I only hope that somehow, someway, he has come around since last night.
* * *
I grow anxious as we approach my parents’ neighborhood. The traffic was heavier today on the roads, with people out running to the grocery store, buying last-minute Christmas presents, or making their way out of town and to holiday celebrations.
Unless you are me, and you’re about to find out if your dad is going to trade the man you love to another team because he hates him.
There’s a chance of rain today, and the skies are gray. As Aiden draws closer to my mom and dad’s house, my anxietydeepens. My chest feels tight, and I feel slightly nauseous. Aiden has the local sports-talk station on the radio, but I’m not really listening to it until they give the sound for a breaking-news alert.
“This is big,” the announcer says. “We have major trade news that has just broken.”
For a moment, panic seizes me. Oh my God, did Dad somehow do this already?
But then I remember the holiday roster freeze for the NHL and manage to start breathing again.
“This deal ismassive.The Chicago Horned Owls have traded guard Hudson Rhodes toMiami,” the announcer says excitedly. “We are getting freaking HUDSON RHODES in exchange for two first-round draft picks and center James Grayson.”
I turn to Aiden, who has a look of complete shock on his face as he digests the news.
“Holy shit, I was thinking they’d have to give up Antoni Nowak to get someone like Hudson Rhodes,” he says. “This is unbelievable.” Then he pauses before continuing. “But there were no rumors about Hudson being unhappy or demanding a trade. For this to happen on Christmas Eve? Something’s up. He’s a generational talent. You don’t trade players like Hudson.”
I think of Aiden. What if this happens to him? What if Aiden is suddenly told to gather his things, that there’s a jet waiting for him, and he’s off to a new city?
I grow sick as I picture it, and I force myself to push the image aside. We reach the gate to the driveway, and Aiden punches in the code I tell him to use. Large green wreaths hang on the gates, adorned with red bows. To anyone driving by, you’d think the perfect family is in the house behind them, ready to celebrate the season.
Not a family that had a huge confrontation last night.
After the gate opens and Aiden pulls forward, he abruptly stops. I look at him, and his face is one of confusion. “What the hell?” he blurts out. “What’s he doing here?”
“He?” I ask, and I follow his gaze to an Aston Martin sports car. “Who?”
A swear word escapes his lips. “Wyatt!”
Wyatt?What is Wyatt doing here?
Aiden lets out a groan of frustration. “I told Wyatt what happened. I hope he didn’t come over here and say anything stupid to your dad to make things worse.”
I honestly don’t see how things could be worse. I think of Dad’s tone when we spoke. It wasn’t angry or hostile. “No,” I say slowly. “Dad wasn’t angry when he talked to me.”
Aiden snorts. “Maybe it’s because he heard from the GM that I’m going to Minneapolis or something as soon as the holiday roster freeze is lifted.”
Suddenly something my dad said clicks in my brain. He told me he had clarity.
Did Wyatt give that to him?
My hopes begin to rise. I turn and look at Aiden, who is a mixture of frustration and fear. “Aiden,” I say, “it’s going to be okay.”
He turns his head and stares at me. “I know that, Scarlett. I know that wherever I’m traded, we’ll be together.”
“No, no, that’s not what I mean,” I say, my pulse quickening. “I think we’re going to be fine. Here. In Miami. Wyatt is here. If Dad were pissed at him for coming here and defending you, don’t you think he’d be gone?”
Aiden’s eyes search mine, and I see recognition in them. “You … do you think so?”
I nod. “Yes. If Wyatt spoke to him, and Dad and Mom listened … I think this is a good sign that Wyatt is still here, Aiden. Really good.”
Aiden continues to stare at me, and I see hope beginning to flicker in his eyes. He draws a breath of air and then exhales. “All right. Let’s see what your parents have to say.”
We get out of the car, and I smile at Aiden’s white dress shirt and gray trousers. He made sure to dress up for this meeting, to show my dad how serious he is about having this conversation.
