67.1 - In Need Of A Cool Off
Ashley's PoV
Aiden had been really great with me and Dylan. His daughter Cailyn idolized Dylan and followed her around like a lost puppy. We found it adorable and my daughter didn't seem to mind. She was so afraid that Anton and Cailyn wouldn't like her but it was quite the opposite.
Anton was impressed with his cousins' hockey skills. He played for fun with his friends but never joined a team. I heard that Lucas always managed to beat him on a game of one on one so when Dylan joined in the game, he was pretty much defeated.
"Can you imagine what it would've been like if they all grew up together?" Spencer sat down beside me on the couch as we watched Dylan, Hannah and Cailyn colour while Lucas and Anton played a game on his game system.
"God, it'd be like our group all over again." Kyla snorted from her side of the couch. "Of course with less drama because they're all related."
Aiden chuckled. "Yea, that is true."
"Not that it stopped drama the first time." Spencer raised an eyebrow between me and Aiden.
"Hey, it was your fault." I scowled and looked over at Aiden for support.
"It was not!" Spencer looked shocked when Aiden agreed with me. "How was it my fault?"
"You're hot?" Aiden raised an eyebrow and was smacked in the stomach by Kyla. "I meant you were hot?"
"Oh if you wanna put the blame on how I look, go after my parents." Spencer nodded firmly and laced her fingers through mine. "Right baby?"
I just smiled back and kissed her cheek. "So, do you mind if I steal Lucas away for a bit later?"
Lucas heard her name and instantly paused the game while scrambling over to the couch. I placed my hand on her shoulder and squeezed it, sharing a small knowing smile.
"Yea mom, please?" Lucas pouted and I noticed a look of curiousity spread over Spencer's face. "She promised me that she'd take me out to eat, just the two of us and then we ended up here instead, so please?"
Spencer chewed on her bottom lip and smirked. "I don't know why you have to ask to take your own daughter out somewhere."
"Awww!" Kyla and Aiden sighed and clutched their hearts.
Lucas just beamed and stood up, throwing a pillow at the back of Anton's head. "Sorry loser, I'm going out with Momma for a bit, I'll kick your butt later."
Anton snorted and reset the game. "Whatever Carlin, I'll kick your butt one of these days."
My heart swelled over the 'Momma' part and Spencer pulled me in for a kiss.
"Will we be expecting you back for dinner?"
"Definitely." I nodded and was being pulled up by a hyper eleven year old.
"Can I come?" Dylan stopped colouring and stood up to grab Lucas' hand. "Please?"
Lucas and I shared a look before the miniature Spencer nodded and whispered something in Dylan's ear. I watched Dylan's eyes go wide and she pinky promised her sister the silent agreement and ran towards the door to grab her coat and boots.
"So everyone gets to go but me?" Spencer came up behind me and nuzzled my neck, placing a soft kiss there.
I smiled and turned around, gently cupping her cheeks and kissing her lightly. "The girls and I need some time to get to know each other without the head Carlin wanting to hog the limelight."
Spencer frowned in mock-offence and then grinned. "Have fun and drive safe."
"Always babe." I kissed her quickly and then joined the girls at the door. "We'll probably be about an hour or so."
"Dinner's at five, don't be late!" I heard Paula yell from the kitchen. Spencer and I shared a laugh while she rolled her eyes.
"See you soon."
"Soon." Spencer sighed and squeezed my hands before letting go.
"Ugh, come on Momma!" Lucas tugged on me again and Dylan waved bye to Spencer.
--
Alex's PoV
"What made you come here for a visit?" I asked Carmen as she sat down at my kitchen table with a beer in her hand.
"Everyone I practically know in Kenora is all here." She smirked. "I could hang out with Chase and Eph, but they're married so how much fun would that be?"
"I don't know," Sammy cut in with a sly grin gracing her features, "you seem pretty into them. Somehow I doubt you hanging out there with them all alone would bother you in any way."
"All right," Carmen grabbed Sammy's hand and squeezed it, "you caught me. I just wanted an excuse to come see you."
I had to admit that even though Carmen and Sammy were dating, the fact that I was able to be the first person to spend with Sam since she got back from New Zealand – it was a more than honourable feeling. I watched the two share a gaze and I averted my eyes while swallowing the rest of my beer before getting up to grab another.
"You're so corny." Sam sighed and I heard a kissing noise and rolled my eyes.
It wasn't like Sammy was mine to be jealous over, right? But she confessed everything she was feeling for me the night before and was now making out with her girlfriend under my roof.
Yes, I was aware I needed to grow up but it all seemed unfair to me.
If anything, I wish Tracey were around so I didn't have to feel so alone.
"So when will you be heading back to work?" I asked Carmen nicely, referring to her hockey career.
"In about three weeks." Carmen smiled softly. "It's nice to have some time off and not think about all the hard work and travelling, but I guess I miss it."
I knew Spencer missed it a lot more. Her accident that caused her knee to snap cost her, her whole hockey career but she bounced back and decided to Coach, keeping it in her system.
"And when will you be touring again?" Carmen asked me, her perfect eyebrow raising slightly.
"February." I shifted my gaze towards Sammy. "I'll be going down to Australia to kick off the World Tour."
"Oh really?" Sammy smiled genuinely and licked her lips before taking a sip of her vodka cooler, "which area? I'll be doing some pieces in Melbourne and Sydney in February."
I knew that already because she told me that it was something she was extremely looking forward too. "Sydney will be the main spot. I'll probably do three shows before starting off onto the travelling part."
"Will Tracey be with you?" Sam asked.
I shook my head and took a sip of my beer again. "Nah, she likes to be with me on the tour but if it's going to start the moment she gets her time off, I doubt she'll want to travel more."
"That's a shame," Carmen shrugged softly, "you two will most likely just miss each other when the time comes."
"It always seems to be that way." I nodded slowly and then the room became quiet. I slapped the table and forced a small smile, "but we always manage somehow to spend time together."
Sammy's blue eyes caught mine and I couldn't tear my own away from hers. Then I felt her hand on my knee and she squeezed gently. "It'll work out."
I managed to nod dumbly and felt Carmen's grey eyes on me. I closed my eyes briefly before biting my bottom lip and standing up. "It's late, I think I should try and get some rest. I never know when Tracey will make it back and I don't want to be drunk or tired for the welcome home part."
Carmen finally cracked a smile and gave me a high five. "Yea, I should get Sammy out of your hair. She's been taking all of your alone time away."
"I didn't mind." I said with a soft smile. "Sam's great company."
"The best." Sam grinned but allowed her arm to snake around Carmen's waist. "Get some rest; I'd hate to tell you that you look like shit one of these days."
"Not possible," I smirked, "I'll always be hot to you."
"Okay," Carmen laughed and ushered Sammy towards my front door, "with the heat you two stir up in a room, I'm going to start to think there's something going on."
"Ha, Samantha wishes." I quirked an eyebrow and leaned against the wall in my foyer. "Don't you?"
"In your dreams, Alexis." Sammy stared at me for a few seconds before opening the door to allow the cold winter air come in. "Cool off for a bit." She winked and grabbed Carmen's hand, tugging her outside. "I'll call you tomorrow."
"Sounds good." I swallowed and when the door was shut, I pressed my forehead against it and tried to contain the speeding pace my heart was making. I wasn't even aware of it until the couple was out of sight.
"Get a fucking grip, Alex." I whispered and turned off the lights downstairs.
A nice hot bath was in order. Maybe I'd be able to figure something out.
--
Next time in Points Underneath:
"My parents realized who your parents were and forbid me to hang out with you or them."
"Oh." Wow, hi heart, laying on the floor of the Dodge Charger. "Yea, well that does suck."
"You didn't think I'd fall for their bullshit, did you?" Eliza looked at me briefly before we turned into the parking lot of Tim Hortons. "Please Jai, I really like you and it'll take a lot more than my parents telling me I can't be near you, to make me stop seeing you."
