And that phone call I got yesterday that I haven’t told anyone about? That complicates things.
I need to talk to my home girls.
* * *
“So you and Jared are freaking sleeping together—like sleeping as insexsleeping?” Peyton says in a whisper as she, Winter, and I sit with our heads bent together in Declan’s box. The game is at intermission with the score tied one to one.
Storm to Storm as Winter joked since Hunter has a goal for New Orleans and Jared got one for the Wild Kings.
“Yes, Jared and I are…we’re intimate.”
I smile, and they all envelop me in a hug as they squeal their enthusiasm.
I glance around. Emerson is sitting in the stands tonight with Haley, and Mia isn’t here, so it’s just Declan and a bunch of other team-related people I don’t know. But Jared is their employee, and I don’t want them hearing about his personal life from me.
“But…” I stand up and beckon them to follow me to the other side of the box where no one is.
When we reach the empty area on the other side of the bar, I tell them more.
“J and I aren’t official.”
“So what?” Winter says. “Hunt and I weren’t at first either. That will all work itself out. He just has to get comfortable being in a relationship.”
“He’s not the only one.” Peyton’s eyes are on me. “When have you ever dated someone seriously?”
“Um, never?” I shrug. “You know me, girls. I don’t get into something I can’t get out of without a key.”
Winter’s blue eyes fill with compassion. “Your childhood didn’t exactly teach you to trust men.”
“Right. Although Jared helped with some old pain. A secret I never shared with y’all.”
With the background noise of people cheering, the PA announcer calling out ads, and how much time is left for intermission, I fill in my oldest friends on the space heater and what I believed my role was in Aaron’s death. And then I tell them how Jared uncovered the truth.
“I’m so sorry you’ve suffered all this time and we couldn’t help you.” Winter hugs me tightly.
“You know what it’s like to hold onto shame and a secret,” I say to her, and she nods.
Winter’s been through her own private hell with an asshole from her Broadway days. She came through it, but she didn’t tell any of us for a long time either.
“The Storm brothers are good,” Peyton says admiringly. “The fact that Jared would do that for you says so much, Ash.”
“He’s always been there for me. I’m blessed to have him in my life. But…”
“Oh, no.” Peyton wags her finger at me. “Don’tbutthis. This story deserves a happy ending with nobuts.”
“It may not be so simple as all that,” I say.
“Why not?” Winter says. “You like him, he likes you…”
“I got a call yesterday,” I cut her off.
My tone sounds more ominous than I meant for it to, and my friends crowd in closer to me.
“What kind of a call?” Peyton asks me. “From some guy you used to fool around with?”
I wave my hand dismissively. “No, nothing like that. No one could ever hold a candle to Jared anyway. He doesn’t have any competition.”
“So what was it?” Winter says.
