Redeeming Heart

Good taste

Jonah understood when Brandon suggested changing positions and had Jake demonstrate the position they thought he would be fit for.

Jonah was having a blast with Brandon and his friends making me almost green with envy when his skills were slowly improving to a point where he even considered changing positions.

We stayed behind to watch them practice and I had to be honest, I was awestruck by their speed, agility gliding around on the ice while pushing the puck around. They were without a doubt tough on each other when it came to defending but they respected each other all the way.

I answered my phone when Meredith called, she was just wondering when we will be home. I noticed the time and realized we have to leave now or I am going to be late for my shift at the pub.

I shoved Jonah’s things into his bags and tapped him on the shoulder. “Come on, we have to get going. My shift starts in an hour and I still have to take a shower.” I told him and got him to actually start moving even if he was pouting at me.

“Can I at least say goodbye to Brandon?” He begged, coming to a sudden halt in front of me.

“Fine, but just a goodbye- not a whole conversation.” He nodded and ran over back over to where he was standing.

The girl I met, Ashley was already embracing Brandon when he finished up and she almost gave Jonah an impolite look but she met my eyes and decided otherwise.

Brandon looked up at me when Jonah probably told him we had to leave. I frowned when Brandon made his way over to where I was standing. “At least let me give you guys a lift. I made you stay late.” He offered.

“That’s really not going to be necessary. I agreed and forgot about the time.” I said to him and watch him loosen his skates and take them off in a blink of an eye.

“Adams, I know you are stubborn but I can have you home a lot quicker than what it will take you to walk.” He exclaimed, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Fine,” I drawled with a dull tone.

“Can you just hold this for me? I just have to get my bags.” He asked, holding his hockey stick out to me.

I took it from him and watched him run over to the locker rooms. I then gave Jonah a knowing look. “You are so behind all of this, aren’t you?”

He pulled up his shoulders, pretending to be a good and innocent kid. “At least you will have enough time for that shower you are looking forward to.”

He wasn’t wrong but I wasn’t going to admit it to him.

Brandon made his way back over to us, this time wearing shorts and a shirt. How he changed so fast was a mystery to me.

“Come on,” He said to us, taking his hockey stick from me and thanking me.

We followed him out and over to a black Dodge Challenger and for a moment, I had to catch my breath when I took in this beast of a muscle car.

Where was Camille when you need her? She would definitely throw a few fits and maybe pass out when she has to see this model.

“1970, model?” I asked, handing Brandon our bags when he held his hands out to me.

He seemed surprised that I would know. “Yeah, you know about cars?”

I nodded. “Only because of my friend who is a mechanical engineer and is working for a race team,” I explained.

“She sounds badass.” He noted.

“Oh, you have no idea,” I remarked. Camille was one bad-ass chick that I have ever met and I can only dream of becoming like her one day.

Jonah let me sit in front while he took the back.

A real smile unfolded on my lips when I caught Brandon’s taste in music. “Fan?” I asked, picking up the empty Black Veil Brides cd case. He was still old school which was cool even though there existed an app where he didn’t need to purchase discs anymore.

He nodded his head. “Fan of rock, yourself?” He asked, bringing the car to life with a twist of a key and backing out of the parking space.

“Oh, you have no idea,” Jonah commented from the back. “Her whole room exists of rock bands which I never even heard of.” I was old school when it came to music and loved it.

“You missed the best ages of music, kid,” Brandon remarked and I caught his smile when he winked at me.

“I overheard that coach Peterson is scouting players and you were among his list of players.” Brandon acknowledged after a pause of silence.

I shrugged. “I turned him down.”

He frowned. “Hockey once mattered everything to you.”

“It did but I got a wake-up call.” A very tough call that made me change my mind about things.

It seems as if my father just arrived home when Brandon pulled up as he was still in the process of stepping out of his car.

His feet halted when his eyes landed on Brandon’s Dodge Charger. “Oh, here we go,” I muttered, opening the door and getting out before helping Jonah get out by pulling the chair to the front as it was only a two-door muscle car.

Jonah headed over to my father while Brandon got out to help me with our bags. “Thanks for the ride.” Brandon nodded at me.

“Glad, I could help out and I will definitely help Jonah with his training if he is interested.” He offered and I can imagine Jonah exploding from the good news.

“He will definitely like that, thanks.” I walked away and caught my father still standing there looking at me

“Hey, dad. Need any help with those?” I asked noticing that he bought groceries.

He shook his head at me. “Who was that?”

“Oh, just some guy.” I know I was teasing him and it was fun to see my father squirm. He never had the privilege to have the talk with me and I think he was starting to regret it.

He followed after me into the house once Brandon was gone and went over to greet Meredith who told us that she got taken out.

I gathered my and my father’s meal when my father entered the kitchen, fidgeting with his tie and I felt his eyes burning a hole through my face.

“What?” I asked, raising my shoulders realizing he wanted to say something.

“I don’t know if I’m allowed to ask.” He remarked and silently thanked me when I handed his meal over.

“Ask me what?” I played dumb, finding this moment amusing. He still showed me that he cared even though it was nothing to be bothered about.

“The guy who dropped you and Jonah off.”

I stifled a smile. “His name is Brandon.” I finally shared, having fun teasing my father.

He nodded as he was processing the news. “Well, he sure has a great taste in cars.” He said and decided it was enough interaction for today as he left the kitchen after.

“Good to know that he approves,” I whispered to myself.