Wyatt from her arms. “Connor is asking about laundry. Really, he can do it himself, you know that, right?” he tells Brielle.
She grins and pats his shoulder. “But then we end up with destroyed clothes. Trust me, it’s better this way. He’s probably asking about his jersey. I’ll go.” She begins to walk away but pauses and clears her throat. “Be nice.” She smiles tightly at her husband.
We both watch her leave, but then I notice that Ford has an affectionate smile tracing his lips. “It never gets old, this chaos,” he states fondly.
“I can only imagine.”
He looks at me cautiously. “What brings you by?”
His calm demeanor catches me off guard, considering last time I saw him he wanted to rip me to shreds.
Then again, that’s a talent many hockey players have; we eventually cool off after outbursts that are mostly warranted.
I sit up on the chair. “A few things. An apology, a request, and a use of the friend card.”
Ford chortles as he grabs a box of animal crackers sitting on the counter. “Ballsy, but that’s just you.”
“Ford, I owe you an apology for going behind your back.”
“You’re not sorry,” he informs me matter-of-factly, with the corner of his mouth twisting.
I tilt my head to the side in contemplation. “You’re right. Sneaking behind your back was never an issue for me, nor would I have sought out your approval.”
His face turns serious. “I’m not going to go in circles about that. What matters right now is that my sister has a broken heart and that’s all your doing.”
My shoulders drop, and I sigh. “That’s why I’m here.”
Ford slams the box of animal crackers on the counter rather abruptly. “Gentle, Daddy,” Wyatt reprimands him.
Ford smiles sweetly at his little boy. “I’m sorry, sometimes Daddy is so strong that he doesn’t recognize his force, something other big boys should be aware of.”
I roll my eyes at his humor. “Remember I’ve taken you down a time or two.”
“Let’s stay focused. Are our future dinners going to be awkward as…” He glances at his son. “Duck? Or is this the part where you try to tell me that you’ve seen the light.” Ford snaps up a cracker with his mouth when Wyatt offers one.
“A bit of both.”
He raises one brow at me. “Let’s discuss this in the living room so this one can play.”
I nod, and we walk to the living area where Wyatt runs straight to his blocks, Puck walks to me to deliver a tennis ball, and Ford gets comfy in his big chair as he continues to snack on animal crackers.
“You made a point, one that we needed to hear,” I begin.
“Violet is more than a sister to me. She’s part of our support network, she’s crucial in Connor’s life, and I see her almost daily.
I will never let her settle for less, she deserves it all.
You have to get that. She wants the husband, the kids, any pet but a parrot, and I just don’t see how you can provide those things. ”
I lean forward and rest my elbows on my knees. “I don’t know either… but I want to.”
“Want and will are two different things.”
“Which is why I’ve thought about the future every waking second since that day. I won’t apologize, but I can’t walk away from Violet. Life is too good with her in it. I’m happy for once, and it isn’t because of hockey. It’s her.”
Ford takes a long pause as he studies me, with his gaze fixed. “I don’t doubt that you two have fun or that you care, but life is more than the present.”
“Which is why I wanted to be sure, and it can’t be a thought but a feeling… It doesn’t matter anyway, it all leads back to Vi.”
“Are you telling me that you’ve changed? Because I’ve witnessed some unsavory things when it comes to your partying ways, especially if Brent is involved, and I have to be honest, it’s going to take a hell of a lot to caution before I’m convinced that you’ve changed.”
My lips purse out. “Fair enough, but it’s not you I have to convince.”
A hint of a smile appears on Ford’s lips. Maybe I’m saying all the right words. “You’re telling me that one day you want to marry Violet and have kids?”
Looking around and seeing the dog knock Wyatt down into his blocks, only for him to squeal in delight, I can’t help but smile at what surrounds me, a glimpse of what I could have. “Maybe not tomorrow, but yeah, that’s what I can see in the future.”
His eyes widen with reality sinking in. “I’ll be da—ducked.”
“It’s cliché, but it’s because of someone that my entire view of life altered, and that someone is Violet.”
“You promise not to freak out again?” he asks.
“I promise.”
“You came to me first; why not go straight to Violet?”
I grin to myself and toss the ball again for Puck.
“I’m crazy about your sister, but not so crazy about another showdown with you.
I’m here because I value our friendship, and a wise man knows you’d better be on good terms with your girlfriend’s brother.
I need you to know that I only want to make her happy, and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her. ”
Ford continues to stare at me, eating another cracker. He offers me the box. I wave him off. “Have a cracker, trust me.”
He’s adamant, and now isn’t the time to test him. I grab a cracker that’s really a cookie, but whatever. Taking a bite, it isn’t bad.
“Delicious, right?” Ford insists.
“Surprisingly.”
“So how are you going to win back my sister?” He’s interrogating me now.
Connor enters the room and gives me a scowl before he flops onto the opposite end of the sofa and points at me with his thumb. “We’re back on friendly terms with him? Really, Dad?” I can’t tell if he really isn’t amused or if he’s just riling me up.
Ford’s gaze slides to Connor. “Yes, Declan was just about to enlighten us how he is going to impress your aunt, because surprisingly, I may be shipping them as a couple if he gets his act together.”
“He better go big, because he sure as hell put her in a shitty mood all week,” Connor says before he steals the box of crackers from Ford. Clearly, I discovered the Spears family snack of choice.
Ford gives him a disapproving look. “Language in front of the young one. We should give Declan the benefit of the doubt, I’m sure he has grand plans.”
I look between them. “Actually, I do, and I kind of need Connor’s help.”
“Really? Now you want my dating expertise?” Connor’s voice is pure attitude.
“Expertise? Hardly. Your ability to scheme? Yes,” I answer.
Connor and Ford look at one another before breaking out in grins.
There is only one way in my mind for how I’m going to ensure that Violet knows she’s the one.