That is until my mom wheels her cart around the corner. “Honey? Did you find what you were—oh, Silas! How are you, sweetheart?” The closeness of our bodies isn’t lost on my motheras her eyes flick between us, that slight uptick of her lips giving way to a full smile. “You know, Oakley and I were just about to grab an early lunch at the pizza place on the corner. You should join us.”
Everything in me seizes at her suggestion, and damn it if Silas doesn’t notice. I can’t tell if I’m hurt or relieved at what he says next. Maybe both.
“I would love to join you ladies, but unfortunately I have film to review before the team hits the ice next week.”
The lie rests so heavily in the air that I actually take a few steps back.
Is this what we’ve come to? Making excuses to avoid each other, not knowing how to be friendly in person? In public? Have we relegated ourselves to social media and video chat acquaintances? I hope not. This man is too special for me to lose entirely.
Chapter 6
Silas
Oakley Kate—Katibug, Kate…My Kates—looks so worn down. The bags under her eyes are more prominent than ever, and while the sass I fell in love with all those years ago is still there, it’s watered down to a pathetic version of her usual spitfire personality. The blonde wavy hair that is so much like my sister’s is duller than normal, the purple tips faded. When’s the last time she took some time for herself?
It’s not believable that the brace and crutches are entirely to blame. It may have been five years since our engagement ended, but I’d like to think I still have a pretty strong grasp on how she operates. That feeling in my gut—instinct or whatever—is usually accurate. And right now, it’s telling me I have every right to be nervous about whatever is going on with Oakley Kate.
I hate myself a little more for not staying in touch with her as much as we did before I took Aubrey on. I’ll admit to not initiating communication as much, unless it was for her and Aubrey to video call. And with her job, she is always in the air or out of cell reception. Then throw in ten months of hockey, and there goes any free time.
But she’s here. In Steele Valley. For several days now, and never once did she reached out to let me know.
Those few minutes of her in my arms mean everything to me. It felt like I could take a full breath for the first time since my life went sideways. I wanted more. I always want more where she’s concerned, but I could feel her walls snap back into place as soon as Mrs. Slater suggested lunch.
She still doesn’t want me, and that’s okay. Friendship is all I’ll allow myself to hope for with Oakley Kate Slater.
When I step through the front door of the house I once thought Oakley Kate and I would turn into a home, the silence hits first. Wood floors, high ceilings, and too much space for only two people—it all feels heavier today. Usually, I’d be on the ice or at the rink with the team. But since I’m benched until Monday, I’m stuck here. Alone. With only my thoughts.
Yeah, because that’s always a good idea. Leave the brokenhearted worrier alone for a weekend.
Refusing to feel sorry for myself, I settle on the family room couch and power up my gaming console. The giddy, childlike feeling that flows through me when I see Noah’s handle online should probably be embarrassing for a thirty-something man to admit.
Noah Slater is one of my oldest friends…and Oakley’s oldest brother. By some miracle, he never had any issues with me dating his little sister. He even encouraged me to propose.
We never told him why it ended.
How the fear of another miscarriage became too much for Oakley to handle. How I let my dreams of raising a family overshadow her pain without realizing it.
How she walked out of our little apartment and never looked back.
Yeah, some things don’t need to be shared with your ex’s brother, no matter how close the two of you are.
An invite pops onto the screen before I can send one of my own. Accepting it and joining his party, I hear his grumpy voice through the headset.
“Hey, bud. What’s new? Shouldn’t you be with the team prepping for next week’s kickoff or something?”
“Dude, don't disrespect the greatest sport by comparing it to football," I grunt. "Thorn pulled the coach card and forced me to take a break this weekend.”
“Good for him.” He chuckles. “What happened to make him stick it to you?”
“Nothing, man. Rolled my ankle at practice, but he’s worried old age is catching up.”
I try to brush it off as a joke, but the dude’s too insightful to fall for it. Always has been.
“This doesn’t have anything to do with Aubrey, does it?”
I can’t hold back the short laugh that slips out even as my anxiety builds. “Not sure how he thinks a sleepover or girls’ weekend or whatever is supposed to help me relax. I just sat awake last night because I couldn’t walk across the hall and check on her.”
Hell, most of the time she finds her way to my bed by midnight.
