“He’s avoided Ford, sent his assistant to a meeting in Lake Spark so he didn’t have to go, made a shitload of paper animals. This man is losing his focus. Bad news for his hockey empire.” Brent is trying to put pressure on me, I can tell.
“She loves you, you know.” Charlotte’s words strike me.
“Why do you say that?” I pry.
“She nearly told you, but then you went on your break a few hours later.”
My mind runs through that day. In bed… she almost told me something. God, I wish I heard her say it. I would hold onto that forever.
“I’m not sure you should have told me that,” I say softly.
Charlotte stands up and grabs a shirt of Brent’s hanging off a cushion. “Nah, something tells me this will make a good maid-of-honor speech one day.”
“This is so romantic. How did you meet Violet?” Gemma asks as she grabs her purse.
“She’s my buddy’s little sister.”
“Their sparks started when he grabbed her name from a bowl at my party.” Brent grins then sighs. “Someone had to do the good Lord’s work.”
I shake my head. “That’s my cue to get out of here.”
“Fine, I’ll send up a bagel if I order some. Just remember that your ideal world isn’t having a bagel with me, it’s with someone else. Oh, and imagine that, you could actually have it all.” Brent plants both his hands on my shoulders to square my vision to him. “It’s okay to admit what you enjoy is actually everything we were always against… Besides, I’ll just go wild for the both of us.”
For the first time this morning, I nearly laugh, because it feels as though ease is forming inside of me.
* * *
Heading back upstairs,I take a long shower before I walk into my closet to search for a suit that I’m after. I’m supposed to drive out this afternoon to meet with my parents for some event at their country club.
I slide hangers to one side until I spot my suit in a dry-cleaning bag. I forgot this was delivered a while back. I bring the hanger off the rail and carry the suit to my bed where I work the bag off. I notice an envelope attached to the neck of the hanger. The dry cleaner always puts things that are found in pockets in an envelope.
Opening the envelope, my body comes alive at the sight of the catalyst for my current state.
Taking the two small sheets of paper out, I unfold them to find Violet’s name and my own.
Because I’m the guy who decided to keep our names that were in a bowl. Deep down, I know why, too.
She was always going to be more than one night.
Now it’s time to do something about it.
25
DECLAN
Brielle smiles warmly at me as she balances Wyatt on her hip and grabs a treat from the jar for Puck who is jumping up on his back paws.
“He’s been waiting for you, you know,” she mentions.
“Ford or the dog?”
She laughs. “Both. Ford will be down in a minute. Want something to drink?”
“Nah, it’s okay.” I take a seat at the kitchen island, scanning the area. Every time I’m here, I’m reminded what a home looks and feels like. Toys scattered on the floor, an overzealous dog wagging his tail, and the music from upstairs which means Connor is home.
“Thanks for the maple syrup.” She indicates with her head at the new bottle on the counter.
It’s a glass bottle with gold foil around the cork. “It’s a special edition, all the way from Quebec,” I explain.
