Page 46 of The Golden Goalie

“I did. Did you?” she asks.

I nod and start to make a cup of tea—my new drink of choice until I can drink coffee again. Of course at this point, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to drink it again. Just the thought of it makes me sick. While my tea is steeping, I take a seat. “I’m thinking about seeing if Bri is free today.”

My mom’s head pops up. “Really?”

I stir my tea. “Yeah.” I sit there a moment thinking and then pull out my phone to text Bri.

Me-hey, i heard Aiden’s gone for a little bit. want to come over and hang out with mom and me? or we could come to you?

It takes me a moment to work up the courage to send it. She responds almost immediately.

Bri-yes! i’ll get ready and head over within the hour

Me-sounds good

I put my phone back down and take a sip of tea. “Bri’s going to come over.”

“Really?” A smile breaks out on my mom’s face. “That’s great.”

After a few more sips of tea, I push back from the table. “I’m going to go get a shower before she gets here.”

“Okay, Honey.” I'm almost out of earshot when she calls out, “I’m proud of you, Amber.”

I smile as I head to the shower. After showering, I feel better and feel ready to face my mom and sister. I slip on my comfiest sweatpants and oversized sweatshirt and throw my wet hair into a braid. I get about thirty minutes to work on my paper before I hear Bri’s voice in the living room. I take a deep breath and then head out there.

I watch as Brielle gives my mom a hug and then pulls out a container of something. She’s talking a mile a minute to my mom, and my mom just smiles, taking it all in. I make my feet move forward into the kitchen. “Hey Bri.”

She spins around. “Hey, Amber.” She stands there a moment, and I walk into the kitchen further, determined to make it a good day.

“So, Aiden’s gone for a few days, right? Rico said they have a set of away games.” I don’t immediately notice the silence because I’m standing at the stove.

“You talk to Rico?” she asks.

I turn around with a mug of tea in hand. “Aiden didn’t tell you about their little intervention at my work?”

Bri’s eyes widen. “What? No, but we’ve been like ships passing in the night this week. We've barely had a chance to talk. What happened?”

“Was it that Cal guy?” my mom asks.

I sit at the table and tell them all about how the guys came to the library. Bri leans back in her chair. “I can’t believe Aiden didn’t tell me any of that. That Cal sounds like a real piece of work.”

I nod. “He is. How are things going for you? Are you gearing up to open your shop soon?”

“Yes!” Brielle runs a gourmet hot chocolate shop in Christmas Village next to the outdoor skating rink in the center of town in Bluebell Valley, about thirty minutes from here.

“I can’t believe Thanksgiving is only three weeks away.”

I blink at my mom in surprise. “Is it really? That’s crazy.”

“Yeah, I open my shop in two weeks,” Brielle says.

“If you need help, let me know,” I say as I take another sip of tea.

“Really?”

I pause. “Uh, yeah.” I glance between Bri and my mom. “What?”

“You’ve just never offered to help before,” Bri says.

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