* * *
I enter the coffee shop’s location into my navigation system as I prepare to meet Hadleigh. She picked a place not far from my house, an independently owned espresso bar, and it won’t take me long to get there. As I back out of my spot, I can’t help but think of how wonderful this week has already been for me.
I took pictures of Georgie’s jars yesterday, and we are definitely friends now. She’s easy to talk to, so it’s not hard to like her. We ended up having lunch at a ceviche place down the street from my apartment after I took the photos, and we hadmore in common than I could have hoped for. We talked about life after graduating from college. Adjusting to the adult world, the one you thought you were living in college, but really weren’t. We talked about our experiences, our siblings, and of course, her new relationship with Beckham.
I, of course, had to lie and say I wasn’t dating anyone at the moment. Because Georgie sees me at the rink, and after Mom’s gaze landing on me in that scrutinizing way, I vowed to be extra careful until after Christmas, when we’re going to talk to my parents.
Tonight’s experience will be different. While I can’t tell Hadleigh the truth, I don’t have to be so paranoid about her picking up on something, either something that I accidentally say or a look in my eyes. She’s not in my hockey circle, and I’m grateful for that for not only this reason, but because I’m excited to bring someone from outside the hockey world into my life. I want to know her experiences. Her story.
And what happened in Las Vegas with F1 bad boy Xavier Williams.
I grin as I pull up to a stoplight. I’m not counting on that, as much as I’d like to know. She might be as tight-lipped about Xavier as I am about Aiden.
So I’ll follow her lead on where she wants to go with that.
I hum along with the song on my playlist, a sappy one that makes me think of Aiden. He’s on the road, out on the West Coast, and I already miss him terribly. I went to his apartment after the fight, horrified at his cut and bruised face. I gently swept my fingertips over his battered skin and asked him what Ethan said to him on the ice, and at first, Aiden refused to tell me. But then I reminded him that if the fight was about me, I have every right to know. Aiden admitted it was a profanity-laced rant about being deceitful and screwing his sister.
I got so angry when I heard that, but Aiden calmed me down. He stroked my hair and told me that while Ethan was wrong, he was doing it because he loved me and wanted to protect me, however misguided that was. I told Aiden about the message I left for Ethan, and he flashed me that smile that makes me melt and told me I was truly a badass.
I’m not going to lie, that was one of the best compliments I’ve ever received.
I know Ethan had never received a message like that from me in his life. Compliant Scarlett would have never crossed this line with Aiden. Remorseful Scarlett would end it. Pleaser Scarlett would be upset that Ethan was disappointed in her.
But adult Scarlett? Scarlett who is in love with Aiden? She stood up for her man.
And she stood up for herself.
Ethan called me back after he got to his hotel, but I let it go to voicemail. To my surprise, he left me a message saying he was sorry, he was an ass, and he let his protective nature get the best of him. He still thinks it’s wrong for Aiden to date me—and made that clear—but agreed that this is my mistake to make, not his.
I smile wryly as the light turns green. Okay, so Ethan was nearly there on a decent apology, but it’s going to take him time to see what a great man Aiden is.
And that he would not only approve of Aiden, but be grateful I have a man like him to love me.
I find the coffeehouse and loop around the block, looking for a spot. Once I find one, I pick up my phone and text Aiden. We’ve talked every night during this road trip, and I have to say, staying up late to watch his games out west is brutal. Luckily, my brain is in holiday mode at work, and I don’t have to think too hard this week, because I’m so tired.
I type him a quick message. It’s late afternoon there, so he’s probably hanging out in his hotel room before grabbing dinner with Wyatt and Beckham.
Meeting Hadleigh for coffee right now. Missing you extra tonight.
Then I slip my phone into my purse and exit my car, heading down the block to the coffeehouse. I pull open the door and am instantly hit with acoustic Christmas music and the heavy scent of espresso. Multicolored twinkling Christmas lights hang from the ceiling, and a large wreath with a red bow adorns the front counter. Espresso machines hiss and orders are called out, and the space is surprisingly full on this weekday evening, with people gathered around mid-century modern wooden tables with mismatched chairs.
I scan the room for Hadleigh. She’s not here yet, so I find a table with two big leather chairs near the window and drop into one. I pull out my phone and let her know I’m here, and then a text from Aiden comes in:
Missing you and a good cup of Cuban coffee. Drinking something awful from the hotel coffee bar right now that was promised as a café con leche. It has milk, but it is NOT good Cuban coffee. That’s false advertising, you know.
My heart skips a beat. I think I’ll have to surprise him with a good cup of Cuban coffee as a welcome-home treat. I’m about to set my phone down, but another message from Aiden slips in:
This is making me grumpy. That and spending so many nights away from you. Love you, Scarlett.
I smile. Aiden is never grumpy, so this is a new side to him. And I find it utterly adorable. I reply:
I love Grumpy Aiden.
The door opens again, and this time, I see it’s Hadleigh. Her long blondish-brown hair is pulled back into a sleek ponytail,and she’s dressed in short denim shorts and an oversized light-black sweater, with black Converse on her feet. She sees me, smiles, and makes her way toward the table I’ve secured.
“Hey!” she says as I rise to greet her.
“Hadleigh, I’m so glad you could do this tonight,” I say, giving her a friendly hug.
