From the sound of it, Xavier was beginning to realize that his childhood here in Moose Falls hadn’t been perfect, but love had been in abundance.
For a moment they just sat and enjoyed the meal without talking. True had always known that this was the true mark of whether people were comfortable in each other’s presence. One didn’t need to fill the silence with words.
“This omelet is the best I’ve ever had,” True said, placinganother forkful in her mouth. The cheese and the onions were blended perfectly, she realized. And there was a slight tangy taste. Dijon mustard?
“My mom taught me how to make an omelet when I was twelve. As a result, I became a short-order cook for my brothers,” he said, chuckling. “All they wanted to do that summer was eat omelets.”
She loved hearing stories about Xavier’s childhood and growing up with his brothers. Their being so close was clearly rooted in their childhood. One day she hoped to meet the incredible woman who had raised them into such fine men.
True looked down at her empty plate. She hadn’t left a single morsel. “Thank your mama for me. She taught you how to make a slamming omelet.”
“She would be pleased to hear that, although she would grill me about you.” He let out a laugh. “My mom is the inquisitive type, especially when it comes to her sons.”
“Will she be making an appearance in Moose Falls?” True was filled with curiosity about Mama Stone, the woman who’d raised three magnificent men and been married to Red. True would bet her last dollar the woman was incredible.
He made a face. “I’m not sure about that. She never came back to Moose Falls. Not even once.” He grabbed his glass and gulped his orange juice.
“Well, from what you’ve said, it wasn’t the most pleasant parting. I’m guessing she’s reluctant to face all those memories.”
“That’s for sure,” Xavier said, his face contemplative. “I’m not sure she’s ever gotten over the divorce, and that makes me sad for her. I’d love for her to find someone to walk through life with, now that she’s finished raising us.”
“I’m sorry. I’m glad she has the three of you.” True imagined that Xavier, Caleb, and Landon were their mom’s entire world. Having them away in Alaska had to be difficult.
Xavier glanced at his watch. “Okay, I should scoot before Jaylen comes home. Practice is at four.”
Even though nothing had happened between them, True preferred that her little brother not create any scenarios in his mind about Xavier spending the night. That way he wouldn’t slip up at school or practice by talking out of turn about her love life.
“I appreciate that,” she said. “Can you get a ride? I’d drop you off, but I want to be here when Jaylen gets home. I’m not sure he remembered his house key.”
“No worries. I just texted for an Uber.” He winked at her. “This ain’t no backwoods town. Remember?”
She vaguely recalled saying that line last night. It was surprising how comfortable Xavier made her feel about last night’s goings-on. She had acted the fool by drinking too much, but he seemed to understand the level of pain she’d been in. She’d learned how futile it was to try to dull pain with alcohol. With each and every day, Xavier amazed her more and more with his compassion and integrity.
As she waved to him from the doorway as he stepped into his Uber ride, she reflected on how much her attitude had changed regarding this wonderful man. He had gone from being an unwelcome interloper in Moose Falls to someone who had nestled his way into her heart. And although the idea of falling in love with him should have terrified her, all she was feeling was excitement at the possibilities stretched out before her.
Xavier couldn’t stop thinking about last night. Seeing True in such a vulnerable state had only served to strengthen his feelings for her. She had shown him a wide range of emotions—grief, tenderness, humor, gentleness. Once she had fallen asleep, Xavier had placed the covers on her and tucked her in before flipping the lights off and leaving the room. She was lightly snoring and cuddled up on her side. She looked so peaceful and content. Beautiful. He had closed the door behind him and grabbed a blanket so he could bunk on the couch.
In a perfect world, Xavier would be spending a leisurely day with True, but having made the commitment to coach Jaylen’s still unnamed team, he was determined to fulfill his promise. As soon as Xavier spotted Jaylen at practice, he casually looked around for True, hoping she had tagged along with her brother. Although a few parents sat in the stands, True wasn’t one of them. He hoped she was doing something relaxing after the emotional upheaval of last evening. A bubble bath. A mani-pedi. He needed to find a local florist and order her a spectacular bouquet.
After all the kids trailed in—minus a couple who’d dropped out after a few intense practices—Xavier and Lisa called the team over to get started.
“So, ladies and gents, we’ve got a surprise for you, courtesy of Yukon Cider.” Lisa held up a black-and-red water flask. “Pretty snazzy, huh?” She flipped the flask around, showcasing the fact that their individual names were emblazoned on the back. Every player had one with their name on it. The group immediately let out a roar.
“Let’s take a moment to thank Coach Stone for putting this in motion,” Lisa said, clapping enthusiastically. “He’s the GOAT!”
Before he knew what was happening, the kids began toswarm around him, giving him hugs and offering profuse thanks. They began chanting, “GOAT.”
This, he thought, was worth every moment of the time he was investing in this team. These children were amazing. They weren’t angels by any means, but they had so much heart and soul. They were showering him with gratitude, and it was a little bit overwhelming. When was the last time he’d experienced this type of gratitude? He honestly couldn’t remember.
Kids had the purest hearts, and they didn’t hesitate to show their love. Just being around them lifted him to the stratosphere.
“Okay, okay. I get the message, and it’s appreciated.” He clapped once. “Let’s get down to business. We need to find a team name and vote on it so everyone has a say. Team names are important.”
“Very important,” Lisa chimed in. “It’ll be our identity. For instance, if we call ourselves the Turtles, folks are going to assume we’re pretty slow.”
The kids must have found the comment hilarious, because giggles broke out among the team.
“What about the Wolverines?” suggested Alicia. With her sandy-brown hair and blue eyes, the little girl was her mom’s mini me.
