But now, he appeared tired. Worn out.
Anger stirred. Why the hell couldn’t Justin just stay put in a job and give Caleb a break?
“Do you need money?” I asked.
“No.” He shook his head, a weary smile slipping back to his face. “You give me more than I need, Eli. Anyway, I didn’t come here to talk about Justin. I just wanted to see you. See how you were doing.” Those keen brown eyes met mine, twinkling now. “I heard you finally have a girl?”
Yeah, it was the one thing I’d never shown a serious interest in through my teen years. Girls were aplenty, but only hockey existed for me, along with Caleb. And now, Charli. “Yes.”
“But?” Caleb said, his brow creasing, knowing me far too well.
“I don’t know.” I frowned, glancing around the quiet parking lot, then staring out at the bay, not knowing what to say. “I like her. A lot. I guess I’ll have to wait and see.”
“Ah.” A faint smile appeared, more genuine now. “She’s playing hard to get, hmm?”
If only he knew. I shrugged. “I love the chase.”
“That’s my boy.” He nodded in approval. “I didn’t know what to make of it when Justin showed me the photo trending of you both. I mean, you don’t have any of those social media accounts. So, they could be fake.”
Because I was rabid about my privacy, but he had a point. And Justin must have implied it was a ruse.
“Why don’t you come over to the apartment and have lunch?” I asked, glancing at my watch. It was almost six. “Okay, make that early supper?” I should text Charli, let her know I was running late.
“Maybe next time. I do have to go,” he said, turning to the Lexus. “And I can meet her, too.” Still smiling, he opened the door and slid inside. “I’ll see you Saturday in Rockridge?”
“Yeah.” I shut his door.
He opened the window. “Okay. Go win the girl’s heart, Eli. I have faith in you, my boy.”
If only. Charli was too scared to trust anyone. It wasn’t just her cheating ex or my past rep, but her mother, too. And I had a feeling the latter played a large part in her insecurities. But it was my problem, and one I needed to handle carefully.
I nodded and stepped back.
He opened the window. “And thank you again for this.” He patted the steering wheel with affection. “I like it.”
“I’m glad.”
He used to drive an old truck back then because he didn’t want towastemoney, and yet he bought my hockey gear and paid the local hockey club fees so I could join.
Years later, I’d learned the truth of the sacrifices he made…
“But Dad, I need money for my soccer cleats,” Justin moaned, following Caleb to the kitchen where I waited, ready to leave for practice.
“I can’t, son. Your old ones will have to do. Ready, Eli?” he asked me.
I nodded. “I’ll get my hockey bag.”
“I’ll be in the truck.” He walked out.
Justin spun to me, his whining expression morphing to loathing. “Just because my father drives you to practice, it means nothing.”
I didn’t want to hear his shit, so I stalked off to my room and packed my skates into the massive bag.
“Oh, this gear you’re so proud of? It’s someone else’s cast-off,” he jeered, standing safely in my doorway.
I ignored him.
“It’s because of you, Dad can’t afford a new car, so he drives that piece of junk. You’re just another useless orphan he picked up for the money we get, but even that doesn’t cover what you eat. At least the other losers Dad fostered were adopted. Who would ever want an overgrown lout like you?”
