“Okay.Nice.”
“This track glows in the dark and you can make it go up the wall if you want.”
Being in here with him reminds me of my own childhood.I’m three years older than Elin, and I was always the one coming up with the games we played.In the summer, we were always outside when our family was at our modest summer cottage.We swam in the lake, played games with the other kids in nearby cottages, and picked and ate berries until our faces and hands were stained beyond scrubbing clean.
Winters were the opposite.It was dark by three p.m., so Elin and I had to entertain ourselves indoors.I’d make up stories and read to her.Our cousins came over often, and we were all the best of friends.
“I like to be the car in Monopoly,” Coop says.“What do you like to be?”
I furrow my brow.“I don’t remember all the pieces ...is there a hat?”
“Yeah, you can be the hat.Eli picks a different piece every time and Mom is always the iron.”
He shows me how to race cars around his track and we get several going at the same time, testing out how long it takes them to crash into each other.When Blair calls up the stairs that breakfast is ready, Coop’s shoulders slump with disappointment.
I feel bad I can’t stay longer.
“Hey, I’ll come over again soon if it’s okay with your mom,” I say.“We’ll have a Monopoly night.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.As long as your mom’s okay with it.”
He smiles and says, “Okay.”
Before we get to the stairs to go down for breakfast, he takes my hand.I wasn’t expecting it, and it tugs at my heart.He’s a sweet kid.I wish I could blow off practice today, but that would be stupid when I’m trying to get them to offer me a contract.
Eli is at the kitchen table when we get there.Blair is pouring glasses of orange juice.
“Want some?”she asks me.
“No, thanks.Coffee’s good.”
She made cinnamon roll French toast, scrambled eggs, and bacon.I sit down to home-cooked dinners at teammates’ homes sometimes, but it’s been a long time since I had a homemade breakfast.
“Everything’s great,” I say after a few bites.
“Mom, can Magnus come over for Monopoly night?”Coop asks.
She flicks her gaze to mine.“I don’t know if he has time for that, sweetie.”
“I do.Any night I don’t have a game.”
“Okay.We’ll compare schedules and plan it.”
“Yes!”
Coop can hardly keep himself still in his chair.He’s so busy chattering that he doesn’t get in much eating.
“Will you quiz me on spelling words, Mom?”Eli asks.
“How about as soon as I’m done with breakfast cleanup?We can snuggle in my bed and I’ll quiz you.”
Eli drops his brows.“I’m too old for snuggling.”
I’d happily take his place.Seeing her nurturing her boys is sexy as hell.We had chemistry last night, but I couldn’t make a move.I still can’t, and it’s frustrating as hell.
I haven’t dated in years, and when I did, there was never anyone like Blair.Just hearing her laugh makes me smile.And those bra straps are making me crazy.
