I took a deep breath to keep from crumbling under the weight of it all and stopped short when my mom walked in through the front door on a breeze like she was walking some runway in Milan.
“Mom?” I shook my head, walking around the bar. “What are you doing?”
“Picking the kids up.” She said effortlessly. “I told them I would be back at nine.”
“What?” I rubbed my forehead as I tried to understand what was happening. “They said you have a stomach bug or something.”
“Hey, Lucy.” Coach Rick greeted my mom with a quick peck on her cheek. “You look beautiful tonight.”
My mom swatted his arm playfully, “I look beautiful every night.” She sang in her fairytale-sweet voice. She was right, she always did, in an effortless Elizabeth Taylor way I always envied. In everything she did, she was soft and nurturing, unlike me, I was sharp and snarky. I had questioned how we were related too many times to count.
“Mom.” I interrupted as Crashers started filing out of the team hallway, suspiciously without my kids. “Where were you?”
“On a date.” She replied, “I told you three times I was meeting Charles for dinner tonight. That’s why I dropped the kids off; I was on my way across town.” She pursed her lips. “You forgot, didn’t you?”
“I—” I stammered like an idiot as Travis eyed me suspiciously as he took a seat at the bar next to Rick. “So, you’re not sick?”
“Heaven’s girl,” my mom rolled her eyes, “Do I look sick?”
“Well—no.” I huffed, replaying the way both kids effortlessly made up the story earlier and planned my revenge.
“Where are the kids? I want to get them home and in bed before they fall asleep standing up. I’m sure they’re exhausted from playing here for the last few hours.”
“Mom.” Emmie showed up out of nowhere and pulled on my sleeve. “We have a problem.”
Glaring at her, “You mean besides the fact that you lied about Grandma being sick?”
“Bigger than that.” Emmie swallowed, glancing around the group and hiding behind my side when she clocked Travis watching her. “Muchbigger than that.”
“What?” I asked, suddenly on edge and suspiciously aware of Toby’s absence. “Where’s your brother?”
“Uh—” She shrunk more and whispered. “In the vending machine.”
“I told him not to take any money from anyone for that damn swear jar.” I snapped and glared at my daughter before she could dare to point out my curse. Turning to Travis, “Did you give him money? The last thing he needs is junk food right now.”
Trav raised one brow at me, and I felt like a scolded child before he calmly answered, “I didn’t settle my tab with him yet.”
“No, Mom!” Emmie pulled on my sleeve roughly, “He’s notatthe vending machine.” She widened her eyes as she hissed. “He’sinthe vending machine.”
“In—” Fuck, I tore off at a sprint towards the team vending machines by the ice. “Jesus Christ!”
Travis was hot on my heels as I ran down the stairs, and he cleared them in half the time, getting to the machine right before me.
And in the candy one, there sat my boy, pressed up against the glass with a chocolate-covered grin as he ate a candy bar, waving the best he could in his tight confinement. “Hi Mama!”
“Get out right now!” I hissed, fighting the panic building in my gut as I uselessly tried to pry the door open.
“Can’t.” Toby shrugged, “I’m stuck.”
“Boy, I swear to God!” I smacked the side of the machine, and Travis pulled me away from it as more guys came out of the locker room.
One of them being Elliot.
“Get the keys from Rick!” Travis barked at his friend, who paled when he came around the corner and saw Toby stuck in the machine.
“Damn, kid. Five minutes alone.” Elliot warned, “That was it.”
“I’m fast!” Toby cheered, and I cursed under my breath.
