Page 21 of Cheap Shot
“But Momma…” I head toward her but feel Beau’s hand on my shoulder, pulling me to a stop.
“Let this one go, Cole.”
I stare at Momma for a few more moments, wondering what happened suddenly, but come up empty. Is she scared of me? Afraid to be alone in the house with her own son? I can’t say I blame her if she is.
Maybe I can get a room somewhere for the night and give her some space. I could call Alise, but there’s no way I’ll get away without having to explain why I suddenly want to hang out with her after being in town for eight weeks and never picking up the phone to call her. Does she even have her own place here in Redwood Falls, or is she still living with Auntie Peggy? Either way, it’s a bad idea. That leaves going to stay in the city with Beau or getting a room at the bed-and-breakfast here in town. I do not want to take the chance of running into Cooper, so the bed-and-breakfast it is. It’ll only be for a few days.
“If you’re sure, Momma.” I plant a kiss on the top of her head, pulling her into my chest. I expect her to jump at my touch or even shy away from it, but she does the opposite. Momma turns in my arms, wrapping both of hers around my waist and burying her nose in my chest.
“It’s so good to have you home.” Her voice cracks slightly as she pulls back, tears pooling in her eyes. “Now, go have fun with your brother. I promise to have snickerdoodles ready for you.”
My mind is reeling at the tears in her eyes, but I don’t have the strength to ask her why she’s crying. “Love you, Momma.”
“Love you, too, sweet boy. Always have and always will.”
“Even when I’m being an out-of-control asshole?” I question, causing her to smack me hard in the center of the chest.
A small giggle escapes from her lips before she schools her features into a stern mask.“Language, Cole Hendix. I know you haven’t been home in a while, but swearing still doesn’t fly here.”
“Sorry, Momma.”
“But the answer is yes. I still love you, even when you’re being an out-of-control asshole.”
“Momma, language!” Beau shouts from beside us, wrapping his arm around both of us in a tight hug.“I feel like I should say asshole just to be one of the cool kids.”
Momma opens her mouth to chastise him, but he places a finger on her lips. “I know, language.”
Momma swats at his hand, narrowing her eyes at both of us before stepping out of our group embrace. “Get out of my kitchen before I change my mind about those snickerdoodles.”
“Don’t have to tell us twice. Let's get out of here, Cole. We have a lacrosse game to attend.” Beau wraps his arm around my neck and pulls me out of the kitchen toward the front door.
“When did you start giving a crap about any sport besides hockey?” I ask, trying to pull from his grasp and failing. It’s my shoulder. I don’t want to risk tearing something again by trying too hard to get away from my brother. One wrong turn could set all my progress back weeks. It has nothing to do with the fact that Beau’s grip is much stronger than the average person’s.
“When my little brother decided to play lacrosse during the off-season. He wants to make the varsity team at the high school next year. Be the first freshman in history to manage that since the three of us went through there.”
“Remy said something about you taking part in somegiving back to the communitycrap Cooper came up with to ease his conscience.”
The Big Brother Big Sister program’s goal is to help children achieve success in school, avoid risky behaviors, and improve their self-confidence. It’s the perfect place for kids to find themselves and get a little direction from an adult. Man, I wish Momma had thought to put me into something like this after Dad died. Maybe things would have turned out a little different for me because all I had was Cooper, and he’s the last person I would confide in for anything.
“You need to cut Copper some slack, bro. He’s been carrying a lot more on his shoulders than any of us could’ve imagined.”
I sigh loudly, not wanting to get into a conflict with Beau. We have a tentative peace for now, and it’s kind of nice. Maybe I can work a little harder to keep it going. So, instead of making another crack about Cooper and his publicity stunts, I change the subject to safer territory. “Kyle didn’t make varsity?”
“He didn’t even go to tryouts and was automatically put on the Junior Varsity team, but only after Copper made a phone call.” Beau holds open the door and makes a show of ushering me out the door.
“Surprised he didn’t demand he be made a starter.” I chuckle, but I don’t step out the door. “Before we go, I need to grab some stuff from my room. I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Cooper would never do that. Besides, it was his fault Kyle didn’t go to tryouts in the first place.” Beau pushes the door shut and hustles down the hall after me.
“You don’t need anything but your winning smile.”
I roll my eyes at him before making my way down to my room at the end of the hall. Growing up, this was Cooper’s room. It was the biggest out of the five in the house, had the best view of the mountains, and its own bathroom. I remember when Momma switched mine and Cooper’s room when I turned sixteen, making the excuse that I needed more space, but we all knew that had nothing to do with it. She was bribing me, hoping I would stay. Even then, I had one foot out of the door, whether it was to go to college on the other side of the state or to play professional hockey.
“I’m not trying to duck out on you, Beau. I’ll go to the stupid lacrosse game with you. I just need to grab a bag and some stuff for tomorrow.”
“Huh?” Beau pushes in front of me, blocking me from opening the door. “Got a hot date you didn’t tell your big brother about?”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I stare at him. “Move, Beau. And no, I don’t have a hot date. Not that my dating status is any of your business, but now I'm going to get a room at the bed-and-breakfast in town for the night.”
