Page 19 of Pucking My Off-Limits Billionaire Boss
Max nods, his gaze drifting back to the kids. "Yeah, they were. It's funny how life takes you places you never expect. From the ice rink to running a tavern and raising kids."
Raising my glass slightly, I propose a quiet toast. "To unexpected journeys and lifelong friendships."
Max clinks his beer against mine. "Couldn't have said it better myself, buddy."
"This is the life, huh?" Max says, taking a sip of his beer.
"It really is," I agree, feeling a sense of pride and joy watching Carter and Charlotte. "These moments, they're what it's all about."
The kids chat and laugh, tomato sauce smeared on their faces, completely engrossed in their culinary creations.
As we finish up our pizzas, Carter and Charlotte, their energy seemingly boundless, rush back into the yard to resume their play. The yard, equipped with a small playground, is a child's paradise. There's a swing set, with swings swaying gently in the breeze, beckoning them. Beside it stands a colorful titter-totter, its bright hues vibrant under the evening sun.
Carter makes a beeline for the miniature castle, a wooden structure complete with a slide and a climbing wall. He climbs up with the agility of a little monkey, declaring himself the king of the castle from the top. Charlotte, meanwhile, heads straight for the sandbox, her small fingers eagerly digging into the sand, building and shaping her own little world.
The sound of their laughter and chatter fills the evening air, creating a backdrop of cheerful noise. Carter shouts from atop the slide, beckoning Charlotte to witness his courageous descent. She looks up, clapping her hands in encouragement.
Max takes a pull from his beer, watching them with a smile. "You know, we might as well start planning their wedding now. Save us a lot of hassle down the road," he jokes, nudging me with his elbow.
I chuckle, playing along. "Yeah, one less thing to worry about, right? A strategic alliance between the Rogers and the Deckers."
But then Max's expression shifts, turning more serious. He looks at me with a mix of concern and curiosity. "How have you been really, Jake, after everything with Alyssa?" he asks cautiously, broaching a topic we rarely touch upon.
I take a deep breath, feeling a familiar ache at the mention of her name. "It's been hard, Max," I admit, my voice a shade quieter. "There are days when it feels like I'm just going through the motions, you know?"
Max nods, his face showing understanding and empathy. "I can only imagine, man."
I look out at Carter, his laughter a balm to my soul. "But Carter, he keeps me grounded. Keeps my eye on the puck, so to speak. When I look at him, I know I have to keep going, be strong. For him."
Max places a hand on my shoulder, a gesture of brotherly support. "You're doing a great job with him, Jake. He's a great kid. And you... you're a great dad."
I nod, appreciative of his words. "Thanks, Max. It means a lot, hearing that. Some days are better than others. But having Carter, being back here in Cedarwood, it's helped. It's like I'm finding pieces of myself that I thought were lost."
We fall into a comfortable silence, the kind that comes with years of friendship, where words are often unnecessary. In the distance, Carter and Charlotte are deep in some imaginative game, their world one of simplicity and joy.
Max breaks the silence, his tone lighter now. "So, what's the next big move for Jake Rogers? Cedarwood Tavern's just the beginning, right?"
I smile, feeling a spark of the old ambition stir within me. "Yeah, it's just the start. I've got plans, big ones. But right now, I'm just taking it one day at a time, focusing on getting the Tavern up and running. And, you know, making sure this guy," I gesture towards Carter, "grows up happy and healthy."
"That's the spirit," Max says, raising his beer in a toast. "To new beginnings and old friends."
We clink our bottles together, the sound crisp in the cool evening air.
Max leans back and gives me a knowing look. "Well, while we're on the subject of hard topics, what about the Lucy situation?"
I can't help but laugh, a mix of disbelief and irony coloring my tone. "Man, I have no idea what to do there. I bought the place fair and square. It's business, you know?"
Max nods but there's a playful glint in his eye. "Sure, sure, it's all business. But come on, Jake. You can't tell me there isn't a little part of you that's, let's say, 'interested' in seeing Lucy again. Like back in the day?"
I roll my eyes, even as a faint smile plays on my lips. "Max, it's not like that. All…that, it was years ago. Things change, people change. This is just a complicated situation, that's all."
He chuckles, taking a sip of his beer. "If you say so, man. But, you know, sometimes those old flames don't burn out so easily. They just simmer."
I shake my head, a little more emphatically this time. "No simmering here. Just trying to figure out the best way to handle a tricky situation."
Max raises his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, I'll drop it. But for what it's worth, I think you and Lucy working together could be good for both of you. And for Cedarwood."
I ponder his words, gazing out at the yard where Carter and Charlotte are now chasing fireflies, their laughter ringing through the twilight. "Maybe," I concede, though a part of me still resists the idea. "We'll see what happens."
