Mariana's POV- February 2017
I grinned as I accepted the FaceTime call from Will.
"Did you watch the game?"
"Yes I did" I replied as I opened my yogurt cup.
He smiled.
"The 3 pucks will be waiting for you when you get to Toronto next weekend"
I wiggled my eyebrows and he laughed. He knew I was coming to Toronto, but I had yet to confirm it.
"You are coming right?"
I shrugged lightly and he lightly groaned.
"Love that's not fair"
"What's not fair?" I asked as I ate a bit of my yogurt.
"I scored 3 goals today"
"And I am so proud of you" I praised.
I had promised to tell him my answer if he scored a goal for me.
"Tell me you're coming"
"Maybe I am" I said.
I shrugged.
"Maybe I'm not" I added.
He pouted.
"That's just mean"
"You look tired" I noted.
He shook his head and I smiled as he tried to cover up a yawn.
"You told me you'd tell me if I scored a goal today"
"You must really want an answer then since you score 3" I stated.
"Uh yeah, I kinda do"
"Well if you must know I work on Friday" I began saying.
He nodded slowly and I smiled.
"Should I pack a dress?" I asked.
He smiled.
"Is that you're way of confirming?"
I wiggled my eyebrows.
"You have practice Saturday morning, so you can't pick me up" I stated.
I smiled as he bounced a bit.
"Kasperi agreed to pick me up Saturday, February 11 at 8AM" I said.
"You should pack a dress"
"I will see you in less than a week" I informed him.
He adjusted his earphones and grinned.
"Tired?" I asked when he yawned.
He shook his head.
"I'm good"
"Alright, we can talk for a bit" I told him.
"Auston was telling me that Esme was complaining about the rain"
I nodded.
"Yeah, it's been pretty crazy here the last few days" I admitted.
I smiled and shrugged.
"I mean it's good for the drought" I stated.
I pulled my hair into a ponytail.
"It's supposed to rain here all of next week" I said.
"It's pretty cold in Toronto, but nothing a quick cuddle can help"
"Kasperi a good cuddle buddy?" I asked.
"He's a bit hairy for my liking"
I laughed.
"Babe is too small, he can't keep me warm" I replied.
His eyes darkened a bit and he nodded slowly.
"We're not leaving my room Sunday"
"We gotta eat" I answered back.
"I'll order take out"
"Chinese?" I asked.
"Whatever you want"
I smiled.
"Sounds good" I stated.
"Yeah?"
I nodded.
"Spending time with the man I love and eating the food I love. It's going to be a great weekend" I confessed.
He grunted a bit.
"God I miss you"
"I'll be there next weekend, and then we will see each other when you come to Californa" I told him.
"I forgot about that"
I laughed when he smiled.
"I'm going to let you go now because you look like you're about to pass out" I stated.
"Talk with me for a bit"
He shifted and I watched as the room he was in got dark.
"About?" I asked.
"How's school going?"
"Children love my stethoscope" I replied
He hummed.
"Do they like your charm?"
Will got me a small charm with his jersey number on it for my stethoscope.
"I always get asked if 29 is my favorite number" I answered.
"Is it?"
I smiled.
"I'll feed your ego and say yes"
He lightly chuckled.
"You're the best"
"I know" I said.
He sighed and I watched as he closed his eyes.
"Soph had her floor debut today" I told him.
He nodded slowly.
"She got a 9.875" I added.
I smiled as he slowly opened only one eye when he realized I had stopped talking.
"I'm listening"
I began telling him about my exhausting weekend and stopped halfway when I heard his light snores. I'm pretty sure he was tired as well because didn't he didn't wake up when I took a screenshot of the screen or when Babe began barking.
"Good night" I said as I touched the screen of my phone.
I smiled as his lips parted a bit right before I ended the call. My phone chimed as I got a text, from George.
Can I come over?
He didn't even give me a chance to react before my phone started ringing.
"Hello" I greeted.
"Hey, can I come over?"
"You never really ask to come over" I stated.
"I haven't exactly been on good terms with you"
"You've got a key, let yourself in" I said before ending the call.
I looked at Babe and smiled as he made his way over.
"Hi boy" I cooed as I picked him up.
I kissed his head before hugging him.
"Do you want to come with me to Toronto and visit Will?" I asked.
I smiled as he barked.
"Right now you're staying here, and Dad is going to take care of you" I told him.
He lightly whined as I scratched his ears.
"You'll see Will in about 2 weeks" I stated.
Will was only here for about 3 days yet Babe loved being around him. I was glad that Babe liked Will so much because if I ever did move to Toronto with Will, Babe would be coming with me.
"Looks like we have company" I said when he started barking.
The front door and I watched as George made his way over to the kitchen where I was. I set Babe down and reached for my yogurt cup.
"Hey"
"Hi" I answered back as I ate some yogurt.
He sat across from me, and I took a look at his face. His eyes were bloodshot red, and his hair was all over the place. It's as if he had been pulling on it, and he only did that when he was upset.
"How have you been?"
I nodded.
"Busy, but it's nothing I can handle" I replied.
He nodded slowly and sighed.
"Mariana"
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Just yell at me"
"Why would I yell at you?" I questioned.
"Because I've been a dick to you"
I said nothing and ate my yogurt.
"I didn't realize how much I've been ignoring until Esme brought you up during lunch"
He scratched his jaw a bit and sat up.
"You were in New York last week"
I nodded.
"I didn't know that"
"You've been ignoring me for a while now, I just accepted it" I admitted.
He shook his head and closed his eyes.
"You don't have to do that"
"We argue every time we spoke, so I just thought it would be best to not speak to you at all" I stated.
He wiped his face with his hand and took a deep breath.
"I broke up with Jo"
"Why?" I asked.
He shook his head.
"She doesn't like me, not the way I like her"
He sniffled.
"You're my sister, one of my best friends and I am so sorry for being such a dick to you"
"It's ok" I replied.
He looked at me and I noticed
"We're family, we stick together" I said.
My answer seemed to be the nail on the coffin because as soon as I finished saying that he started full on crying. I stood up and made my way around to him.
"I'm sorry"
I shook my head and pulled him into a hug.
"It's ok" I assured him as I squeezed him.
I closed my eyes as he let out a sob. The last time I had witnessed him like this was when mom and dad finalized their divorce. When Dad and I caught mom cheating with another man, I refused to speak with her. George was a big momma's boy and he took the separation hard. He had hope that our parents would get back together. Mom and dad were never going to get back together. Dad met Dina when George and I were about 14 years old, and they began dating when we were 15. Mom was living with her now ex-husband, and she remarried once her divorce was finalized.
"I'm sorry"
"I know you are, It's ok" I stated.
I let go of him once he stopped shaking.
"Let's sit on the couch" I told him.
He nodded and followed me to the living room.
"How are classes?"
"Hard, but It's nothing I can't handle" I replied.
I smiled.
"What about you? How's your senior project going?" I asked.
"I'm not even halfway through"
"You've got time, it's not due until June" I stated.
He sighed and shrugged.
"How's Will?"
"He scored his first career hat trick" I gushed.
He smiled.
"That's great"
"He's giving me the 3 pucks" I told him.
"You have his first NHL goal as well, right?"
I nodded.
"It's nice that you were able to find someone who makes you feel special"
"You'll find someone" I said.
"At the moment, I think I'm good with just not dating"
I smiled and nodded.
"I went to Rochester" I told him.
"No way, did you go to Susan B. Anthony's house?"
"Yes, I dragged Will with me" I replied.
"Susan B. Anthony was in no way a good woman since she only believed white woman had the right to vote, but it is what it is"
I laughed, it was nice to have my brother back.
A/N: Two more chapters