It went from random, casual hookups when we both had free time to her calling and texting every day, asking if I wanted to either go to dinner or come over so she could cook for me. We agreed to no sleepovers, but within a couple weeks she was trying to get me to stay the night at her place, or pretending to fall asleep at mine right after sex. The straw that broke the camel’s back was when I caught her sneaking pictures of me in my underwear. I called it off then and there. Since then she’d attempted to pull the “concerned friend” card on multiple occasions, offering to be there for me as I healed or to run any errands I needed. I felt like a dick, leaving her messages unanswered, but I’d spelled things out pretty damn clearly when I told her we wouldn’t be seeing each other anymore. However she refused to take a hint.
Mateo had called it from the jump. Apparently she was a known puck bunny who had made her way through the younger players, but thought that, given my age, I’d be more likely tosettle down and wife her up. I hadn’t been interested in doing either of those things.
I hit the button on the side to send the call to voicemail and stuffed the phone back into my pocket.
A quick look through the large windows showed the place was packed, giving me a moment of pause. Sports journalists had been reporting on me like crazy since my injury had taken me out for the rest of the season. They loved to speculate about whether or not I was coming back. Not that they had the answer because I didn’t know my damn self. But the articles had stirred up enough attention that I hadn’t been able to walk the streets in D.C. without being bombarded. That was just one of the many reasons I had to get the hell out of there.
I caught recognition in the faces of a few people I passed as I walked from my car to the coffee shop, but instead of asking for selfies or autographs, they simply nodded and smiled politely before going on about their business.
I had to admit, it was a nice change of pace. That was for damn sure.
I pulled the door opened and stepped into Muffin Top, the scent of roasted coffee beans and sugar greeting me and making my stomach rumble, reminding me I hadn’t eaten breakfast yet.
“Oh my god. Tanner?”
A brief burst of annoyance flashed through me. Then I turned around and saw who had called my name, and a smile curled my lips. Her name was Ivy. I’d met her when I visited a couple summers back. She worked at the lodge where I was vacationing, and there had been an immediate attraction. At least on my end. I’d asked her out, even attended the wedding of her friends as her guest. Turned out, we made better friends than anything else. Mainly because she was hung up on another guy and trying to get over him by accepting my request for a date.
“No way! It is you.” I opened my arms, and she walked right into them, giving me a brief squeeze before stepping back, smiling up at me warmly. “I had no idea you were here. Are you at the lodge again?”
“Not this time. My trip this time is a little open-ended, so I rented a place. You look incredible.”
She beamed happily. “Thanks. Motherhood’s really been agreeing with me.”
My eyes widened in shock as a tall man in faded jeans, dusty boots, and a thick canvas jacket moved beside her. I recognized him from my last visit, but back then, he hadn’t had a tiny baby strapped into a carrier on his chest. I could only assume he was the guy Ivy had been torn up about, and the baby he was holding was theirs.
“Tanner Fine,” the guy said in greeting before hooking his arm over Ivy’s shoulder and pulling her into his side, all while patting the back of the baby in the carrier. “Good to have you back in town.” From the look on his face, I wasn’t sure he really meant that, not that I could blame him. But he held his hand out for me to shake anyway. I had to respect the man for that. I wasn’t sure I could do the same if I came face to face with a man who pursued and made out with my woman.
“Thanks.” I dug through my memories to pull up his name. “It’s Connor, right?”
Any lingering uncertainty or animosity melted from his face. His eyes widened slightly and the tips of his ears grew pink. “Uh... yeah. Yeah. It’s Connor. Man, I can’t believe you remember that. That’s so cool,” he finished on a whisper, a goofy grin taking over his face.
I’d always been really good with names, but I was especially good at remembering the names of my fans, and I recalled this dude nearly swallowing his tongue the first time he saw me back at Second Hope Lodge.
Ivy rolled her eyes good naturedly. “All right. Down, fan boy.” Connor shot her a scowl that made me chuckle. “Tanner, you remember my husband. This is our little girl, Sylvie.” She reached over, and with the gentlest smile on her face, trailed a finger over the baby’s downy head.
I leaned a little closer for a better look. The tuft of hair on her head was the same light red as her mother’s, and long, sweeping lashes were lying across chubby pink cheeks as she slept against her dad’s chest. The little cutie’s fist was balled up near her mouth like she’d been chewing on it right before conking out. I’d always been so focused on my career that I never really gave the whole family thing much thought. At least until my buddy Luke’s baby was born.
I had to admit, that day had brought a sense of longing to the surface I’d never been able to fully stuff back down. And seeing Ivy’s daughter, bundled up in her fluffy pink winter wear, was like throwing Miracle Grow on that little bloom Luke’s family had given life to. “Congratulations, you guys,” I said softly, not wanting to wake her up despite the noisy café around us. “She’s beautiful.”
The expression on Connor’s face as he stared down at his daughter could only be described with one word. Adoration. And I’d be damned if it didn’t send a spike of envy through my chest. I did my best to shake the sensation off. Babies and marriage were the last thing I needed to be thinking about, especially with everything being so damn uncertain.
“Thanks,” Ivy said with a smile. “So, what brings you to town?” Her brows pulled together in confusion. “You can’t be on vacation...”
“Butterfly,” Connor said quietly, but I didn’t miss the gentle warning in his tone. Meaning he already knew about the injury.
“It’s okay,” I assured him before looking back at Ivy. “I actually am on vacation. An injury took me out for the remainder of the season, but I’m okay now.”
“I’m really sorry,” she offered genuinely, reminding me how sweet she’d been. It was one of the reasons I’d asked her out in the first place. But seeing her now, with her beautiful daughter and a husband who was so clearly devoted to them both, there wasn’t a doubt that things had worked out exactly how they should have. This family was exactly what she deserved, and I was beyond happy for her.
“But, hey, there’s a silver lining.” I arched a brow in silent question. “You’re here,” she said excitedly. “And this is the best place in the whole world. I mean, we might not have as much to offer as a big city, but at least we don’t have traffic jams and city noise and rude strangers.”
She had me there. I chuckled, “It is a pretty great place. And I’m sure once I find my way around I’ll like it even more. That’s actually why I’m out today. Just scoping the place out. I need to get familiar with the town. You know, find where to get my groceries, coffee...” I waved my hand around the coffee shop in indication. “Stuff like that.”
Connor spoke up then. “As far as coffee and pastries goes, you won’t get better than this place. Trust me. And we’re happy to point you wherever else you need to go.”
“Actually, if you could point me in the direction of a bookstore, that would be great. I’ve read pretty much everything I brought with me already.”
Ivy’s face lit up. “Of course! My friend Holly owns a place right down the block. It’s called One More Chapter. Just head left out the door and you can’t miss it.”
