Worth the Chance (Watertown University #2)

9. Garrett

Chapter 9

Garrett

W e’re just under three weeks out from our first game, which means weekend morning practices are back. Today, coach is having us scrimmage so we can practice more on working with our lines. I’ve been working with most of the guys on my line since freshman year so we know how to interact with one another, but this year Alex is also on the first line instead of second.

I scored two goals against our new backup goalie, Jared. He’s a freshman with a strong build. I know Bryan has been working with him to get him into top shape. He’s good and I have no doubt he’ll stop a lot of pucks this season. After the scrimmage, Bryan leads the team through a quick cool down to stretch out the muscles and a deep breathing exercise to get our heart rates back down.

Since practice started at six thirty in the morning today I didn’t have much to eat before, just a protein shake and a banana so I’m starving now. I’ve been showering before going back home so as to not make Eliza endure my sweaty smell but today I can’t bring myself to do so, I just want to get home and eat. I grab my gym bag, saying bye to the team and head out to my truck.

When I walk in the front door, a little after ten in the morning, I’m greeted with the sight of Eliza carrying a box that’s almost as tall as her up the stairs.

“What are you doing?” My voice booms through the quiet place, startling her and making her almost fall up the stairs as she trips on the next step. “Fuck,” I whisper to myself before lunging up the first few stairs to meet her. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Well what did you think was going to happen?” She laughs while glaring at me and adjusting her grip on the box.

“Let me help you.” I try to grab the box from her.

“I am perfectly capable of doing this on my own.” That sass is back in her voice.

“I’m sure you are, cupcake. But this box is almost as big as you and after making you almost fall down, I’d like to help.” She eyes me skeptically for a moment and I think she’s going to tell me to fuck off.

“Fine.” She nods her head to the box, allowing me to get a grip on it as she lets go of hers. She continues up the stairs in front of me, her tight yoga pants showing off her pert butt. I take a deep breath in through my nose and out through my mouth, trying to not be enticed by the beauty in front of me.

“What is this anyways?”

“A vanity.” I follow her into her room. A space I haven’t ventured into before. It’s perfectly El. The bed is decorated in plush white bedding, a colorful flower printed throw folded at the end. The window seat is also decorated in an assortment of colorful pillows, light pink, blue and yellow.

“Are you going to build it?”

“I’m going to try.” She shrugs, like it’s no big deal. “How hard can it be?”

“Harder than you think. ”

“Oh, so you doubt me?” Answering that question feels like a trap. I don’t doubt she can do it, I know first hand that younger sisters can be fiercely independent. Aubree would have loved Eliza.

“Garrett?” Eliza waves her hand in front of my face, her eyes softer than before as she takes in the faraway look that I know is written on my face.

“Uh, sorry. No I don’t doubt you, I just wanted to help but if you want to do it on your own then…” I motion to the box I’ve laid on the ground. She stares at the box for a moment before turning back to me.

“I don’t want to.” She laughs a little. “I just don’t like to be doubted. Older brothers and all that.” She waves her hands around.

“I’d never doubt you, El.” She smiles at that but my stomach rumbles before either of us can say more.

“Maybe you should eat breakfast first.” She breaks into a fit of laughter.

“Probably. Did you eat?” Her eyes dart away from mine and I know that’s a no. “C’mon then, we’ll both have something and then we can tackle the vanity.”

Downstairs I whip us both up some pancakes. Eliza puts chocolate chips in hers and opt for blueberries in mine.

“So how was practice?” El asks before taking a bite of her breakfast.

“Good, the team is looking good this year.”

“That’s good.” She nods.

“The guys loved the cookies yesterday, by the way.” The guys gobbled up those cookies so fast yesterday, they were gone approximately one minute after I set them down. Alex practically begged me to bring him some each week.

“Oh, good! I’m glad.” She smiles brightly. We finish our breakfasts in a comfortable silence.

After we’re both stuffed with pancakes we head back upstairs to get to work. I cut open the large box with a knife, neatly arranging all the parts we’ll need before turning my attention to the instructions.

“You're going to read the directions?” Eliza looks at me dubiously.

“Obviously. How else would I know how to put it together?”

“Wing it.” She shrugs.

“I consider myself handy but I’m not Bob the Builder.” My words cause Eliza to break into a fit of laughter. Her laughs come easy, so light and airy that you want to join in. Why am I thinking about her laugh so in depth?

“Reading the instructions is so boring though.” She blows out a breath.

“Do it right or do it twice.” Once I have all the parts arranged, I get to work. I ask Eliza to hand me a few different things but she looks at me funny every time I say the name of the part I need, causing me to have to hold in my laughter.

“Ya know, I just feel like I'm in the way.” She says as I reach around her grabbing the screw I need after she handed me the wrong thing twice. “Maybe I’ll just watch.” She stands and crosses the room, sitting on her bed.

I can feel her eyes on me but I keep my focus on the task at hand. Those hazel eyes with the flecks of gold are too damn tempting, I can’t stare into them or I know I’ll do something utterly stupid.

Something vibrates causing me to look at my phone but the screen is black. “Hi, mom.” Eliza sounds cheery as she answers what must be a phone call. “I’m good, how are you?” The sound of her voice drifts away as she slips out the door.

I know that the whole Mills-Saban crew is close to their mother. I can see why after meeting her briefly last year at Liam’s first game of the season. She has this warm, caring energy about her. Her daughter has a similar one but there’s also an edge to it. There’s a stinging in my chest as I remember when I had that relationship with my own mother. Sadly our relationship has changed over the years. I still love her and we talk occasionally but it’s complicated.

“Sorry about that.” El returns as I finish screwing in the last bolt for the vanity. “Woah, that was fast.” She takes in the finished product. “Thank you. That would’ve taken me all day.”

“No problem.” It was kind of nice to have something to build. It’s not often that I get to do that and it reminds me of simpler times, when my grandpa would show me how to make things with my bare hands. He was a contractor when he was young but when he retired he had his own little business of building things like homemade tables or chairs. I always loved going over to his house and working in his garage with him when I was younger. He unfortunately passed when I was about eight. It was hard for my family but we got through it. We had each other. That’s not the case anymore but thankfully at the time my parents were there when I needed them.