Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
The doorbell rang shortly after three, and JP grinned as Tori cheered.
“The other hockey pucker man is here!”
Like there were just the two of them.
“His name is Angus,” JP reminded her as he gimped his way to the door, working the cane.
“Angus the Hockey Pucker Mans!” she sang as he opened the door. “Angus the Hockey Pucker Mans! Him is like my da-AD! Angus the Hockey Pucker Ma-a-a-a-a-a-ans, YAY!”
Angus burst out laughing. “Dude! That is the most awesome thing I have ever heard. Ever.”
JP rolled his eyes and went in for a hug. “It’s great to see you. And Tori might be a little excited to meet another hockey player.”
“I am super excited to meet you and your brother.”
“Petey is with Daddy picking up stuffs at the store. I am taking care of Dad because he needs me.”
He grinned at Angus. “No lies detected. Come on in. How are you doing?” He led Angus to the living room.
“I’m great. It’s amazing to see you. You look fab-u-lous.” He snapped his fingers in between syllables.
JP laughed. He had to admit, he’d missed the guys. Some of them anyway, and Angus was definitely one of those. “I’m getting there.” He was still working on the physical side, but Ian and the kids were making the mental side work big time.
“Good deal.”
“Daddy would say, come in and siddown, please.” Tori waved her cast.
Angus beamed at her. “I would love to, thank you.”
JP lowered himself into the easy chair, and Tori clambered onto his lap, carefully sitting on his good leg.
“So you guys miss me out on the ice?” Asking was like pressing against a bruise to see how badly it still hurt.
“We do. I—You and I always felt like we were on the same level, man. Like we belonged on the same team.”
“I know what you mean. I do miss that teamwork on the ice, knowing exactly what my job is and that my teammates will be there when I send the puck their way.” When things were working right there was a synchronicity that made him feel strong and capable and a winner.
He winked at Angus. “Or when we’re both fighting to keep it out of your crease. ”
“Exactly. That’s not going to be our problem anymore, though, man.”
“So you’re done, then?” He couldn’t imagine retiring. If he hadn’t gotten hurt, he’d still be in Florida. Without Ian or the kids. That wasn’t an option anymore. Thank God. Because this was where he belonged.
“I am. I want to come home. I want a home and a life, man. I can train, coach, be lazy.”
“It’s good to be home,” he admitted. “To be with the ones I love, who love me.” He smiled at Tori, who was studying them, head moving like she was watching a tennis match.
“Dad’s going to help me be a hockey pucker. The bestest one.”
“Oh, yeah?” Angus gave him a look. “Is she already skating?”
“Oh, heck yes – she’s amazing. No fear. She just gets out there and goes.” He was already so proud of her.
She nodded. “I am brave. I breaked my arm and was good.”
JP gave her a squeeze. “My favorite hockey pucker ever.”
“So you thinking of going into coaching?” Angus asked.
“I am. I should be able to skate again, but not well enough to play anymore. The team actually asked me to come back to Florida and coach, but my heart is here with my family, and I didn’t want to drag them all that way. So I’m putting out feelers for something closer to home.”
“Well, I’m buying a house here. Something with a yard.” Angus shrugged, smiled. “Maybe we can find something together.”
“Wouldn’t that be a hoot if we wound up working for the same organization?”
Angus nodded. “Everyone needs a goaltender.”
Tori’s eyes went wide. “Goal Enders say no!”
She hopped down off his lap and dropped into a butterfly stance. “No pucker! No go!”
Angus blinked. “I’m pretty sure this child is my godchild.”
JP was too busy cracking up to answer.
The door opened, and Peter came in with a happy smile, a bag of cookies in his little hand. “What joke?”
“Your sister was doing her best goalie impression. It was so good, Angus thinks they’re related.” He gave Ian a grin as he held his arms out for Peter. “Come say hi to my friend.”
“Hi, friend! I have cookies for sharing, and Daddy.” Peter snuggled in and waved.
Angus grinned and waved back. “Twins. That must be busy.”
“I think Ian would tell you that yes, they are indeed busy.”
“Absolutely. But amazing. Hello, Angus. You look great.”
Angus flexed for Ian, and JP had to work not to growl that Ian was very much taken.
“Thanks. You’re looking good yourself.”
JP was going to bop him. Hard.
Tori nodded. “Daddy is sex-ay. Ally says so.”
“Ally is right,” JP noted. “Very right.” But he also didn’t want her saying it either.
Ian shrugged. “I keep in shape but not like you guys. You’re…stunning. I’m going to put the groceries away. Holler if you need a drink.”
Ian walked away, and Angus’s eyes were on his butt.
“No looking,” he growled, and Angus gave him the big wide eyes.
“What?”
“You know what. He’s taken. Very taken.”
Angus raised his hands, palms out. “I know, I know!” And he laughed. “You have got it bad, man.”
“I have three years to make up for.”
“Yeah. Still, he’s fine.” Angus winked at him. “I bought things for the kids, if that’s cool.”
“Of course. That’s thoughtful, dude. Really.”
He brought out two small soft hockey sticks and a bag of stuffed pucks.
Tori blinked, her little body vibrating. “Oh…”
JP gave Angus a huge grin. “You just became her favorite person ever. Like truly.”
“My godchild. I know it.” Angus handed them over. Then he produced a wooden puzzle where the alphabet was hockey terms and offered it to Peter. “I brought this too.”
Peter’s eyes went wide, and he took the puzzle, looking almost as excited as Tori had been about the sticks and pucks. “Thank you, Mr. Hockey-man.”
“It’s like you already know them.” JP was impressed – they were the perfect gifts for his kids.
“I know you, eh? That’s good.” They fist-bumped, and Angus heaved a deep sigh. “Man, it is good to be home.”
He knew that feeling. It was more than just being back with his family. This was where he belonged.
The front door opened and closed, Mike’s voice calling out, “It’s only me.”
“Hey, man, come in and meet Angus.”
Mike walked in, and Angus stood, the big goalie’s green eyes fastening on Ian’s brother, eyes going wide. “Wow.”
Oh man, Angus was not the least bit subtle. Like at all.
And JP was not the least annoyed to have Angus’s appreciation move from Ian to his brother.
Mike arched an eyebrow. “Pleased to meet you. Ian said you didn’t mind having a fourth to play with.”
Angus was sparkling, just pouring off energy. “I could play—”
“Cards.” Ian said firmly, bringing out Cokes for everyone. “We’re playing cards.”
“For now, anyway,” JP added, sotto-voiced.
Ian gave him a look that said, “Be nice”.
He opened his eyes wide, going for innocent, then he ruined it by laughing when he realized that was the same expression Angus had used just moments ago.
Angus elbowed him in the side. “You haven’t actually introduced me yet, JP. I don’t even know this lovely man’s name.”
JP rolled his eyes. “Angus, this is Mike – Ian’s brother. Mike, this is Angus – retiree.”
Angus poked him in the side with that elbow again. “I’m a former goaltender. JP’s best friend.”
Mike’s eyebrow lifted. “He and I have been friends for over a decade, and you didn’t know my name?”
JP blushed hard. “Uh…”
Mike shook his head. “Do you hear that, Ian? I never came up.”
“Stop teasing them. They’ve been busy winning games.”
Tori nodded. “They are hockey puckers, Unca Mike. I gotted a stick!”
“You got a stick? Make sure you don’t whack your brother with it!” Mike’s lips were twitching like crazy, but he managed not to laugh.
She pursed her lips and glanced at JP, as if she was asking what to do.
“Let’s just practice hitting the puck, not your brother.”
She shrugged. “Okay. I’m a hockey pucker, and I’m gonna SCORE!”
“I hope I will, too,” Angus muttered under his breath.
“Dude,” he grumbled. “Otnay in rontfay the idskay.”
“Parlent’ils francais?” Angus rolled his eyes and waggled his eyebrows. “Pig Latin’s out of my league.”
“Behaving is out of your league,” JP shot back, shaking his head and glaring. He was having a blast.
“I’m gonna go play, Daddy, okay?”
“Okay. Don’t hit anything but the pucks.” Ian’s voice was warm and fond, amused. “Seriously, Angus? Hockey sticks.”
“What? They’re soft. And so are the pucks. She’s not going to put out anyone’s eyes with any of them.”
Mike snorted, settling across the way from Angus. “You don’t know Tori very well…”
“She’s my mini-me,” Angus declared. “Gonna be a pocket goalie.”
“No puckers! No goal!” he cheered. That had been the funniest thing he’d seen in days.
Ian rolled his eyes, but he could tell his Chou was amused. He grinned and blew his husband a kiss.
Ian winked at him. “So, Angus. You’re moving back to town? Seriously? That’s exciting. Where are you house hunting?”
“Well, right now this neighborhood has a lot going for it.” Angus gave Mike a once-over.
“It’s a great area.” Ian seemed totally confused.
JP would fill him in later, given he’d missed Angus being a dog with his tongue hanging out.
“We could be neighbors.” Angus looked pleased with himself.
“I think there’s a condo next to you, Mike, isn’t there?” Ian asked.
Mike’s eyes went wide. “What?”
Angus lit up like a Christmas tree. “Is there really? We could take a walk over, and you could show me.”
“After supper, maybe? It’s a beautiful night out there.” Ian was just making Mike stare and Angus beam. It was…insane.
It was better than one of those telenovelas he used to watch when he had nothing else to do down in Florida.
“So are we playing cards then?” Mike asked, looking desperate to change the topic.
Ian nodded happily. “Sure. I figure we have an hour before supper. Come to the table? Or do you want to play around the coffee table here, love?”
JP just grinned. He was having a blast. “I’m easy.”
“Let’s just play here, then. I’ll grab the cards and a pad of paper.” Ian leaned down for a kiss.
He slid his hand behind Ian’s head to keep him in place for a minute, taking a proper kiss before letting go reluctantly. They did have guests, after all.
“Ew. Gross.” Mike winked at him. “That’s my brother, man. No macking on him.”
“But he’s my husband, so macking on him is entirely my prerogative. Probably should even be encouraged.”
“You have to admit,” Angus drawled. “It’s a little hot.”
Mike stared at him. “Ew!”
JP burst out laughing. Of course Mike didn’t think it was hot – Ian was his brother after all. But their mixed reactions were a hoot.
“What’s funny?” Ian asked, coming back with a deck of cards and a pad of paper, pencil included.
JP bit his lip.
“Your husband’s teammate thinks you’re hot.” Mike wrinkled his nose, twisted his lips.
Ian smiled, the expression a little warmer than he’d love, but nothing JP could bitch about. “Thanks, Castle. I appreciate.”
“Castle?” Mike blinked hard enough JP could swear he heard it.
Angus nodded. “Name’s Castlewood. Castle’s better than Woody.”
“Not that we don’t use that when he’s being an ass.” JP just had to share that little tidbit.
“You’re just jealous that I have a prodigious—”
Ian cleared his throat. “How is your puzzle, Petey?”
“So fun!”
JP felt his cheeks heat, and he gave Ian a glance that he meant as an apology for not being more careful with the kids in the room. “How about we play some cards?”
“Sounds perfect. Mike, can you shuffle?” Ian winked at him, relaxing back into his chair. “Rummy? Spades? Hearts?”
“Not poker; Woody cheats.” JP sat back, waiting for Angus’s spluttering to start. All in all, it was turning out to be a great visit with the man.