by Grey , S. R.
“Oh, stop.”
He turned serious. “Maisie, you don’t need any of those things. You’re stunning as you are.”
“Thanks,” I murmured.
Wow, this man truly loved me.
Nonetheless, even though Noel didn’t think I needed those things, I still lined my eyes, applied a few coats of mascara, and glossed my lips. And then I brushed out and styled my hair.
Good thing the gloss I used was the kind that didn’t come off easily, as Noel insisted on kissing me like crazy before we left the house.
“You’re out of control.” I teased, pushing him away so we could walk to the car.
“Out of control in love,” he volleyed back, leaning in for one more kiss.
“Noel,” I warned.
“Okay, sweetheart…” He took my hand in his. “…come on. Let’s go introduce my gorgeous girl to the team.”
Brent’s Barbeque
Not all of my teammates were at the barbeque, but quite a few were there. I introduced Maisie to Dylan Culderway, Benny Perry, Nolan Solvenson, Brent Oliver, Blake Cavaletti, and so many more. All of those guys’ significant others were at Brent’s too.
Maisie was tentative with everyone at first. But as time wore on, she began mingling on her own, hitting it off with everyone.
She sure was coming out of her shell and taking to this, her new life.
I loved it.
Whenever I was caught up in conversation, Maisie would peel away and easily find someone to chat with.
But the one person she hung out with the most, by far, was Noelle.
I was glad my twin was at the barbeque. But I sure hadn’t expected her to be. I had no clue how she had come to be invited. It wasn’t like she was dating any of the players or anything.
Or was she?
I had to find out.
So I went to look for her.
Of course, I found her with Maisie, standing over by the swimming pool, chatting and giggling over something.
I reached them and uttered a quick, “Hey, what’s up?”
Then I flat-out asked Noelle who had invited her.
Looking away, she replied sheepishly, “Uh, Blake did.”
I was stunned. “What? Cavaletti invited you?”
“Uh-huh.”
She was being uncharacteristically evasive, so I glanced across the lawn at Blake—tall, dark, handsome bastard that he was.
He better not be banging my sister!
I had no chance to ask how Noelle knew him, because she and Maisie suddenly just had to go to the ladies’ room.
Yeah, right.
Their girl code had been activated.
But I was onto their ploy.
Before they made their getaway, I stepped in front of them, stopping their progress.
“Whoa, wait up a sec,” I said. “I have a question.”
“What is it, Noel?” my sister asked, aggravated.
“Just what is it with you ladies always running off to the bathroom together? Are there, like, secret meetings in there or something?”
Maisie interjected, “Nice try, Noel.”
Totally onto me, she grabbed Noelle’s hand.
As they brushed past me, my sister cooed, “We’ll never tell.”
Those two, I had to laugh. It had been a good evasive move on their part, working spectacularly.
My sister and Maisie ought to be on the damn hockey team. They sure think like defensive players.
Chuckling as I imagined the two of them back-checking opponents, I went to seek out the guys. I was now in the mood to talk hockey, which worked out well since I came upon Dylan and Brent and could hear them discussing the upcoming season.
“I think we’re much stronger with the trade we made this summer.” I overheard Brent say to Dylan.
“Absolutely,” he agreed. “Blake Cavaletti is a great addition.”
When I walked up to them, my teammates gave me nods of acknowledgment.
Brent then asked, “Are you enjoying the barbeque so far, Sandlund?”
“You bet your ass I am,” I replied.
“Good.”
Waving my arm at the expansive desert gardens that comprised Brent’s large backyard, I added, “It’s been great seeing everyone here today.”
“It has,” Brent agreed. “And by the way, Maisie is amazing.”
I let out a contented sigh. “Yeah, she really is. I’m glad she’s fitting in.”
The talk then turned back to hockey.
“So you think we got it in us for another Stanley Cup run?” Brent asked.
“I do.” I nodded. “I really do.”
Dylan agreed, “Yeah, I see no reason why we can’t go all the way this year.”
After a moment of thought, Brent asked me, “Hey, you played with the new guy in Sweden, right?”
“Yes,” I confirmed.
“How’d he look over there on the ice?”
“Fantastic,” I answered truthfully. “Blake Cavaletti was one of our best players.”
Brent was pleased. “Cool. I’m glad to hear that.”
I reiterated how Blake was an absolute stellar addition to the team, adding, “He’s a much better player than Drew Chidders.”
“He seems to have a better attitude too,” Dylan said, chuckling. “I get the impression he’s a good dude.”
“He is,” I said.
As long as he stays away from my sister, I thought to myself.
I glanced around, looking for Noelle and Maisie. I hadn’t seen either of them since they’d come back from the bathroom.
But had they even ever returned?
I didn’t think so.
Okay, this was strange.
What could possibly have been keeping them?
Bad Timing
I was having the best time at the barbeque. Everyone was so much nicer than I’d expected them to be. I’d obviously psyched myself out with my silly, unfounded concerns.
It was all good. I fit right in with the Wolves’ players and their significant others.
Maybe Noel and I really would work out in the long run?
And maybe, just maybe, I truly deserved him.
I hoped so, as not only had I fallen more in love with him, I freaking adored his sister.
Noelle and I had just really clicked.
At first I’d been intimidated.
She was so damn beautiful, tall like Noel, statuesque even. And she had the most gorgeous platinum-blonde hair, as well as the same striking blue eyes Noel had.
Noelle also had a figure to die for.
I quickly discovered, though, that she, much like her brother, was as beautiful on the inside as the outside. Noelle was down-to-earth and easy to talk to. I had a feeling we would end up becoming great friends.
As it was, we already had our girl code down pat.
When Noel put his twin on the spot about Blake, a guy I could tell she was into, I used the tried and true we-have-to-go-to-the-bathroom excuse. Always a good one.
Noelle caught on right away and murmured a sly, “Thank you.”
Noel didn’t even notice, as he was trying to delay us by asking something about why girls always go to the bathroom together.
We got away, and now we were on our way to the bathroom behind the pool house, the closest one.
Noelle and I congratulated ourselves on our successful escape.
“That move worked out well, Maisie. I really do have to pee,” Noelle said as we reached the tiny bathroom in the back of the pool house. “So what you told Noel was technically true.”
“I’m glad it wasn’t a lie,” I stated honestly.
I was trying to be nothing but honest with Noel these days, so it was good to know I hadn’t misled him.
Since the bathroom looked like it could comfortably fit only one person at a time, I hung back and said to Noelle, “I’ll wait out here for you, okay?”
“Okay, cool,” she replied.
Once she was inside the bathroom, my phone st
arted ringing.
Huh, who could that be?
I thought it might be a wrong number since all the important people in my life were at the barbeque.
But then I saw the number.
My heart sank.
It was my mom.
“What the hell does she want?” I hissed under my breath, stepping farther away.
I knew this couldn’t be anything good. I hadn’t heard one word from her since I’d been back. She didn’t care where my life led me.
That wasn’t surprising, but it still hurt.
But here she was now, calling me out of the blue. Probably only to drive the stake a little farther into my heart.
Maybe I shouldn’t answer.
A part of me felt obligated to, though. Terrible or not, she was still my mother.
So, sighing resignedly, I took her call, deciding, however, to act nonchalant. Like we’d talked days ago, not months.
Why give her the satisfaction of anything else?
“Hey, Mom, what’s up?” I said breezily.
My mother, in usual fashion, played right along with our friendly farce.
“Maisie, I’m so glad you answered. It’s wonderful hearing your voice.”
Yeah, right.
“You too, Mom.” I coughed.
There was an uncomfortable silence, until she said, “So where are you these days?”
“I’m in Las Vegas.”
“Ah, interesting. I guess that guy who came out to the trailer found you, huh?”
“He did.”
“That’s nice.” She sighed. “Do you live with him now?”
“I do. Not that it’s any of your business.”
“Maisie,” she chastised.
Oh, hell, I was tiring of these fake niceties. I knew she hadn’t called to catch up.
So I flat-out asked, “Why are you calling, Mom?”
“Well, I have some news.”
“What kind of news?”
“I wanted to let you know Gary and I are back together.”
Ah, so she managed to lure the ole Juice King back in.
“That’s wonderful, Mom,” I stated sarcastically.
Ignoring my cynicism, she exclaimed, “I know, right? It’s so great.”
Weary, I replied, “Why are you calling me with this news?”
She sniffed. “You are my daughter, Maisie.”
I’d had enough.
“That’s funny,” I snapped. “You made it pretty clear to my boyfriend—you know, that guy who came to see you—that you were cutting all ties with me.”
“Oh, that.” She snickered. “I was just mad at you at the time. And how could you blame me? You didn’t come back to help with the bills or anything. Not even when I continued to pay for your cell phone.”
I wished she could see me roll my eyes.
“Mom, you only paid for that because you had a good deal with the carrier.”
“So? I was still paying.”
I sighed.
She was impossible.
“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “I pay for it now.”
I’d made that change after I’d moved in with Noel.
“Okay, okay, you’re right. It’s not important. But I could certainly be mad at you for something else.”
“Oh, what’s that?” I asked dryly.
“You screwed things up for me and Gary in Sweden, for one. I’m still angry about that, young lady.”
Unbelievable!
“I screwed things up?” I hissed quietly, so as not to draw attention.
I was alone since this was the back of the pool house and surrounded by palm trees. Still, I kept my voice hushed. The conversation was becoming too heated.
I also stepped over to a clump of cacti, and then said to my impossible mother, “How is Gary dumping you my fault? His stupid accountant told me you and he had broken up weeks before I was kicked out of that suite.”
“Yes,” Mom conceded, “that’s true. But the fact I’d kept you a secret in the first place angered Gary so much that it caused our first really huge fight. That was more our undoing than why we’d broken up in the first place.”
I shook my head, amazed, but not in a good way.
I was holding up well as far as my mother could tell, but inside I was on the verge of tears. This wasn’t good. Noelle would be out of the bathroom any second.
I needed to pull it together.
Also, what if someone came back here?
There was no need to ruin everyone’s good time with my ridiculous family drama.
To wrap things up, since they’d gone downhill, I said quietly into the phone, “Mom, we’ll have to talk later. This is not a good time to discuss this crap.”
“Fine, Maisie. It’s not why I’m calling, anyway.”
Ah, we were finally getting to the truth.
“So why are you calling?” I asked warily.
“I’m calling to let you know I found more of your clothes. I’ve been cleaning up the trailer since I plan to sell it soon, and I came across a few things I must’ve missed the first go-round. Anyway, there are a few photo albums I also thought you might like to have.” Softly, she added, “Your dad’s in them.”
Oh, hell.
There was the final push of the stake into my heart. I really wanted those albums.
My mother knew all along I’d cave hearing about those. That was why she’d saved it for last.
The clothes I couldn’t care less about, but something more to connect me with the guy who had fathered me?
Yes, that was something I desperately wanted.
She had me, and she knew it.
Surrendering, I agreed to come out to the trailer.
“You’re going to have to make it quick,” Mom informed me. “I’m leaving to meet up with Gary sometime tomorrow.”
I really did have to move fast. Mom would leave on a dime. And she’d toss my stuff out so fast it wouldn’t be funny. That would include the photo albums.
“Okay,” I said, “I can leave right now. I’ll see you later today, Mom.”
“Great, Maisie. See you soon. Bye.”
Just as I was disconnecting and lowering the phone, Noelle found me.
“Hey, what are you doing hiding all the way over here?” she asked, perplexed.
Then she saw the expression on my face.
“Wait. Are you all right, Maisie? What happened? You look really messed up right now.”
“I am messed up,” I whispered, holding up the phone. “I was just talking to my mom.”
It was evident from her sigh that Noel had filled her in on my lovely mother.
“I should ask first if she’s okay,” Noelle began.
I nodded. “Uh-huh. She’s fine. She just got back with her boyfriend. And she called to tell me she’s leaving tomorrow, for good.”
“Wow. No way.”
“Yeah,” I sighed. “She wants me to go out to Two Palms to pick up some of my things.”
I closed my eyes, and, as the gravity of the situation hit me, I lamented, “I guess this really is goodbye for her and me.”
I thought I was done with my mother, but a part of me had always believed I could reconnect with her if I wanted to.
This felt so final.
It hurt that I seemed to care for her far more than she cared for me.
Once that sunk in, I let out a choked sob.
Noelle put her arm around me. “Aw, honey, it’ll be okay. Still, I think we should go find Noel.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
Should I Go?
Just as I was about to go search for my sister and Maisie, they returned from their bathroom run. Even from across the lawn, though, it was clear something was terribly wrong.
I started over to them, noticing Noelle giving me a take-it-easy-Noel look.
Quickly turning my rapid pace to a casual stroll, I smiled like everything was okay. There was no reason to upset Maisie any further. And upset she was. That was obvious from the
strained look on her face.
I was glad the other partygoers were too preoccupied with having fun to pay her any heed.
“Hey, babe,” I stated calmly once I reached Maisie and my sister.
“Hi, Noel,” Maisie replied flatly.
Shit, something was definitely awry.
Placing a comforting hand on Maisie’s arm, I asked, “Is everything all right, sweetheart?”
She shook her head as she handed me her phone.
When I glanced down at it, I saw right away what had upset her—the last incoming call was from her mother.
Hell.
I’d met the woman only once, and to say she was abrasive would have been a huge understatement.
“Jesus.” I frowned down at the screen. “What did she want?”
Maisie murmured, “She wants me to go out there.”
“What, to Two Palms?”
“Uh-huh.”
I remembered all too well how Maisie’s mother had so callously handed over her daughter’s clothes, and Claude, and I immediately bristled.
“What the fuck for?” I bit out.
“Noel,” my sister warned.
Maisie waved her hand. “No, no, it’s okay. Noel’s right to be aggravated. Lord knows I am. And as to what my mother wanted, she hooked back up with the Juice King and just couldn’t wait to share the news.”
“Ugh.”
I could see where this was going.
“Anyway,” Maisie went on, “she called to inform me she’s leaving for good. I think it’s for real because she’s selling the trailer. She has more clothes for me, plus some other stuff—a few photo albums that my dad’s in.”
Ah, I knew Maisie wanted those.
Noelle and I exchanged looks, and she nodded knowingly.
She excused herself then so Maisie and I could talk just the two of us.
One thing about being a twin was that there really was an unspoken connection. Noelle had known exactly how long to stick around. Once Maisie’s absent father had been brought up, with one shared look, she recognized it was a subject best discussed alone between me and Maisie.
She was right.
Maisie’s father may have been gone from her life, but he was still important to her. Hell, she freaking loved that tattered and torn stuffed dog he’d given her all those years ago. Claude sat out on our bed every day.