Chapter 12 #2
Perplexity promptly pierces his stare.
“You can’t just make major, life-changing decisions for us by yourself! That’s not how an ‘us’ works! That’s not how relationships work! There’s a reason that both Marvin Gaye and Rob Base sang about it taking two.”
He struggles not to grin over the music references.
“Look, dragging me to a team event – without consulting me first – was one thing, but this is a whole other. Think of that like signing me up to spontaneously do karaoke and this like signing me up to record an album and do a world tour.”
Culpability noticeably crumples his shoulders.
“Moving Bronny here – apparently for us to raise – isn’t a call in an audible sort of play, Thayne.” Letting my hands fall to my lap precedes me completely facing him. “It’s like final leg of The Cup shit. Something you plan and prep and practice for.”
“You don’t want me here?” Bronny unexpectedly questions, voice so meek it melts me further into my seat.
Shifting my attention back to the teen swiftly occurs. “Of course, I want you here.” The ease at which I rebut seems to only take me by surprise. “I love having you around.”
“When I’m not eatin’ all your craisins.”
“You don’t eat ‘em, you inhale ‘em,” pokes my boyfriend.
“Even then,” I sweetly soothe. “It’s just having you here for a few weeks in the summer versus something full time is vastly different.”
Ignoring the pain in his tone is impossible. “Why?”
“Because there’s a lot more responsibility and pressure that goes with it. You’re a person not a stray puppy.”
“Do you want a puppy?” Thayne unexpectedly inquires, recollecting my glare.
“Seriously?” Bewilderment bursts through my expression. “You don’t think to ask me do I want to help parent the teen, but you have no problem asking me do I want a pet?”
“GASSSPPPPP,” Bronny enthusiastically states forcing our attention back to him. “Can we get a dog?!”
“Oh, so now, you wanna stay?” his big brother challenges.
“More so if we can get a dog.”
“Okay,” my hands are lifted in surrender prior to me refocusing on the patient, “back to what I’m paid to do.
” As soon as his eyes are on me again, I instruct, “Open.” Slipping the tool inside a second time allows me to proceed with the exam along with my interrogation.
“When exactly did you make this decision for us?”
“It’s not exactly carved in ice.”
Rather than respond to the comment, my fingers slide around to begin inspecting Bronny’s gums.
“She called yesterday askin’ would I take him shoppin’ for clothes and supplies when I brought him back ‘cause she’s fightin’ this chest cold that’s got her wheezin’ and feelin’ exhausted and the cold meds she’s on have her forgettin’ basic shit, and it got me thinkin’ that maybe it’d be better for her health if she didn’t have to run herself so ragged all the time trying to take care of both of ‘em. So…I said somethin’ and she said somethin’ and next thing I know we’re talkin’ about movin’ him here to be with us fulltime. ”
As much as I wanna hate him for saying us instead of him, I can’t.
Because it’s not that I’m an afterthought with him.
We’re just already one in his mind.
One unit.
One team that already has the “us” mentality when it comes to decision making.
Which I adore.
I just don’t want to lose the voice I’ve been working really hard to have.
That he’s been encouraging me to have.
“And I was gonna tell you about it before makin’ anything official, Gillybean. Honest to Gloria Gaynor.”
“The issue is you telling me, Thayne.” I relinquish the mirror to grab another metal tool to finish poking at a few spots of concern. “This isn’t a tell situation. This is an ask and discuss type.”
“Except there is no discussion to have.”
At that, my face yet again cocks itself over my shoulder.
“I am gonna do whatever I gotta do to take care of my family.” His gray sweatshirt cloaked arms fold firmly over his massive chest. “Family is the one thing that’s more important to me than hockey, music, and coffee.
” Unyielding passion pumps through his hazel stare.
“It has – and will always – come first.”
This time it’s me that slightly shrinks underneath the weight of shame.
“Now, do I want you to help me raise the hellion whose mouth you have your fingers in? Of course. Do I think he wants that too? Yeah, though he’ll never say it.
” One quick glance at Bronny reveals a less than innocent expression.
“Do I think you’d be the best guardian anyone could ever ask for? Absolutely, baby.”
I thoughtlessly soften at the compliment.
“But if that’s not the journey you wanna take or feel ready to take, then that’s fine. I’ll figure shit out on my own. I’m not gonna force you into it. I would never force you into somethin’. You know that’s not the type of man I am.”
And he’s not.
Never has been.
Never will be.
Just not in his gentle giant nature.
“Of course, I wanna be there for you and Bronny,” swiftly leaves me in a sweet tone. “I just also want us to talk about things and decisions, especially ones that affect both of us and/or our relationship.” One eyebrow lifts itself higher than the other. “Fair?”
“Fair.” The corner of his lips curl upward in playfulness. “I promise not to turn you into ‘Good Hearted Woman’, aye.”
“You know that song was actually written about Tina Turner?” My prodding resumes. “Probably the only reason I know it.”
“It’s a good song,” Jukes appreciatively states. “Bittersweet.”
“Igoonnniiikkk,” interjects Bronny between pokes.
“That’s also what your teeth are screaming about,” I sassily pronounce prior to one final push on his gums. “And if you don’t make some diet adjustments, you’re gonna be back here in six months, needing a bunch of cavities filled.”
“Nohuh,” argues the teen at the same time I discard the pointy object for my final diagnostic tool. “You’re jus’ tryin’ to scare me into eatin’ better.”
“Hey, if you want me to go all Little Shop of Horrors on you, that’s your call.” Turning on the device is attached to a teasing smile he can’t see because of the mask. “Open.”
Bronny lets his nose scrunch, looking almost identical to his older brother. “What’s that thing for?”
“Gotta test your bite.”
“To make sure it’s stronger than his arf?”
“Bark,” huffs the teen.
“Not what I would call that shit on my cameras.”
Redness pierces his cheeks prompting me to regain control over the conversation.
“This’ll help me test your bite force dynamics more accurately and precisely.
” Carefully adjusting the device with my right hand is followed by me extending my left to wake up the computer screen.
“It gives me the ability to analyze lateral movement, chewing, and the state of your teeth on a deeper level, which is what I want on your first comprehensive exam or if you’re coming in for one of the other things we do here like the moldings for your,” my hand gestures in my boyfriend’s direction, “gumshield.”
“I love it when you talk dentist to me,” he saucily winks getting me to giggle and his brother to gag.
“And now that I am talking dentist to you,” I meet his gaze one more, “when’s the last time you got fitted for a gumshield?”
“Pre-Trade.”
“That was like forever ago!”
“’In Blue Jeans’,” cheekily adds the man that undoubtedly holds my heart in his glove.
“Not my favorite Neil Diamond song, but I’ll give you the point on the board for the word connection.”
Jukes lightly chuckles before kicking his chin to the screen. “Everything good?”
“Mmm,” is hummed in more contemplation than definiteness, “I see a bit more tooth wear on his back molars than I’m comfortable with; however, it’s not enough that requires additional examining at this time.
” Carefully sliding out the device precedes me concluding, “I will say let’s check back in in three months instead of six.
Your wisdom teeth are also beginning to come in, so I want us to keep an eye on that as well to avoid other issues or complications. ”
“Hear that, bro?” Bronny cockily boasts. “I’m gettin’ wise.”
“Yet not wise enough to keep your underage dick off the internet.”
“It was gonna be on Snap not the internet!”
The exhale of exasperation that escapes Jukes leads to my intervening again. “We will discuss rules and boundaries and expectations – for both when Thayne is home and when he’s not – over dinner.”
There’s no denying the relief or excitement that Bronny is anxiously trying to hide. “Can we get ‘za? I been cravin’ that ish since I’ve been here and we ain’t had it one time.”
“Really?” grunts his big brother in amusement as much as annoyance. “Is saying the word pizza just too much mouth movement?”
“From the guy they call tendy because goaltender and net minder are too long?” I tease at the same time I power down my equipment.
“Gooaaaallllll for Gilly!” obnoxiously squawks the teenager.
“Don’t make me take back those boots I jus’ bought you,” threatens Thayne on a playful glare that’s followed by him smiling in my direction, “or the ones I just bought you.”
“You bought me boots?!”
“Dalvegan green,” is bashfully spoken. “Thought you might wear ‘em on game days.”
Buying me boots without asking?
Thoughtful.
Signing me up to help raise a teen without talking it out first?
Less thoughtful.
Even if we both know I want to help.
Plan on helping.
“I gotta take a leak before we leave,” Bronny announces upon my body moving backwards to create space for him to exit the chair.
“Down the hall to the right. Door is on the left,” I inform post removing my mask. “And don’t forget to wash your hands.”
“I always wash my hands.”
Thayne and I present sarcastic expressions in tandem.
“Whatever…” murmurs the young guy on his way out of the room.
Thayne waits until I’ve finished putting away my equipment to timidly ask, “Am I hearin’ the tuneskie right, Gillybean?” Him slyly creeping closer is attached to another sheepish investigation. “You’re gonna help me take care of Bronny fulltime?”