“Thanks. Some people would say I had it all from the start, but I’m beginning to think I’m only just realizing what that means.”
His words strike me, I can’t pinpoint why, but when I look over my shoulder, I can see that Spencer seems lost in thought again.
And any worry I have, I do my best to bury.
23
APRIL
Iinterlace my arm with Piper’s as we watch through the window the ice hockey game down below. We are in the box seats, which means we have an abundance of snack options behind us.
“It’s nice that you got away for a night,” I mention. The baby is nowhere in sight.
“Much needed. The joys of having an adult stepson. It means he can do babysitting duty with his wife. My grandmother is great, but she can’t handle overnight visits. Anyways, Hudson and I put Lucy and Drew up in a fancy hotel room with the promise they will watch Gracie for a few hours. Tomorrow I will take her to visit my grandmother before stopping by the football field to see our favorite coach,” she explains while her head angles as she tries to follow the game happening.
“I’m still upset you didn’t bring the baby,” my mother calls out from where she stands next to the buffet because her law firm supports the team.
I take a sip of my beer bottle and ignore her. “Remind me again why every athlete in Lake Spark decided to use my mother’s firm for their legal woes.”
Piper smiles and touches my shoulder. “Because they follow Hudson’s advice when they need a city lawyer who is a shark in heels. Plus, I am super confident they get a discount.”
“Fun.” I’m not enthralled.
We both search for our men. Ford invited us all to watch his hockey game since they are now heading into mid-season and, according to him, are now in their prime of excellence. Spencer and Hudson went to sit down by the ice where there is more action, and I think they did it for a media op to show support for Ford.
“I bet Ford’s ex is here somewhere,” Piper notes.
“She comes to games?”
“Yeah, more for their son than anything is my guess. They are on good terms, just not the terms Ford probably wants. I've met her a few times, and Brielle is super sweet. She's studying law and interns at your mom’s firm. Brielle doesn’t like coming to Lake Spark, but maybe we should invite her to something here in the city.”
“Why not? Is there some secret athlete partner’s club that I get initiated into?” I try to keep my smile small.
Piper nudges my shoulder. “It would seem like you and Spencer are on a path forward.”
“Surprisingly so.” But as much as he has been the kind of boyfriend a girl could dream of the last few weeks, especially since Hadley discovered our secret, not to mention he makes my heart flutter and occupies my thoughts, I can tell something is on his mind. “I just hope he doesn’t get cold feet. That tends to happen when men are around me.”
“You think that’s happening?”
I shrug a shoulder and then my face squinches. “Yikes.” I notice two hockey players slam into the boards together.
“Am I allowed to say that this sport is by far more interesting than our guys’ sports?” Piper speaks in a hushed tone.
I scan the room to ensure nobody can hear us. “Hockey totally is.”
“And what you said about Spencer. I don’t think he is losing interest. He just has Hadley, and I’m sure the closer to baseball season we get, the more his focus shifts.”
Blowing out a breath, I turn to walk to the buffet. Piper follows me, and we each take a plate to grab snacks. “I mean, in the grand scheme of things, the only thing that is my hard red flag is when someone lies to me, I’ve had enough of that.”
The sound of a throat clearing makes me glance over my shoulder to find Hudson and Spencer arriving in the room, and maybe he heard me. Spencer just continues to have a wry smile.
Piper walks to Hudson to give him a kiss. “How was it down there?”
“Cold, but damn, Ford is fast and ruthless.” Hudson wraps an arm around Piper.
“I’m sure he will appreciate that we’re here,” Spencer adds.
Okay, I think he definitely heard me, as he is avoiding eye contact.
