The Workaholic and the Realist (New Hampshire Bears #2) (3 page)

Chapter Four

Keaton

I settled back in the exam room, waiting on Damaris to give me the all clear. For the past five days, which included two road games, I’ve remained at home resting. Grams saw the blocked shot on TV and when I woke up the next morning, she was already in my apartment cleaning, cooking, and doing my laundry.

I tried to tell her she didn’t have to do any of it, but she insisted, and I knew better than to argue with her. I might be a foot taller, but she could still reach my ear and yank me down to her level. It had been many years since she’d done it, but I knew she still had it in her.

“Mr. Jaco.” Damaris said my name in his most professional voice, complete with his white coat. “I called Coach, and you’re all clear for tomorrow’s game.”

“Thanks.” I stood up and shook his hand. I couldn’t wait to get back on the ice with the rest of the team. Plus, I could tell Grams she didn’t have to stay and babysit me any longer.

I sent a text to Remington and Kyson letting them know I would be back tomorrow and kicking their asses soon. Of course, they didn’t message me back, because they knew I was right.

“Grams,” I called out when I walked back into my apartment.

“No need to shout Keaton Michael. I’m old, not deaf.”

I kissed her cheek. For as far back as I could remember she had called me by my full name. I never understood why, but when I asked all she said was it was my name.

“I got my all clear. Now, you may go home.”

“Are you throwing me out this instant? I’m an old woman.” She faked sniffled and wiped away the non-existent tears.

“Oh please.” I rolled my eyes and hugged her. “I’d never throw you out.”

“Good, because I’ve not bounced all around the USA with you for you to toss me out on my rump now.” She pulled away and headed back into my kitchen.

“Grams, you know I appreciate you going with me when I got traded.” I reached for a bottle of water from the fridge.

“Well, you needed me.” She began to wipe down the counters. “Speaking of parents.”

I groaned at the word. “Whatever it is, I don’t want to hear it.” I took a seat at the table.

Grams stopped her task and sat across from me. “
She
called and wanted to see if you would talk to her now.”

I stared at the woman who had raised me since I was a month old. Grams had been the only one around my entire life. My so-called parents decided they really didn’t want a baby. They wanted to continue to party and be
free
. My mother’s mother didn’t want to raise me. So, Grams stepped up and happily did it.

Every memory had her in it. She helped me learn how to skate, took me to every practice and never missed a game. She would sit with me to make sure my homework was done. She even read to me, especially after I learned how. When I was sick, she sat at my bedside and read some of my favorite novels to me.

“I’m twenty-five. Why now?” I grumbled.

“She’s been clean for many months now.”

My father, Marco, had been Grams’ son and a horrible drunk. He died when I was a teenager. For a long time, Grams blamed herself for his actions, feeling at fault for the situation. My mother was just as bad as him.

However, Grams was an angel. None of it was her fault.

“I’m an adult. I love you, and I will take care of you until my last breath. But I do not want to talk to her,” I told her plainly and firmly. I know I’ve said it before, but it was worth repeating.

“Okay. I promise not say any more on the topic.” She patted my hand. “However, there is something else I’d like to talk about.”

“And…”

“Harlow.”

“Oh, Grams,” I sighed. I knew where this was going. “She’s editing my book.”

“She seems to be more. I mean, she came over here to check on you. Is it in her editing contract to check on you when you’re ill?”

I knew she wanted me to marry and have children, but I’ve told her, just like with the topic of my parents, I didn’t want to get married nor have children.

“Harlow’s nice. Nothing else.”

Grams stifled a laugh. “I’m old, not blind. I can see there’s something more.”

“It could be because you
think
you see something and there’s nothing.”

“Keep thinking that way, Keaton Michael.”

Practice was the best I’d had in a long time until Coach showed up. His foul mood ruined it and put us all in the same mood.

Remington invited me to lunch afterward, and since I was ahead on my schoolwork and my edits, I could spare some time for lunch.

“I’ve not seen you in forever.” Remington slid into the booth.

“Busy healing.” I lightly pat my ribs. They were sore, but nothing like they were a few days ago.

“I bet. How’s it going with Harlow?”

I shrugged and picked up the menu. “I told you she and I are just friends.”

“Dude, I’ve never known you to have female friends. What gives?”

Before I could answer, the waitress came back and took our orders. I needed to come up with something to say or change the topic.

“How’s the chick you were seeing?” Changing the topic seemed like the easier idea.

“I’ve not been with anyone since I’ve been in Manchester.”

“What?” I could have sworn I’d heard him on his cell talking to a female more than once.

“What, what?”

“Dude, I thought you had a girl?”

“No,” he said firmly.

“Then what about Maxima?”

“There’s nothing going on there,” he stated.

“Oh, but you want there to be.” I knew what his tone meant.

“She’s a nice person. Nothing else.”

“So, you say.”

I let it go because I could see his face getting red. Even though I liked ragging on him, I didn’t want to pry into his personal life. I wouldn’t want anyone in mine. I get enough from Grams.

I changed the topic to hockey and our standings. We also talked about our goalie, Teo Elgin. He had a good personality, but his game had been way off lately. Really bad, actually. I knew Coach had been riding his ass worse than ours.

“He’ll probably be traded soon or dropped back to the farm.” Remington dived into his food.

I’ve done my time in the minors, aka the farm. A lot of good players from the PHL have been there.

“I say he goes farming.” I bit into my burger.

“He’s a nice guy.”

“Nice doesn’t matter if he can’t stop the pucks. You and Kyson can put shit in the back of the net all three periods, but if Teo can’t stop any then what’s the point?”

Remington nodded in agreement, and we went back to eating. Once we finished everything, we headed off in our different directions to get ready for the game.

I stopped at the store and grabbed a few things for Grams and ran them over to her. I made sure Grams’ places, when we changed towns, were something simple and small, the way she liked it. I told her she didn’t have to follow me, but I loved she does.

“Grams,” I announced myself coming through the door.

“In here,” she called from the kitchen.

“I brought you a few things since it’s supposed to snow again tonight.”

Grams sat at her kitchen table, having a cup of warm tea. “I don’t think I’m going to the game tonight, Keaton Michael.”

After I put everything up, I sat across from her. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, but I don’t feel like driving.” She patted my hand lovingly.

“Okay, do you need me to get anything else for you?” I’d go to the moon and back for her if she needed me to.

“Why don’t you go home and start on the project for school? Don’t worry about me.”

“I’ll always worry about you. You’re a little too rebellious, and I’ve got to keep you in line,” I joked with her.

Grans laughed, and I felt better seeing her smile. “You’re such a good boy, but I know you and you have a lot of work to do.”

“Love you, Grams.” I knew when I had been dismissed, and I bent down and gave her a small kiss on the cheek.

“Love you, Keaton Michael.”

The game was aggressive, but that was a quality of the Las Vegas Gamblers, and we didn’t let up either. My ribs were sore from the hits, but I could still breathe without a lot of pain, which was important. Late in the third period, we were still scoreless, and I grew more tired. My second wind better hit me soon or I would have to drink an energy drink.

I jumped the boards with Kyson and Remington and the three of us skated hard toward the puck. Kyson didn’t usually lose the puck, but someone stole it. I took my position in front of Teo, and when the puck came, I kept it from the crease.

Remington gained control and shot it to Kyson who kept it away from the other players before shooting it back to Remington, and I watched him slap it easily into the back of the net, right as the buzzer sounded.

I rushed over to my teammates to celebrate the goal and win. It was the best feeling, coming off the ice and heading back to the locker room; the music was already playing. I needed to have some more fun and told Remington we were going out tonight.

“Yes, sir.” He fist bumped me, and I rushed through getting ready. I should have asked Kyson to go. Instead, as I was almost ready to leave, I saw our captain, Hamilton Baer, in the parking garage.

“Hey, Cap.” I jogged over to his car.

“Yeah?”

“Rem and I are heading to Billy’s Sports Bar. Want to join us?”

“Why are you inviting me?” He furrowed his brow.

“You never go out with us, and I thought it would be nice for you to hang out with your noblemen.”

“Noblemen?” Hamilton shook his head. “Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got work to do.” He gave me a curt nod and got into his car. Hamilton could be described as not very talkative. I guess some would say he was all work and no play. At least, I played once in a while.

I drove over to Billy’s and Remington already had a place at the bar, with two beers in front of him. I didn’t know how fast he’d had to drive to get here, but he had beer.

“One for me?” I slapped his shoulder, hopping on the stool next to him.

“Yep and next round is on you.”

I nodded, taking a drink from a cold bottle.

“What did you do after lunch?”

I shrugged. I couldn’t tell him about my crazy schedule with school and the book. “Just chilling with Grams.”

“Grams is cool and all, but I bet you got bored.”

“She kept me busy.” I chuckled. “What about you?”

“My life consists of Netflix.” He smirked.

“Excuse me.” A young blonde came up to me. “Are you Kyson Wick?”

I chuckled. “Sorry, wrong guy.” It was then I noticed Harlow sitting at a booth, laughing. I turned from the girl and told Remington I needed to leave for a moment.

I strolled over toward her and when I reached her, I realized she was with a guy. A much older man, actually. When I glanced at him, I saw his extremely thinning hair, deep wrinkles around his eyes, and to top it off his porn-like 1970’s mustache.