32: The First Talk
Luci
Syd naturally texts me five minutes after I get home. Her apartment is only a block from mine
and with the way they are built, I guarantee she was watching out the window for Easton’s truck. Our apartments are set up more like townhouses and he drove right past hers to bring
me home.
“How’s your night going?”
“Not my best night ever.” She’ll be knocking on my door in minutes.
I take my wintry accessories off and note Easton cleaned everything up while I put my coat on
earlier.
The loud knocking on the door makes me laugh. Sydney rushes past me. “You had a bad
time?”
“Would you be surprised if I did?” I am trying not to laugh. “You failed to tell me you’ve been
conspiring against me all week.”
“Yes. What did he do? Do we need to go kill him? Banning is free tonight.” She is completely
serious.
I start laughing, unable to help it. “Kidding. It started out as an awful night, but that wasn’t
Easton’s fault. I had a good time with him. He took me to the park festival.”
“What was awful?” She’s concerned.
I sigh. “We need to sit down for that part.”
“Half an hour before I left Cole, I got a text from Stormi about meeting her at the rink. She
needed help getting home. Car trouble and a box of hockey photos and records for her next
article to pack home. She said Humphries was gone and she was about to interview Kendall
so the timing seemed to work. I should have been suspicious when she mentioned practice
was ending and I’d have time. So I agreed to pick her up. Except I got there and walked inside
only to find Maxton Porter waiting. He said something about me being a glorified puck bunny.
He was between me and the exit so I took off in the other direction. My sweater got caught on
something metal when I was trying to stay against the sides to hide. It started unraveling and he grabbed the yarn pulling it more. He was laughing like some kind of crazy psycho and talking about how he’d finally beat Easton at something. I managed to find an open door and locked myself in. Next thing I know Easton is growling at him and I heard someone getting
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32: The First Talk
punched.”
She’s been sitting wide–eyed the whole time. Now she shakes her head blinking rapidly. ” Please tell me Easton beat the crap out of him.”
I nod. “I heard security show up but Easton had me lock myself back in the room until they
left.”
She smiles. “I am definitely an Easton Reed fan. You might need to file a report Luci. That guy
is unhinged.”
“Yeah, but he’s wealthy and his father is a huge school donor. I don’t stand a chance.”
“Stormi helped him?” She asks angrily. “Because her ass I can kick alone.”
I sigh loudly. “I don’t think so.” I tell her what Stormi said. She did like I asked and didn’t call
Syd.
She looks as conflicted as I feel. “We need to talk to her. Tomorrow night she wants girls‘
night?”
“Yes. I want to believe her Syd, but I don’t want to get burned.”
Her blue eyes are sad. “I know. Let’s talk to her tomorrow night. Maybe campus police know
something from Maxton. Ask Easton if he can find out. You said he seemed friendly with them
from what you overheard.”
“That’s true. I’ll ask in the morning. He wants to talk about something important.”
She smiles slyly. “I wonder what.”
“He says he has baggage Syd. I think it’s that.” I caution her.
“Maybe Cole’s mom. Easton’s mother is more like a millstone not baggage.” She adds dryly.
I frown at the mention of Imogen. There is no way that woman would be remotely pleased I went on a date with Easton. “What is that look Luci Forrester?” She asks suspiciously.
“There’s no way she’ll be happy he took me on a date Sydney.” I admit softly. My mind is already racing.
Syd’s soft voice breaks through. “Luci, that’s not up to her. Easton’s opinion is what matters. And that guy is definitely all in after you. I got the impression he’s never had to work for female attention or a date, like ever.”
“He said he wasn’t good at any of that and had never done it.” I frown though.
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32: The First Talk
Sydney grabs my hand. “Hey, let him talk to you. This talk turned out to be pretty good, right?”
“I know. Just figure the bottom will drop out anyway.”
Easton
“You ready to play today?” I ask Cole as he practically bounces in his seat.
“Yes. And Luci is coming to watch me too.” He grins and I return it. At her place, he rings the
doorbell excited to see her. Me too, but I need to back off and not seem obsessed or
something.
She opens the door and Cole launches at her. She laughs, hugging him back. “I’m excited to
see you too.”
“Can we come in and see your house?” He asks eagerly.
“Sure. It’s not very big or impressive though.” She sets him down and he races behind her. Her eyes look
and meet mine. I’m not sure what she’s feeling for once. “Hi.” She says quietly.
up
“Morning Luci.” Probably should keep my hands to myself this soon.
Cole yells her name and she turns to walk quickly after him. I close the door and race in. “You are making something. Is it my costume?” He’s pointing to a sewing machine with some bright green fuzzy material.
“No that’s Barrett’s. He’s going to be the Grinch so I’m starting on his now. Then I’ll have time to make yours. Mrs. Hutchins has to send me her final idea pictures next week.”
“Do I get to know which character you are this time?” I tease him.
“No Daddy. It’s a surprise. I don’t know too.” He adds and I laugh.
“Luci does.” I whisper loudly.
“Not telling.” She says in a singsong voice. Cole runs down the hall that leads to her bedroom.
“Can you be bribed?” I ask.
“Nope.”
“Luci your house is small.” Cole says as he races back.
“It’s just me Coco, so I don’t need anything too big.” She’s pulling on her coat and gloves. I should probably get her another pair.
“Daddy used to live in a house by here. He showed me.”
“You did?” She sounds surprised.
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32: The First Talk
“My brothers and I rented a house about a mile from here freshman year. Before I had to move back home.” I confess giving a meaningful look to Cole.
“My car is still at the rink.” She reminds me as we walk outside. I lift Cole to put him on the
backseat.
“I thought I’d take you by there after we leave.”
She nods and climbs into the passenger seat.
The kids‘ league plays at the public rink near downtown. Cole chatters happily the whole way
there with Luci answering him easily.
I help him lace his skates and climb out onto the ice. “Luci and I will be right up there.” I point
to where I told her to go sit. “Today is skating and learning how to hold the stick while you
skate ok? And you know how but you have to show your coach.”
He nods and waves to Luci before going to join the group. I take the steps three at a time and
sit next to her.
Turning to look at her I begin. “Maxton confessed he was trying to frame you for vandalism at
the rink to get revenge. Said he tricked your friend into giving up her phone so he could text
you and have your number. Watch out for unknown callers.”
“Stormi wasn’t lying then.” She sounds relieved.
“No, it looks like she wasn’t. Luci, I know Cole asked you about his mom.” Time to jump right
in since Vivienne drove by this morning.
Now I see fear. “I hope I didn’t cause problems. I told him to ask you. I…I tried to help him. I heard you get very angry about her.” She looks down and I see her nail scraping habit has
started. I reach over spear my thumb between those fingers to stop her.
“Luci what you told him was perfect. I heard you the second time. I do get angry but probably not for the reason anyone suspects. Once upon a time it was because I wouldn’t listen to anyone speak a word against her. Now it’s because I want to explode at her.” I watch Cole as I
continue to talk. “Her name is Lorelei Winters and she lives in France, near Paris. Her mother
is Vivienne Winters.”
“The actress?” Luci asks surprised.
“Movie buff…you would recognize her name. Yes, that’s her. They moved into the house two doors down from us when Lorelei and I were eight. She became our fifth wheel, literally, once
our mothers became fast friends. Until we were fifteen and we started dating. We were
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32: The First Talk
inseparable and I thought we’d be together forever.” I glance at Luci, but her eyes remain on
- me.
“I’m focused.” She murmurs before glancing back at Cole.
I do the same and continue talking. “Squeeze my arm when I pause if you’re still with me.” She
nods and lays her hand on my arm. “She wanted to be a model and actress like her mother.
Was getting calls for shows and contracts constantly after she turned seventeen. Right before
Christmas break, our senior year in high school she told me they were leaving to go to Paris.
Her mother’s friend offered her a chance to attend their prestigious modeling academy and
she’d have a supporting role in a European romance tv series.”
Arm squeeze.
“I begged her not to go. Asked her to wait six months so we could graduate and I’d go with her. Find a European school to play hockey. Or put it off for a year and come back here for school
and a team. She refused and her mother basically said it was now or never. Decreed they were
going. Vivienne is a lot like my mother. Social status, control, and money are her main motivators in life. They left after New Year’s shattering my world. My father forbid me from moving to Europe after graduation and Lorelei asked me not to come. Said she was too busy. I moved into a house near you with my brothers and started college.”
Arm squeeze. Cole waves to us and we return it.
“Until the weekend after Thanksgiving, when I was asked to come home by my dad. My
brothers went along because with my mother you might need support in numbers. Imagine my surprise to find Lorelei sitting there with a baby in her arms. My father was furious and my mother had her usual calculating expression.” I hear Luci gasp and see the sympathy on her
face. Arm squeeze but this one lasts longer as support for me.
“He was three months old and she never breathed a f*****g word about him to me. I knew he
was mine the minute I saw him. Blonde hair and those super light gray eyes. And I felt it in my
gut Luci. I thought I was going to pass out. She was all emotional. ‘Say hello to your son, Easton. Cole Matthew Reed. Isn’t he perfect?‘ I stared at her in shock. Until she practically thrust him into my arms. He was asleep, but I will never forget touching his cheek and his contented smile from that. How he seemed to burrow his little head against my chest. I fell in love with him instantly, sweetness.” She’s crying. I hear her sniffling and look at her. She’s
wiping her cheeks with her free hand.
“I’ll spare you the melodramatic shock and anger that happened after that while she explained she had postpartum depression. Had been on medication for it, but it wasn’t working. So she
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32: The First Talk
needed inpatient treatment. Her mother refused to keep him while she’d be there for three months.”
“No…” Luci breathes out sadly.
“Yes. She had no choice to bring him to me. I was furious. She didn’t know she was pregnant until she was five months along. But I forgave her after she explained she was scared of my reaction her whole pregnancy because it’s not like we talked about having kids. And she had depression during her pregnancy too, so she was always down a dark rabbit hole figuring I’d blame her or be angry with her. I was still completely in love with her, so, of course, I let it go. She went to the treatment center while I struggled to learn how to raise an infant. I moved
back home and my wonderful, brothers followed along to help me. Baker was amazing and Dad helped when he was home. Mother would do the bare minimum. Dad made me get a
paternity test to be sure. He’s mine. The whole time, I was happily planning our future. We’d
get married or at least move in together and be a family. And for two months, once she got
out, we were. I bought a f*****g engagement ring in my delusional world. She moved into my
parents‘ house with me, and it was like I imagined.”
Arm squeeze.
“Only to come home from practice one night and find her standing in the living room with her
luggage. Her mother’s limo was out in the driveway. She handed Cole to me as I asked what
was going on. She confessed she needed to go back to Paris. Fulfill her modeling and film
contract or they’d sue her. I told her Cole and I would follow. She told me not to. Said it was
too much for her to deal with her demanding schedule along with me and a baby.” I will never
forget the look in her eyes. Panic and fear. At the time I thought it was because she had to
leave us.
Arm squeeze.
“Said she’d come back and would call all the time. She did. Called me every other night. I’d
send pictures daily and she’d comment or react. A month later when it was his birthday, she came back. Stayed for a week and then left again. That went on for another six months. She would visit every six weeks and then leave again. It kept me devoted to her. But then it all stopped. She would only text me or react to photos. No more visits. She finally called me and said we needed to be over. I didn’t react well to that. Found a rebound girlfriend from hell and
another one three months after that one. I backed off and only sent photos once a month.
Three months ago I stopped doing that. I have no idea what she’s doing. She obviously doesn’t
care to even see him. But I can’t tell Cole that yet.”
Permanent arm squeeze. “Oh Easton, she hurt you deeply. Broke your heart in two ways.” She
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whispers tearfully.
“You deserved the whole story about her. Her mother is back and staying in her home here for a month or two. My mother decided Vivienne should get to see Cole and take him out for the day. Under no circumstances is she to take him anywhere. I’d like to tell you not to even let her see him, but my mother will probably sneak her into the house. She doesn’t give a damn about him and I don’t even want to tell him who she is.” I finish with cold venom.
“What did she do?” Luci asks knowingly.
I face her, taking her hand. “She tried to convince Lorelei to abort him the entire pregnancy. She threatened to put him up for private adoption when Lorelei needed inpatient treatment. Lorelei brought him to me, but apparently she was heavily against it. She came back a little over a year ago and I overheard her telling Mother that Cole would be excellent for boosting her comeback career. He’s only a pawn and I won’t have her near him. I could have never known my precious boy if that woman had her way.”
