3RD And Goal: Voyageur Bay Chronicles

By TB Mann

I left to protect my heart. Instead I shattered it. Will I ever have the courage to fix it?

Six long years. That's how much time has past since I ran away with my tail between my legs, cutting off all communication. And it will be even longer if I have any say over it… to bad I don't.

A family emergency has me rushing home to my small town of Voyageur Bay. While risky and outside my usual and safe visiting time, I'm confident I won't run into them.

T.J., Brice, and Aaron, professional football players and the men—my best friends—who I've avoided from the moment we slept together one drunken night. I couldn't choose between them so I did the next best thing… I ran.

With preseason upon us, they should be safely with their team in Colorado and nowhere near home. But when I see them at a party, sparks fly. And I'm in danger of being burned… again.

My only hope is to gather the courage I need to finally choose… choose all three of them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heart Sisters Publishing Inc
• Release date: Dec 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9781990671029

Book preview

3rd and Goal

Voyageur Bay Chronicles

I left to protect my heart. Instead I shattered it. Will I ever have the courage to fix it?

Six long years. That’s how much time has past since I ran away with my tail between my legs, cutting off all communication. And it will be even longer if I have any say over it… to bad I don’t.

A family emergency has me rushing home to my small town of Voyageur Bay. While risky and outside my usual and safe visiting time, I’m confident I won’t run into them.

T.J., Brice, and Aaron, professional football players and the men—my best friends—who I’ve avoided from the moment we slept together one drunken night. I couldn’t choose between them so I did the next best thing… I ran.

With preseason upon us, they should be safely with their team in Colorado and nowhere near home. But when I see them at a party, sparks fly. And I’m in danger of being burned… again.

My only hope is to gather the courage I need to finally choose… choose all three of them.

Chapter One

Becca

Becca, Nan had a stroke.

I pinched the bridge of my nose as my mother’s words continued to rush over me, leaving me filled with dread. The last thing I needed was a family emergency that required my presence in Voyageur Bay during the summer. It wasn’t like I never went home—I did, for a month every October. I just never went home during the spring or summer. Ever. Even though they were usually back at training camp by the end of July.

Everyone’s coming home. She needs all of us, Becca.

Crapitty-crap-on-a-cracker. I hated when my mother used that tone of voice. The one that invoked guilt and shame over your actions without her even mentioning them. That tone was the reason why I went on a few dates with Caleb Bishop while I was in high school and he’d been in medical school—my mother wanted me to marry a future doctor even though I had no romantic feelings for Caleb whatsoever. It was why I took that stupid art class in high school even though I couldn’t draw a straight line with the help of a ruler. "You can’t just take all those science classes, Becca. Boys like girls who have a wide range of interests." Although that one backfired on her since I ended up dating—not seriously—Jason who, while liked by everyone, was considered a bad boy by most parents in Voyageur Bay. Not because he was into drugs or crime, but because he chose to be open about his sexual preferences when Voyageur Bay—at least on the surface—was still strictly a two-person, monogamous, heterosexual, God-fearing town. The muscular, tatted-up, openly bisexual teenager was an affront to all they held dear.

Knowing I didn’t stand a chance of getting out of this trip, I gave in. Fine, Mom. I’ll let my work know that I need some time off. Although I may have to work while I’m there.

That’s fine. Just so long as you are here. And with that, she hung up on me.

I stared at my phone for a moment before I dropped my head onto my desk, not caring that I was smearing make-up over the printout of the budget projections I was reviewing. Should have never climbed out of my bed.

What was that, Rebecca?

Oh, Mr. Yang. I sat up abruptly, running my fingertips under my eyes to clean any smudges. I didn’t see you there.

That’s quite okay. I just stopped by to see if you’d made any headway with the budget projections for the new project. We have a division meeting next week, and I need to have all the section budgets before then.

The timeline posed problems, but I’d figure it out. I could work on the flight instead of fortifying myself with alcohol before I arrived home. Actually, with everyone rushing home, chances are I’d have to rent a car to make the two-hour drive which meant I couldn’t drink anyway. I can have it to you sometime tomorrow, but I’m also going to need some emergency leave. My mom called, and I’m needed at home. But I can keep in touch with the office and do my work from there like I normally do in October.

No problem. Can your team handle themselves?

Yes. Josie can monitor the day-to-day of getting the project off the ground. I was going to push her into the role anyway. I shrugged. This way, she won’t have me breathing down her neck. And it will stop her from deferring to me.

If you think she’s ready…?

I’m sure.

Well then. When do you leave?

As soon as I can get a flight and get everything organized here.

He rapped on my door jamb. As a section leader—similar to a department head in other organizations—I rated my own office. Keep in touch. And Rebecca, I hope things get better for your family soon.

Thanks, I said to his back as he walked away.

With a few swipes of the keyboard, I found a flight leaving Toronto that evening for Winnipeg. I sprung for a first-class seat so that I could work with ease and even have a drink or two as soon as we were in the air. With the length of the flight to Winnipeg, I’d unfortunately be stone-cold sober upon arrival.

Laptop, budget, print-outs of the timeline, and the binder containing my copies of all the projects under my watch went into my expandable briefcase. The other copies I piled on the desk. With a last look around, I grabbed my purse, put my arm through the shoulder strap of my briefcase—groaning when I felt the weight of it on my shoulder—and lifted the fourteen-inch stack of binders into my arms. Without further ado, knowing that I couldn’t stop the oncoming speeding train, I left my office to hand out the assignments and let the various project heads know that I’d be available by text, email, and for online meetings.

It went quick; my staff were more than capable of handling my unexpected leave. And before I knew it, I walked the dedicated security line for those in first class, bypassing the massive line of those waiting. Without that ticket, I shuddered to think how long it would take to get through the security checkpoint. As it was, I’d be lucky to have the time to grab a drink at the bar before the plane boarded.

Laptops out and turned on, the man standing on the other side of the counter said in a bored voice, not even realizing that I already had my two laptops in my hand ready to be placed in their individual bin. I wasn’t a stranger to flying. Even though I only went home once a year, I traveled frequently for work and for pleasure. It was one of the reasons why the people on my team at work knew how to operate when I wasn’t physically in the building.

Any other electronics?

I waved my cellphone, showing him my e-ticket.

Swipe it under the scanner and then place it in the bin.

I nodded, not bothering to say anything. As soon as the scanner beeped, I dropped my phone into the bin with my laptops. Before he could ask the next question on his list, I lifted my small bag of liquids—nothing over 100mls—to show him. At his nod, I dropped it backed into the bin along with my rolling briefcase and purse.

The whole process was time-consuming and repetitive, but I didn’t blame the agent. He was just doing his job.

With a wave from the next agent, I stepped into the body x-ray.

Any jewelry? At the shake of my head, the agent continued. Anything in your pockets.

Nothing, I said with a strained smile. I came prepared.

This time it was the agent who nodded. And after I placed my hands up in the correct position, the scanner did its circle, allowing me to step out within seconds. Too bad the machine examining my carry-on didn’t work as fast. Instead of grabbing my stuff, I stepped into the line of people waiting.

It felt like ages before I was able to grab my bags and start towards the gate, but a glance at the time on the departures board showed that it had only been a few minutes. Glad to discover I still had time, I stepped into the bar close to my gate, taking an empty seat.

What can I get you? A clean-cut man with blond hair and a charming smile stopped in front of me on the other side of the bar.

Hmm, I said as I perused the cocktail menu. I wasn’t big on the taste of alcohol, but I deserved a drink after everything that happened. Maybe a Long Island iced tea. That’s got a lot of alcohol, right?

The bartender laughed. It sure does. Rough day?

Rough doesn’t even begin to describe it.

He nodded before heading off to make my drink. My phone chimed. I wanted to ignore it, but couldn’t, not when it could have been work. A groan left my mouth when I saw the notification from my mother. What could she have possibly wanted now? I’d already given her my flight details so that she’d stop bugging me. Worried that it might be news about my Nan, I opened it and immediately wished that I hadn’t. She wrote that she’d run into Dr. Caleb Bishop at the hospital and that there were rumours that he was seeing someone. She then went on about how I’d never find a suitable husband if I kept working all those hours. At that point I placed my phone face down on the counter. Wasn’t it enough that I was going home? Did she really need to add more to the earlier lecture about finding a husband?

Trouble? The bartender slid the Long Island iced tea in front of me.

Nah. Just a mom who worries about my single status even if I’m already on my way home for a visit.

I hear ya. My mom’s always trying to set me up. And when I told her that I was bi, she clapped her hands before saying that it was great because she had a whole bunch of friends with single sons that she could now introduce me too as well.

I chuckled but before I could respond he gave me a quick grin and headed down to the other end of the bar where a couple of new customers sat.

The last mouthful of my Long Island iced tea slid down my throat as they called for my flight. Thanks. That was the best, I told the bartender as I gave him a wave.

Have a great time visiting home.

I appreciated his sentiment even if I didn’t believe it would happen.

It was only as I turned my phone onto airplane mode that I realized I’d been so wrapped up in my own feelings I’d forgotten to find out how severe my Nan’s stroke was. Nor did my mom even say.

Chapter Two

T.J.

T.J., man, how about we go fishing today? Brice pushed his chair away from the breakfast table in their private cabin at the Soaring Eagle Lodge. He stretched out his long legs, crossing them at the ankle as he supported the back of his head with his interlocking fingers.

I agree. Maybe out on the water we could get some peace for a bit, Aaron added as he picked up the empty breakfast dishes to take them over to the counter by the sink. We didn’t have to clean up, having paid extra to have the full-service treatment, but some things were just ingrained.

What? You don’t like all those women coming up to you? Hitting on you?

Over the years, little had changed in Voyageur Bay. It was still the small town with the small town feel so long as you stayed away from the touristy areas or weren’t here during one of the many festivals that the town created. Not that I begrudged my hometown for encouraging the tourists to come and spend their money here; it was beneficial for the local economy and helped the town to offer its residents amenities that usually weren’t available in a town this size.

But the drawback was that the tourists didn’t give us any space when they recognized us. Nor did the women who wanted a vacation fling. It didn’t help that we were caught between being locals—my parents basically adopted Brice and Aaron as additional sons—and tourists since we didn’t live here full time or even own a house like some of the other professional athletes that this town produced.

It was why we’d spent the past three days virtually stuck on the extensive Lodge grounds a little way from town, either working out, swimming, or hiking, apart for one quick trip out to my parents’ ranch for supper. Yet it hadn’t stopped the women at the Lodge from approaching us.

Like my friends, my brothers, I, too, was going a little stir-crazy.

Aaron threw the damp dish cloth at me, hitting me square in the chest. Thankfully, I was shirtless and un-showered, having only woken up when the serving staff arrived with our breakfasts. There’s only one woman from here that I want throwing herself at me, and we all know that’s never going to happen. Not when she won’t even return home during the spring or summer.

His words kept me from throwing the cloth back at him. We all felt that