As September came to a close, Pittsburgh was quickly becoming home and between school and my job I was pleasantly distracted. My four courses constantly reminded me that I was doing what I love.
“So why photography?” James asked as we sat at the kitchen counter making small talk. It was the fifth time in a month the boys had weaselled their way into James’ house and we were getting to know each other decently well.
“Lots of reasons,” I shrugged, not ready to get too deep with him. “I like being able to watch things and capture moments.”
“I never would have thought about it like that,” he admitted. “What’s you're favourite thing to shoot?”
“Jack, you can’t play as the Maple Leafs! They’re stupid!” Riley cried from the living room.
“Guys,” I leapt from my chair, finding the perfect excuse to remove myself from his intimidating and captivating presence. “If you don’t get along James is going to kick us out,” I threatened lightly, sitting on the floor next to them, Ruby toddling over to join me.
“We’d be fine if Jack didn’t pick stupid teams,” Riley pouted.
“There’s no such thing as a stupid team,” I heard James say behind me. “I was a leafs fan when I was your age.” He sat down on the other side of them and leaned against the couch.
“What’s your favourite team, Colbie?” Jack asked, resting his little head against my arm. The two boys had warmed up to me quickly and we found ourselves in a nice routine.
With Riley and Jack back at school my work day started at noon when Jessica would go to work and Ruby and I would spend the afternoon reading books and going for walks. At three-thirty we’d pick the boys up from school and the real chaos would begin. Homework before television and keeping them out of the cupboard before dinner became my daily challenge. But their energy was contagious and I couldn't get enough of their crooked smiles and regular hugs.
“The Oilers of course,” I pulled his little body onto my lap and hugged him.
“Are the Oilers a stupid team?” Jack asked all of us.
“Not as stupid as Toronto,” Riley answered, the expert on the subject.
“Okay, then I’ll be the Oilers!” the little boy grinned, the controller too big for his small hands.
I glanced over at James, he was watching the boys and smiling. His hair intentionally messy and a slight stubble covering his jaw. I tried not to stare but found myself constantly studying his blue eyes and they way the skin around them creased when he smiled. I want to take pictures of every part of him, tiny masterpieces of his beautifully crafted features. But that would be creepy and I wasn’t in the habit of indulging my inner stalker. The boys were about to start the first period of their virtual hockey game when my phone vibrated. I dug it out of my pocket and shifted Jack off of my lap.
Jessica:
I’m going to be stuck at the office, can you stay late? Their dad is stuck too.

I’d never met their dad and I had the impression that he wasn’t around much. Neither of the boys spoke of him the way I spoke about my dad. All I knew about him was he was a lawyer who travelled a lot. Jessica on the other hand had become a support and friend in my new life. My first few weeks in Pittsburgh were tough and she offered herself as my personal city guide, even helping me put the finishing touches on my apartment and reminding me there was a place for me at the house if I ever felt lonely. I considered them my surrogate family.
I told Jessica not to worry, that I’d stay as late as she needed and opened the calendar on my phone. I had a design project due soon but one late night wouldn’t kill me. In fact, the kids were proving to be perfect subjects for my photo series and were enamoured with my camera, constantly asking to have their picture taken.
“We should probably head out soon guys, your mum isn’t going to be home until later and I have to start dinner,” I stood up and took their juice glasses into the kitchen.
“I was going to make steak,” James offered, coming in behind me. “You guys are more than welcome to stay, or we can go next door if that’s easier,” he glanced back at Ruby who was not quite big enough to sit at the table.
“Are you sure?” I rinsed the glasses and looked back at him.
“Yeah, it’d be nice to have the company,” he smiled and I had to remind myself not to blush like an idiot.

Cooking had never been my specialty. I could make a mean box of K.D but other than that I wasn’t the most comfortable in the kitchen. Unfortunately neither was James. We’d placed the frozen steaks in the microwave to find a pool of blood and water spilling out when the door was opened. I’d tried to cook potatoes and instead burnt them to the point where they resembled genetically modified raisins.
“Okay, I have an idea,” James looked up at me from where he was on the floor, mopping up the steak juice with paper towel.
“Pizza? Because that seems like a reasonable idea right now,” I scraped bits of potato from the frying pan. My Irish parents would be so ashamed of me.
“No, I’m not ready to give up,” he chuckled and pulled out his phone, leaving the room to make a call. Thankfully the boys were still distracted by the Xbox and hadn’t noticed that their dinner was nearly an hour late. Ruby on the other hand had to be bribed with a cookie to stop whining.
“Help is on the way,” James returned looking more relaxed.
A minute later a tall blonde man walked in and survey the scene. “Well at least you didn’t set off the smoke detector,” he laughed and James who looked slightly ashamed.
“Close, but the fire was out as quickly as it started,” James laughed. “Oh, Colbie this is Paul.
“Nice to meet you Colbie,” he shook my hand and smiled.
“She’s sitting for Jessica,” James added.
“Jones? She’s a nice lady. Are this kids here?” Paul looked around and I pointed to the living room where they’d been told to stay until dinner was ready. He snuck in the room behind them and I heard a chorus of giggles and shrieks.
“He lives a few houses down,” James clarified, likely noticing the confusion on my face. “Plays defence.”
“Right,” I smiled and turned back to my pan.
Dinner was served half an hour later, Paul had come to our rescue and everyone was fed by the time 8:00pm rolled around. Jessica still wasn’t home and I tried not to worry as I got the boys in their pyjamas, James having yet to leave tried his best not to distract them. He sat with Ruby while I tucked them in and read aloud from a collection of stories. It was hard not to find myself even more attracted to the sizeable man when I saw him with the sleeping toddler in his arms.
“She mumbled something about a rabbit then passed out,” he whispered handing Ruby to me.
“Thank you,” I cradled her warm body against me and carried her up the stairs to her room. I tucked her stuffed rabbit in next to her and closed the door gently behind me, nearly colliding with James.
“So, I don’t know if this is like weird,” he whispered nervously. “But I have tickets to the home opener this weekend and I’d really like it if you came. You can bring the boys too, they’d probably love it.”
I could help but grin at the blush in his cheeks and the way he linked his fingers together anxiously. “They would love that,” my stomach twitched with butterflies and I wanted desperately to run my hand along his stubbly jaw, just to make sure he was real. “When is it?”
“Saturday, puck drop is at 7:00pm I think.”
I had a hundred things to do that weekend. Projects, assignments, and a Skype date with Mallory, but there was no way I could pass on his offer. “Okay,” I smiled excited. “Thank you.”

I managed to keep the boys in their own backyard for the rest of the week. Part of my wanted them to sneak over there just so I’d have an excuse to see James again, but promise of the hockey game kept them on their best behaviour. I’d already left when he dropped the tickets off the night before the game, laying on the floor of my living room when Jessica text me.
Jessica:
James left your tickets. Have you noticed how incredibly attractive he is? You should probably look into getting with that pronto.

I rolled my eyes and reminded her it was for the boys. He was an NHL rising star and I wasn’t so delirious to think I had any chance with him. I pulled a pillow off of the couch and shoved it under my head, chastising myself for even entertaining the idea. My experience with relationships, and men in general was limited. I spent my high school years dating my best friend, Ben. Most people at the time had no idea we were together because we acted more like siblings than lovers. He was sweet, and I loved him, but there was nothing earth shattering about it. No butterflies or sleepless nights, it just happened. Everything progressed so casually, even our breakup was low key and mutual. Things with Ben were always easy and as a result I had no idea how to approach anything else. My string of post-high school flings had followed the same formula, friends, sex, parting ways. It was empty and anti-climactic and the last thing I wanted in my new life. I groaned and tossed the pillow back on the couch. I didn’t have time to be worrying about a guy who would never see me romantically, I had school to keep me busy.

Notes

These chapters feel really short... then again that's not hard compared to the 4,000 word babies I've been popping out for Stay, Stay, Stay.
I have to admit, writing two at once is harder than I thought and I've got a touch of writer's block when it comes to "Jambie." But I refuse to give up and hopefully I can get into a rhythm sooner rather than later.

Thanks for all the love so far :)

xx- T