“The sporty one.”
I laugh. “That doesn’t help, I live next to a football coach and a pitcher.”
“The one with a kid.”
“Again, not narrowing the field. Hudson has a baby and an adult son, and Spencer has a daughter a little younger than Connor.” I focus on the road although it’s mostly clear up ahead.
“With the young girlfriend or wife.”
Blowing out a breath, I chuckle. “Okay, we’re going in circles. They both have that, so my guess is that it’s Spencer, since April drags him to the grocery store at every chance since she’s into cooking.”
“Yes! He did mention recipes. Anyhow, he doesn’t hold it in, and we chatted about you and how youmaybeneed to rethink your priorities on a few things.”
“I’m sure you did.” No enthusiasm seeps through my tone.
“The thing is, I have my birthday coming up, and I have a small request.”
“I’m not sure what else you would want.” She lives a life where money is no issue.
Margo hums a sound. “Are you driving? You may want to pull over…”
And a few minutes later, it clicks how this really is my moment of opportunity.
Because I’m done waiting when it comes to Brielle.
2
BRIELLE
Glancing down at my floral-print dress, I shake my head at myself that I purposely undid one button at the top. Grabbing my glass of Chardonnay, I internally berate myself for the button move, knowing I did it because I was going to see Ford today.
“You seem kind of out of sorts,” my friend Lena tells me. “It was a Ford day, wasn’t it?”
I notice she smiles to herself as she drags her brown hair to the side. We are sitting at the bar while we wait for our table to be ready. It’s a chic enough restaurant, but then again, everything in our small town of Hollows is decorated with perfection, down to the lighting hanging over our heads.
“Yeah, it was. I think it’s worse now. I mean, now we don’t have another hockey season looming over us.” I take a sip.
“And hockey is what kept you two in line? I really don’t get you guys.” She grabs some nuts from the small bowl.
“It’s complicated.”
She scoffs a sound at me. “Enlighten me.”
“You know the story. I was eighteen, unexpectedly pregnant, and being together wasn’t really…” I can’t even explain it.
Lena affectionately touches my shoulder. “That was then. You’re telling me through the years, the opportunity didn’t arise for you and Ford?”
“No.” I’m firm on my answer. “For so many reasons. Hockey pretty much ruled the schedule, and I couldn’t even imagine being in a relationship around that. I had law school to focus on. Plus, we both tried to move on.”
“How did that go for you?” She raises a brow at me with a knowing look.
“Well… I’ve dated, so has Ford.” And it was excruciating on all counts and a big-time failure.
“Yet you are both still alone.”
“Doesn’t mean we should try being together. We have Connor to think about, it’s way too risky.” And my heart can’t handle another heartbreak with Ford involved.
He already affects me enough; I can’t even imagine what it would be like to feel as though our possibilities could become a reality.
