Jesus.
“Do you have any questions?”
He casts me a fast glance, blinking rapidly, lips tightening into a thin line. “Are you going to tell Mom?”
My stomach twists. This is a really fucking awkward position. I’m not his father. Not his guardian. Not anything official. “Do you not want me to?”
“I don’t know. It’s weird.”
“It is,” I admit. “But I don’t think we should keep secrets.” Jesus I’m one to talk. I place my hand on his shoulder and give it a reassuring squeeze. “Honestly, Lucas, I think she’d be happy to know you’re being responsible.”
He nods, a tight, almost self-conscious smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah you’re probably right.”
He stands, shoving the condoms into his back pocket. His gaze flickers back to me, curious, thoughtful. “Why do you have condoms if you never go out? You have bunnies throwing themselves at you, but you’re always here with Mom.”
Shit.
I stiffen, heat creeping up my neck. Before he can connect the dots—and I think he already has—I step toward the door. “Do you need a ride to Levi’s?”
“He’s picking me up.” He scratches the back of his head, and then hesitates. “Tuck, are you and?—”
Before he can finish, Maria calls from downstairs. Thank fucking God. I jerk my thumb toward the stairs. “Head down. I need to grab a jersey for Josh.”
Lucas gives me a small, awkward nod, and I duck out, heart still racing. I root through my closet and find the smallest jersey, then grab one for myself. If I’m going out, I might as well go as myself. Josh can be my twin. I tug it on and head back downstairs.
In the kitchen, I pause. Josh and Lucas are setting the table, working together, and it hits me how much I love watching this. My heart beats a little faster, and I have to pull myself together when I catch Maria looking at me. I toss Josh the jersey.
He beams at me. “Thanks, man.”
“What can I do to help?” I ask Maria.
“Nothing. Your shoulder is sore. Sit, let me serve you.”
A groan rumbles up from my chest—meant only for her ears—because yeah, the idea of her serving me in more ways than one hits in numerous places. I drop into the chair, and a moment later, a big bowl of beef stew lands in front of me.
“This looks incredible. Like good old fashioned East Coast cooking. Mom would be proud.”
She chuckles softly. “Boston and Nova Scotia aren’t so different.”
She sets bowls in front of the boys, and they dig in eagerly.
“Mom, this is amazing,” Josh says, mouth half full.
She smiles at him, love evident in her eyes. “Something hearty to keep you warm out there tonight.”
My chest tightens. She is such an incredible mother, and one day…one day I’d love to see her have the daughter she dreams about as well. Just not with Declan, or any other man. Damn.
“Boys, Grandma and Grant are coming tomorrow night for Sunday dinner. Tuck, you’re welcome to join us too.”
“Of course he’s coming, Mom,” Lucas says with a snorting laugh. “He lives here.”
Maria laughs. “Yes, but we’re going back home in the morning. We can’t stay here all the time.”
Josh rips into a dinner roll. “But Tuck is going away Monday, and what’s the point of going home for one day just to come back? It’s much easier to stay. Isn’t that right, Tuck?”
“Josh,” she warns in that soft, motherly tone I’ve come to know. “I can’t have dinner guests at Tuck’s place. That’s not right.”
“Dinner guests?” Lucas snorts. “Grandma and Grant aren’t guests, Mom. They’re part of the hockey family too. We’re all family.”
