" Hey Mel. We were just coming to find you. We have some irrigation piping to set up in one of the fields before we seed it. Wanna help?"
I glanced at Jordan and could tell that he was still angry with me by the tense set of his jaw. Maybe later I could get him alone and apologize. I did what I was told and helped load what seemed like a ton of thin plastic tubing into the back of a large trailor. Jordan jumped on the tractor and started it up while Marc helped me up into the trailor with the rest of the boys.
We got to the field and quickly unloaded all of the piping and fittings. Jordan was still ignoring me and as much as I wanted to say something I knew that doing it in front of all of his brothers wasn't a good idea. Eric showed me how everthing fit togeather and I started to put the piping togeather and laying it where I was told. I kept stealing glances at Jordan, who had went to the opposite end of the field with Marc. I didn't talk to Eric. My mind was preoccupied and I didn't really know what to say anyways.
" He's a good guy. If you talk to him he won't stay mad." Eric remarked as his eyes followed mine to his brother
I couldn't help but redden.
" Hey Marc come here. I need your help with something." he yelled across the field
" What are you doing?" I hissed at him
" Giving you an opportunity to make things right."
With that he pushed me in Jordan's direction. I started to walk gingerly in his direction and when I passed Marc he gave me a small smile. Jordan was kneeling on the ground when I walked up to him.
" Look I'm sorry about what I said earlier. I'm not use to people being nice to me."
He finally looked up.
" It's okay I guess."
We started to work and even though we didn't really talk at least he didn't seemed pissed anymore. At one point he took off his t-shirt and wiped the sweat off of his face. I had to turn my head so I wouldn't stare. He still had to grow into his body but years of hockey and working on a farm had done him well.
" Something wrong?" he asked when he caught me staring
" No." was all I could reply with as I felt my face turn red
We continued to work until it started getting dark. We finally left the field and went inside to clean up for supper. I quickly realized that while I still didn't feel like joining in the conversation it didn't feel like I was intruding so much.
" You start at the youth center tomorrow right?" Linda asked me as she sat another bowl of mashed potatoes on the table
" Yeah." I mumbled
" I can drive you if you want." Jordan spoke up
I looked at him a little surprised but just nodded my head. They continued their conversation about the upcoming hockey season. I found out that Jordan was going to be playing for the Peterborough Petes, Marc for the Sudbury Wolves and that Eric would be heading back to Raleigh for training camp in September. It amazed me how focused they all were even though they still had almost two months until the season even started. I don't even remember the last time that I had focused that intently on something, well at least on something that wasn't somehow illegal.
" I have to get ready for my date." Eric announced as he jumped up and went to put his dishes in the sink
" I can't believe that she is still with you. That just goes to prove that she can't possibly have very good taste." Jordan said looking at me with a grin
Before Eric could reply I surprised everyone by chiming in.
" Actually I think that this Tanya girl has great taste. If she was dating you on the other hand..."
Eric came over to my chair and put his arms around my shoulders.
" See I always said that you were the ugly one in the family. Now we have an outside opinion."
He looked at me and there was something on his face but I couldn't really pinpoint what it was.
Everyone else excused themselves and I offered to help which she gladly accepted. I tried to sleep later that night but I couldn't help but toss and turn. If things at the center didn't turn out then this whole situation would be for nothing.