Tale The 23

Posted by AdminHA, Released on March 3, 2025

23: Tired

Luci

Somehow, I kept my mind together enough to escape the Reed residence and drive home. I can still taste

Easton’s mint chapstick on my tingling lips. The closer I got to my apartment, the more aggravated and angrier I got with him. Why would he do that? I am not one of his puck bunnies.

I unlock the door, reminding myself to organize my things in my entryway. Sydney’s voice faintly reaches my ears. She must be on the phone. I walk there as she laughs.

“Guessing you hit a few nerves with those nicknames.” Her eyes catch mine before dipping down to my frown. One eyebrow lifts. “I need to go. Luci’s home.” She tosses her phone down. “You look…..pissed off.

What happened?”

I flop down on the spot next to her exasperated. “Easton Reed happened. He was being nice, then he starts trying to provoke me and it’s not like he made a lot of effort; joking about us making a new friend, and then he growled. “But then he apologized and he…he kissed me.” I end, blowing out a huge breath, trying to get my thoughts back in order.

“Jackass?” She hesitatingly questions, while visibly suppressing her laugh. “Fortunately, we have been friends so long, I followed that whole verbal bare bones tirade. Before you fill in the gaps, dish out the most important detail. Is the most sought–after aloof guy on campus good with those pretty lips?” She waggles her eyebrows and I roll my eyes.

Grudgingly, I nod. “My toes curled up, Sydney and I forgot my name. And I kissed him back so…”

Her eyes widen. “Well, hell, he does have talent then. Go Easton.”

I roll my eyes. The last two guys who kissed me inspired nothing in me to respond. “Apparently I’m only attracted to jackasses…” I sigh and start over giving her more details.

She slaps my arm gently at the end. “You left out a second kiss.”

“I hadn’t gotten there yet. But why did he do that? He doesn’t even like me.” I throw my head back into the couch behind me. “His name should be Enigma, not Easton. I’m already tired of trying to figure him out.”

“You will be asking him.” Her eyes light on the hat I forgot in my hands. “That’s the hat he gave you to wear to the game?”

“Forgot I was holding it. Yeah, he dug through his collection before he decided to get all handsy…kissy, ugh whatever the hell he is.”

Sydney

“I bet he has a huge collection of hats. Am I right?” I ask innocently.

“Tons. I think you are focusing on the wrong details here.” she says, groaning.

“I’m not. Look, you have to confront him tomorrow or after the game. Or next week when you see him. Your timeframe babe. Tell him to step the hell off if you’re not ready when he tries to corner you. Before you talk, you need to be prepared for whatever he says. Like if he was treating you like a puck bunny versus if he genuinely wanted to kiss you. Because you may want to quit if he was playing with you maliciously. Or he could say he wants to date you. Would you say yes? I mean those are the extreme ends of the spectrum.” I

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23: Tired

see the disbelief in her eyes at the second one. Oh Luci Lou, don’t discredit yourself. Easton Reed is struggling hard to keep his distance from my sweet friend. That had been obvious last week at our dance party. “Go change into jammies, and we’ll make a list of possibilities and your responses. Then we can write out how he dies if he was taking advantage of you. I vote for ramming a puck down his throat and letting him

choke on it.”

“I was thinking more like choking him with his hockey stick, but the puck would be easier. She gets up with a groaning sigh.

When she’s out of sight, I snag the hat she left behind. I check the back and find the little seal. I knew it. This is his championship hat from last year. They won and he gave her his limited–edition hat with his number on it. Only one was made in each number for the team. Athletes hand over their number to stake their claim on their girl. He’s either lucky or screwed that she doesn’t follow hockey. They made a huge deal out of these hats and the exclusive jerseys they made to go with them.

I send a photo of it to my brother. He was positive he got under Easton’s skin. I told him to act possessive of Luci tonight, which is Banning’s nature anyway. He drew the line at any kind of flirting since it was Luci. He’s fiercely protective over his baby sisters.

I get exclamation marks back with he’d better treat her well. I will rip his spine out otherwise, no matter how big he is. And you neglected to mention he was a f*****g giant with three clones to back him up. But damn you were right about him. He about lost his s**t when she kissed my cheek.

I close up the phone as she returns. “Stormi wants to have lunch Saturday, and then we can have some girl time before the hockey game. I think you are overdue for a mani–pedi. Can we bring Barrett too?” Not my brother, because I don’t want to start a fight at the game.

She nods, chewing on her lip. “I don’t want to leave Cole if he was being a major dickhead. Which he probably was. There’s no way….I mean this is me. He’s a damned hockey player. No way that was real.”

I reach over and hug her. She loves that little boy. Losing him is her main concern. Not the money she’ll lose from the job or the dragon lady probably suing her for breach of contract.

“Make sure he understands that when you confront him then. Don’t sell yourself short Luci. You’re amazing.

Let’s make our list.”

Easton

I kick my shoes off quickly before I open the bedroom door. Mother sweeps inside still wearing her evening gown from the charity event her and Dad attended. They left early, I note. Her hawk eyes sweep over my room. “Mother.”

“You took forever to answer the door.” She points out suspiciously.

“I was in the closet changing out my gym clothes. Came as soon as I heard a knock.” I stare back at her boredly. My heart hasn’t stopped racing from the way Luci responded to me. Damn her for interrupting. I wasn’t planning on backing off for a few more minutes. I need to give her time to escape.

“Luci’s car was still here. Is she in Cole’s room?” She stares at me almost accusingly.

“No idea. He asked her to put him to bed, so I decided I’d change out some things and get a shower. Maybe she fell asleep with him. You can check.” I gesture toward the door. “I don’t hear anything on the monitor though.”

||| O

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23 Tired

Her stance relaxes slightly. “I don’t trust that girl with you four.”

12 PANA

i fold my arms and raise an eyebrow. “Careful Mother, your snob is showing. She’s more respectful than some of your friends‘ daughters you parade around here. Like Ophelia for instance.”

That hits her like I knew it would. She’d been so sure the daughter of a prominent federal judge would be perfect for Becker. Instead, she had hidden in the house after her parents left and proceeded to sashay into our game room in her underwear. Said she was hoping we liked to share. It didn’t end well when she was soundly rejected. Mother had to call the police when she grabbed a knife from the kitchen after she claimed she would leave peacefully.

“I had no way of knowing she had a history of psych issues. That is beside the point. I want you and your brothers to be on alert when she’s in the house.” She sniffs.

“Oh we are.” I assure her darkly. Except it’s because I can’t keep my eyes off her and I want to protect her from you. “After all, we’ve always kept the crazy daughters away from each other.”

“I came home early because I have some excellent news for you and Cole. There was a surprise guest tonight. She’s back from France and will be moved back into her home within the week.”

My heart begins to gallop as dread fills my stomach. “Vivienne is most excited to come and spend time with Cole. We should invite her for Thanksgiving. Several of your father’s business associates could attend too. She could take Cole…”

“No.” I coldly interject.

Mother scoffs lightly. “No? Why would you say that? She’s here all the way from France for a month or two, Easton.”

“I said no. She has no place in his life and no right to see him.” I keep my rage in check as I drop the words with cold steel. I think of Luci’s sweet face after I kissed her to avoid strangling my mother. “He doesn’t even know who she is. She sure as hell isn’t taking him anywhere.”

Mother rolls her eyes. “Easton, you are being ridiculous. She has every right to take him places. If you insist, I’ll go with them. That should reassure you.”

“It doesn’t. I said no.” I bite the words out through my clenched jaw as my frustration with her rises. “Easton, she’s his grandmother too. She has a familial right to build a relationship with him.”

“The f**k she does. She wanted a relationship with him so much he almost didn’t exist. Tell me Mother, when he screams bloody murder and tells people he’s been kidnapped while out with her, how well is that going to go over for your photo op I’m sure she has planned? You think the investigating officers might pose in them with her?”

Her eyes blaze, but mine are way past that. I’m ready to detonate.

“Easton, you wouldn’t dare try that.”

“We’ve already taught him that for safety considering his last name. He’s a bright kid and would figure out how to get away from her on his own. I wouldn’t have to do a thing. Cole is an excellent judge of character and knows who loves him…..and who doesn’t.” I make sure to keep my gaze locked on her with those last three words.

“He is spending a day with her and that’s final!” She commands.

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<

Tired

“THE HELL HE ISHI SAID NOLSHE CAN F**k OFF!” My voice booms angrily uncaring if I woke him.

My door flies open seconds later and Dad runs in, followed by my brothers, Jackson is already pissed off.

“Easton? Why are you yelling at your mother?” Dad demands.

+ Pos

“She thinks I’m going to let Vivienne take Cole out for a day! Is she back, Dad? Did you help plan this outing?”

Mother closes her eyes and waits.

Dad glances between us, uncertainty all over his face, “We saw her tonight and she mentioned returning for a while to do a movie promotion. But we said nothing about Cole, Imogen, there is no way that’s a good idea, She’s a complete stranger to him.”

“I could go with them.” She offers and he shakes his head,

“Easton is Cole’s father and this decision should be his.” Dad declares, the finality in his tone not to be

missed.

I glare at my mother ready to go another round until that scared little voice calls over the monitor. “Daddy?

Daddy?”

“I got him.” Jackson offers and sprints to the connecting door.

Dad shakes his head, staring between us. “Imogen, Cole’s welfare needs to come before your long–standing friendship with Vivienne.” Jackson steps in with Cole clinging to him.