I hate that Maisy took off after the game. Lola told me her stomach felt off, but it’s strange that she hasn’t messaged me. Or answered my phone calls.
I sigh as I slide out of my truck. Losing to the Hawks was fucking brutal. Not because I didn’t see it coming but because I took some hard hits and couldn’t get ahead of my opponents no matter how hard I tried. With my woman and daughter looking on, I tried really fucking hard.
Exhaustion weighs down my limbs as I walk toward my front door.
“Cheer up, buttercup,” a voice calls out.
My head snaps up and I freeze. “You gotta be fucking kidding me.”
Asher grins and stands from the top step of my porch. “Can’t be all that bad, big brother. I’m here.” He opens his arms wide, and I barrel toward him, catching him in a hard hug. Ash laughs and smacks my back while I pound his with my fist.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I pull back and clasp his shoulder. His face is tan, his eyes blazing, his smile easy. Just like I remember. “I haven’t seen you since—”
“My trip to Vietnam.”
“Yeah, that was over a year ago. What are you doing here?”
Ash shrugs. “Didn’t want to miss family weekend.”
The fact that he would fly into town for Lola’s weekend causes gratitude to rush my system. Raising a baby girl as a single dad wasn’t easy, but for most of the hard parts, and the majority of the good moments, Asher always had my back. “Thank you.”
His grin widens. “Come on. I know I’m flaky, but when have I ever not shown up?”
“Never.” I unlock the front door and push it open. “How long are you here for?”
“Just till Monday. Then I’m heading to Charleston. I’m catching a fishing charter boat headed toward Panama at the end of the week.”
“I can’t keep up with you,” I grumble, taking his bag from his shoulder and tossing it on the floor.
My brother chuckles, his eyes scanning my home. “You gotta nice place.”
“Thanks.”
“It could use a woman’s touch.”
I ignore his comment and head into the kitchen. Pulling two Coronas from the fridge, I pop the caps and drop two limes inside. Passing one to Asher, we cross the necks of the bottles before taking long pulls.
“What happened with Maisy?” he asks gently.
“Nothing.”
“Come on, man. I’m your brother.”
I shake my head. “Honestly, until about two hours, everything was fucking great.”
“And two hours ago…”
I shrug, taking another sip of my beer. “I don’t know. I’m meeting her family on Sunday. She sat in the family box at the game tonight. With Lola.”
Asher leans his shoulder into mine. “That’s big. And Lol likes her.”
“I know. But after the game, I couldn’t find her. Lola told me Maisy bounced. Something about a stomach bug.”
“So?” Asher lifts his eyebrow. “Maybe she didn’t feel well.”
I shake my head, scraping my palm over my beard. “Nah. I mean, maybe not. But it’s more than that. She’s dodging my phone calls, not responding to my texts.” I guzzle another gulp of beer. “Something’s off. I can feel it.”
I meet Asher’s amused expression. The longer he stares at me, the more serious he becomes. “You really think so?”
I nod.
“Damn. If it was any other guy, I’d say you’re kicking up drama. But not you, Axe. You hold everyone at arm’s length until you let them in. Then, you care too much, get in too deep. You have any idea what could have spurred her to leave?”
I shake my head, confused and worried. Upset and annoyed. “Not a clue.”
Asher shrugs and tosses an arm around my shoulder. “Free advice?”
“As if I’d ever pay you for it.”
He laughs. “Let it lie tonight. Kick it with your brother and get a good night’s sleep. Then, tomorrow, figure out where the hell you messed up and make it right with Maisy. She’s good for you, man. I haven’t heard you so happy in years and Lola agrees.”
“You talked to Lola about me?”
He gives me a look. “Of course. There’s literally no one else in your life who enjoys gossiping about you except me and Lol.”
I snort. “Tell me about Patagonia.”
We relocate to the living room and Asher launches into details about his trip. I listen to his wild tales, half in envy, mostly in awe. We laugh and joke, catching up on a year of conversation and bonding.
When I retire for the night, I’m grateful for Asher’s surprise visit. Being with my brother always centers me, infuses my daily grind with a lightness I lack. But tonight, his arrival gave me a gift. A distraction from Maisy and the uncertainty about where we stand.
Me: You feeling better?
I frown as I wait for Maisy to respond. I still haven’t heard from her and, if it wasn’t for Devon telling me that Mila met Maisy for breakfast this morning, I’d be concerned about her well-being. Now, I’m fucking concerned about our relationship.
Last night, I could almost believe that she didn’t feel well and fell asleep early. But today, I know something’s wrong. I don’t like it. It leaves me unsettled, jittery. I hate feeling like I’ve lost control and right now, it feels like I’m about to lose my grip and spin out.
“Dad!”
I look up. “Huh?”
Lola rolls her eyes. “Where are you today?”
“Sorry,” I mutter, shaking my head. “What’d you say?”
“We’re meeting Mom, Ben, and the boys at the restaurant. Are you almost ready?”
I glance down at my jeans and black T-shirt. “Yeah.”
Lola gives me an almost sympathetic look. Then, she walks into my room and reappears, holding out a blue polo. “At least wear a collar.”
“Yeah, Axel. At least wear a collar,” my brother repeats. Asher appears in the doorway looking suave and put together in a button-down shirt and dark jeans. It’s a complete turnaround from the surfer boy look he rocked last night.
That’s my brother, a true chameleon. He can have tea with royalty, conversing on international relations, as easily as working on a coffee plantation in Guatemala, slinging jokes in Spanish.
Lola grins. “I’m so glad you’re here, Uncle Ash. Thanks for coming.”
“Always, kid,” Asher replies.
Sighing, I change my shirt.
Lola smiles. “Great.” She glances at her watch. “We better get going.”
Asher and I follow her outside to my truck. I check my phone one last time. Nothing from Maisy. I sigh, my worry morphing into unease, as I slide behind the steering wheel.
During the drive to the restaurant, Lola fills me in on her week, on an awful date Jas went on—she met the guy on Jdate but she’s not Jewish so as far as her date’s view on her being “misleading,” I’d have to agree with him—and on her midterm exams.
Asher shares a story about a woman he met hiking and the incredible night they spent together when an unexpected rainstorm forced them to take shelter in the middle of a rainforest.
“What happened? Did you keep in touch?” Jas leans forward from the back seat.
Asher shrugs. “Nah, didn’t get her last name.”
“Uncle Asher! Are you serious?” Jasmine continues to lecture him, but I tune them out.
My heart’s not in it because I’m caught up on Maisy. Did something happen at the game? Is she having second thoughts about me meeting her family on Sunday? Will I see her tomorrow?
“You should have invited her,” Lola muses, breaking into my thoughts.
“What?” I glance at her in the rearview mirror.
“Maisy,” Lola says. “I was surprised she wasn’t coming to dinner tonight.”
Next to me, Asher groans.
“Huh?”
Lola rolls her eyes. “She said you didn’t mention it. But really, Dad?” Eyebrow raise. “Mom would have been happy to add one more to the reservation.”
“Right.” I slide my palm over the steering wheel. “Isn’t it too soon?”
Asher shakes his head, reaching out to smack the back of mine.
“Ouch!” I duck.
“What?” Lola looks confused.
“Isn’t it too soon for me to introduce Maisy to everyone?”
“She knows the team.”
“Yeah, but that’s work. This is…family weekend.”
Lola narrows her eyes. “For my college. It’s totally a casual vibe.”
“And she invited you to meet her family,” my brother adds.
“Right,” I say again, wondering if I messed this up. Should I have asked Maisy to come today?
“You’re meeting them on Sunday, aren’t you?” Lola asks, falling back in her seat and banging her head against the headrest. “Dad,” her tone is disappointed.
I work a swallow, connecting the dots. “Yeah.” I merge onto the highway.
“So, you should have invited Maisy to dinner. Mom and Ben would love to meet her,” Lola says.
“So would I,” Asher points out.
“Next time,” I mutter, my thoughts all over the place.
Is that what happened? Is Maisy upset that I didn’t invite her? Should I have invited her? I never bring women around my family and, well, Asher, Anna, Ben, and their sons are my family. The only ones I have left since my parents passed.
Of course, I know they’d be thrilled for me if I met a woman to share my life with. Are Maisy and I there yet? She’s still moving on from Josh, settling into her new job, and…introducing me to her family.
Fuck. I messed this up big time.
My phone chirps in the center console. Asher gives me a look, but I shake my head. The last thing I want is for Asher to read my text message to me. Especially if it’s from Maisy, fibbing about how she’s fine when she’s clearly put out with me.
I should have invited her to dinner. I should have asked her to join family weekend with us. I should have and yet, I didn’t.
“You should take Maisy fishing,” Lola comments, interrupting my thoughts.
“Fishing?” I ask.
“You haven’t taken her yet?” Asher gives me a look. “Do you need me to move here?”
I slug him in the shoulder.
“Fishing,” Lola confirms. “That thing you like to do on weekends. You know, fresh air, peaceful, could maybe be romantic if you pack a picnic and don’t hound her with fish facts the whole time.”
“Hm,” I grunt. “Fishing.”
Lola sighs. Asher swears. I stew in the mess I’ve created, in the knowledge that I’ve let Maisy down.
My first date with Maisy, the one at Le Papillon where I wanted to knock Cohen’s smile off his face, flits through my mind. We had talked about fishing.
Have I not included Maisy in my life enough? We sleep at each other’s houses a handful of nights each week. I see her at work and take her on dates. We talk and share meals. The sex is off the fucking charts.
But am I missing a crucial piece to this puzzle? Am I letting her down without realizing it? Is she growing tired of my inability to commit the way she wants me to?
That’s what sent Marisol packing. And it wasn’t a year later that she walked down the aisle into the arms of another man. Anger beads in my veins, furiously zipping through my body, at the thought of losing Maisy to someone else. Of sending her into the arms of a man who isn’t me.
Last night, I looked up and saw her cradling Scotch’s son Fox in her arms and I felt like I got punched in the throat. I could see the longing in her expression. She held Fox like he’s a treasure and, he is, but more than that, a treasure she wants for herself.
I glance in the mirror at Lola. Beautiful, smart, and grown at twenty-one years old.
Could I have another kid? Could I grow another family, the way Anna has with Ben? I glare out the windshield at the unassuming road ahead.
Do I want that? Does Maisy? Do we have a chance at creating that together?
“Dad, you’re going to miss the exit.” Lola points to the upcoming sign.
For once, Asher doesn’t comment.
I flip on the turn signal and change lanes. Right now, I need to focus on dinner and be present for Lola’s family weekend. Then, Maisy and I need to talk. Or clear the air. Or understand what the hell is going on between us.
Maisy: I’m fine. Just crazy busy. I’ll be at my parents’ house early tomorrow so just come by around 5.
I reread her message, complete with her parents’ address, for the third time. Did she lie about not feeling well just to avoid me? What the hell would make her crazy busy between coming down with a stomach bug, seeing Mila for breakfast, and a handful of hours ago?
“You’ve barely eaten,” Anna comments across from me.
When I look up, I meet the eyes of Lola’s mother. Kind, unguarded, and concerned. I sigh. Anna and I kill it at co-parenting. Over the past two decades, we’ve become close friends and I consider her husband, Ben, to be one of my closest friends too. If I was going to confide in anyone about the wariness I feel about this thing brewing between Maisy and me, it’d be Asher and them. But…what the hell is even brewing between Maisy and me?
“What’s going on?” Anna prods. She slips her son Damien a twenty-dollar bill. “I thought I saw an arcade next door.”
Damien’s eyes light up and he shoves his brother Adrian. “Dude, arcade?”
“Duh.” Adrian stands from his chair. Shooting me a sly glance, he holds out a hand.
Chuckling, I slap a twenty in his palm.
“Ah, now you’re spoiling them,” Ben jokes, standing as well. “I’ll go supervise.” He kisses Anna’s head. “Come on, Lol. I want to hear more about Jasmine’s disaster of a date.”
Lola gives me a curious look, but at her stepdad’s prodding, she follows along.
Ben and Anna both give Asher a look, but he shrugs, sliding closer to the conversation by slipping into Lola’s vacated chair. “I traveled a long way for the real gossip.”
I snort.
Anna picks up her wine glass and takes a sip. We’ve been sitting around this table for over two hours, our family catching up, sharing silly stories, and joking around. We’ve celebrated Lola’s success in her coding program, lifted a glass to Damien’s scholarship prospects, and applauded Adrian landing the lead in his school play. Ben blushed as Anna filled me in on his new promotion and Ben’s eyes gleamed with pride as he told Lola how Anna’s hair salon was named Seattle’s top salon this year. And, as usual, Asher had us all riveted with stories from the incredible adventures he’s had over the past year.
Everyone was in sync and present. Everyone had great news to share. Technically, even me. But I’ve been distracted, my thoughts caught up on Maisy and the way she’s avoiding me.
Did something happen? Or is it me? Has she come to her senses and realized I’m only a rebound? Does she not know how to tell me because we work for the Bolts? Or because she doesn’t want to let me down?
“Axe?”
I look up, catch the worry in Anna’s eyes.
I sigh gruffly and grip the back of my neck. Leaning back in my chair, I cross my arms over my chest. “I met someone.”
Asher’s hand lands on my shoulder, supportive.
In one heartbeat, Anna’s concern dissipates and a hopeful joy flashes in her eyes. Still, her words are cautious, her tone hesitant. She knows how much I suck at talking, at discussing my feelings. Hell, it’s one of the reasons why we didn’t work out years before I blew it with Marisol. Carefully, she asks, “Who is she? How did you meet?” Her gaze shifts to Asher.
He dips his head. “I only know a smidge more than you.”
“Hence, why you stayed instead of decimating my boys at pinball,” Anna says.
Asher lifts his beer and takes a long drink, smacking his lips. “Exactly.”
I glance at the ceiling, half of me dreading this conversation, half of me relieved I have my brother and another adult, a female, to get advice from. “Her name is Maisy. I met her over the summer. Her best friend is dating one of my teammates but now, she’s working for the Bolts and…” And I blab out the whole fucking story like one of Lola’s drunk sorority sisters seeking validation.
When I’m finished, Anna’s rolling her lips together and I can tell she’s fighting a smile.
Asher’s less subtle. He chuckles loudly before polishing off his beer.
“What?” I give Anna a pointed look.
“I’m happy for you, Axel. You deserve this.”
“Anna, I’m telling you she’s avoiding me. She’s barely responding to my messages and—”
“You hurt her feelings,” she cuts me off, saying the words like they’re obvious. “You should have invited her today. You should have included her in meeting your family since she went out on a limb and invited you to meet hers.”
“That.” Asher points at Anna.
“Fuck,” I mutter, hanging my head. “You know, when Lola mentioned it—”
“Lola figured it out before you?” Her smile is gentle.
“You got a smart kid,” Asher tells me. “Be a proud parent for a second.”
I glare back.
“It’s time, Axel,” Anna murmurs.
My glare turns toward her. Anna’s smile grows.
“It’s time to let someone in. It’s been too many years and you’ve been on your own for too long. I know you don’t have a lot of experience dating—” she holds up a hand when I open my mouth to defend myself. “And that’s okay; that was your choice. But if you care about this woman, Maisy, enough to be twisted up over her, focused on what’s wrong when you’re out for Lola, then she means something to you. That’s telling, Axel. That matters. Don’t lose her.”
“I agree,” Asher chimes in.
I roll my eyes. “Why are you still here?”
My brother grins, looking between Anna and me. “It’s like old times, isn’t it?”
Anna laughs. “Axel and I having serious conversations and you just—”
“Providing the comic relief? Exactly,” Asher fills in.
Anna shakes her head, amused.
“So, what do I do?” I redirect the conversation.
“Talk to her. You need to communicate. Have you let her in? Truly, let her in?” Anna asks.
I clear my throat, shaking my head once.
“Why?” Anna’s voice is gentle, like she’s talking to a scared child. The way she used to comfort Lola when she was a little kid and had a bad dream or an argument with a friend.
“I don’t want to be her rebound.”
“And that was a perfectly acceptable excuse before you started caring for her. Now, it’s just an excuse. If you were her rebound, she wouldn’t bring you to her parents’ house for Sunday dinner.”
“I didn’t want to overthink it,” I toss out.
Anna laughs. “When have you not overthought anything, Axel?”
“True story,” Asher adds.
I frown. “I don’t know if I can give her the life she wants.”
Asher heaves out a sigh and gestures to the server that he’ll take another beer.
“What life does she want?” Anna leans back and crosses her arms over her chest, mirroring me.
I roll my eyes. “A husband, kids.”
Anna nods. “You’ve talked about starting a family?”
“Not exactly,” I say sullenly.
“Then, how do you—”
“She’s a twenty-eight-year-old woman with a heart of gold. She’s the kind of woman who should be a mother because she’s always giving, always thinking about others. Caring.”
“I can’t wait to meet her,” Asher says, his tone serious.
“And she wants to be a mother?” Anna lifts a perfectly shaped eyebrow.
“Yes. She’s told me she wants kids. Then, I saw her, last night, at the game. She was in the family box, with Lola.”
Anna smiles, leaning closer as if to encourage me to keep talking. I do.
“She was holding my coach’s kid. A baby boy. And her face… Anna, if you could have seen her expression.”
Understanding sweeps Anna’s expression. “You don’t want to let her down.”
“I’d rather let you wax my back again.”
Asher snorts and then, we all start laughing.
“That was a disaster,” Anna mutters, recalling the incident in which I attempted this awful form of torture. “Ben and I still laugh about it.”
“I tell it as an icebreaker on my travels,” Asher admits.
I snort, swiping his fresh beer and taking the first sip.
“I’m letting you have that because you need it,” my brother grumbles.
“Thanks,” I mutter. “I don’t want to break her heart. I don’t want to let Lola down,” I tack on.
“Lola?” Asher asks.
“Lola?” Anna looks surprised. “Axel, Lola is a woman. She’s going to graduate college and forge her own path in the world. You are an amazing father, one of the best I’ve ever known. Your commitment to Lola and to the family unit we somehow managed to pull off is admirable. But you can’t follow Lola around for the rest of your life.”
“Can’t follow me around either,” Asher laments.
Anna continues, “Not even for the rest of your career. You’ve gotta let her go out and live for herself. And you need to live your life for you. Trust me when I tell you, Lola doesn’t want you to do that alone. None of us do.”
Silence fills the space between us as I process Anna’s words. “Lola said that?”
Anna dips her head. “She worries about you. She worries what will happen if she gets a job offer or meets a man or goes off and decides to travel…she doesn’t know what you’d do.”
I close my eyes, feeling like a failure even though Anna just built up my parenting skills. “That’s a lot of pressure on a young adult.”
“It is.”
“I don’t want her to feel that way.”
“Of course not. It’s hard, letting them grow up and become their own people, isn’t it?”
“This shit wasn’t in the manual.”
Anna laughs. “None of it was.” Her eyes move to the window, to the arcade. “But we did all right.”
“You guys did more than all right,” Asher says, being serious.
“Yeah,” I agree, taking a swig of my Coke. “What if it doesn’t work out? With Maisy?”
“If you want it to, it will.” Asher takes back his beer.
Anna tilts her head. “If it doesn’t work out, then you move on and put yourself out there again. You’re not the kind of man who is supposed to live his whole life following around the dreams of his daughter and occasionally casting a fishing pole.”
I chuckle. “Yeah? Who am I then?”
“A man that gives. Just like the woman you described. Talk to her, Axel. Give her your best.”
“Which is better than what you’ve been giving her,” Asher adds, wanting to have the last word.
For being a good brother and showing up, I let him have it.