My thoughts switch to Cam and Brit Wentworth, Aiden’s parents. They are coming in on Christmas morning, and Aiden is going to introduce me as his girlfriend at dinner tomorrow. I’m excited to meet them, but also nervous. If dating me causes their son to lose the alternate captaincy he loves so much and be traded from the Manatees, how can they not hate me? Aiden told me that when his parents see how happy he is, they won’t judge anything. He also said he will explain to them the choices he made, why he made them, and he’s confident his parents will support him.
I bite my lower lip. If only I could be as sure as Aiden is. I mean, I hope with all my heart that it’s true, but that’s a big ask of his parents.
I reach for my phone, and even though I knew this was the case, there are no new messages. The last one I have is from Georgie, telling me she’s been released from the hospital and is resting at home, and Beckham is the best round-the-clock nurse anyone could ever ask for.
I smile. That’s definitely the best news of Christmas Eve.
Suddenly, my phone rings in my hand, and I feel my heart in my throat as I glance down at the screen. One word is on it to identify the caller.
Dad.
Chapter Thirty-Four
I stare down at my dad’s name on my phone, anxiety gripping me. With a trembling hand, I answer his call. “Hello?”
There’s a pause on the other end of the line. Dread consumes every inch of me as I wait for him to speak.
“Scarlett, it’s Dad,” he says gruffly. “I would like to talk to you. And Aiden.”
Now I’m the one who is pausing for a moment.
“I know it’s a lot to ask after last night,” he continues. “But I have some clarity on things, and I’d like to talk to both of you about what happened.”
I bite my lip. I’m not sure if his clarity is “I made a mistake and I’m sorry” or “Seattle is interested in Aiden, and his ass is gone as soon as Christmas break is over.”
“Please, Scarlett. This is new territory for your mom and me. We aren’t perfect.”
Not an apology, but that makes me hopeful. “All right,” I say quietly. “What time?”
“The sooner, the better.”
“Okay. Let me see what Aiden is doing.”
“Thank you, Scarlett. See you soon.”
I get off the phone with my dad and dial Aiden’s number. He picks up on the second ring. “Hey,” he says.
“My dad wants us to come over and talk.”
Now Aiden is the silent one.
“I understand if you don’t want—”
“No, no, I will, I just can’t decide if it’s good or bad that he wants to speak to me so soon. How did he sound?”
“He was very calm. Admitted he wasn’t perfect.”
“That has to be good, right?” Aiden asks.
“I hope so, but I honestly don’t know what to think. He’d like us to come over as soon as we can. Are you busy now?”
“No, I just got back from walking Milo,” he says. “I’ll come pick you up.”
I say goodbye to Aiden and stare blankly at my Christmas tree. Will this be the last Christmas he and I share together in Miami? Or the first of many?
I take a breath and exhale. I hope with all my heart that my parents have found a way to see everything I see in Aiden—and that we belong together. Not just belong together, but here, in Miami, as a couple.
Our fate is in my dad’s hands.
