“Really?”
“You have a glow.”
I roll my eyes. “You and Dad need to work on these sappy speeches.”
“Fair enough. But all good? Hadley had a substitute for her ballet class this week, and April seems out of sorts too, but I get the feeling that I shouldn’t press.” Concern is apparent in her voice.
I blow out a breath and briefly look down at my hands where my wedding ring sticks out. Marriagedoessuit me. “All good. She’s just under the weather,” I lie. It’s not my place to inform anyone about Hadley and Spencer, and I don’t think Hadley wants anyone to know. She mentioned not even telling Isla.
“Flu or…” It trails out of her mouth.
An exhausted breath now escapes me. “Relax, we meant it when we said that we’re not with child, nor plan on being in the near future.”
She gives me a sympathetic look. “Sorry, my mind tends to go there.” I get it, I do. Being pregnant at eighteen must impact you in many ways. “If there is anything I can do, then just tell me,” she offers.
“Thanks, but I’ve got it covered.” My mom chortles, and it causes me to look at her peculiarly. “What?” I wonder.
She wraps an arm around my shoulders and keeps me locked in a side hug as we look out over the empty ice. “Of course you do. Love is when you put someone else first, and that’s all you ever do when it concerns Hadley Crews, now Spears.”
A proud partial smile attempts to break out on my lips. Reflecting on all my choices, although not always ideal, my mom is right, because I’d make the same choice again. Ultimately, putting Hadley first is my only goal.
“If only she saw it that way,” I softly say to myself.
Not quiet enough, as my mom looks at me with alarm before she eases into advice that I know she is about to dish out. “Marriage isn’t easy. What does help is ensuring you remind the other how much you love and care, say it over and over, louder if you can. Don’t ever assume it’s clear. We need to be showered in proclamations of love.”
I bring a hand to my forehead and shake my head slightly side to side. These heart-to-hearts with my parents are killing me. Way too saccharine for my liking yet ridiculously informative.
Because if I look back at it, I’ve done many actions to show how much I feel for Hadley, yet I haven’t stated the obvious. Maybe I took it for granted and never told her how I really feel, assuming she got the hint.
I can’t afford to get it wrong now. Not when she’s uncertain of how to move forward.
“Duly noted, Mom,” I comment. “Great talk as always.” I give her a little fist bump.
“Go. You have a wife waiting for you.”
“Yeah… yeah, I do.” My words linger in the air.
* * *
When I arrive home,I’m relieved to see that Hadley ate something, as there is a half-eaten sandwich on a plate in the kitchen. That’s what I call progress. Especially since she told me that she was going to check in at her studio and go for a walk. She’s attempting to find some normalcy again.
Heading to our room, I know she’s there since her car is here, and her phone was downstairs by the charger. The moment that I’m standing at our bedroom door, I see her resting on her side with an e-reader on the mattress.
“Hey,” I say as I walk into the room and remove my watch at the same time. My intention is to get comfy with her and have a relaxing evening.
“Hi.” She sounds deflated. I guess maybe we haven’t made progress.
I slide onto the bed to spoon her from behind. She’s wearing a light summer tank top dress which means I have ample opportunity to brush my lips along the curve of her shoulder. “I was thinking… maybe we should get out of Lake Spark for a few days.”
Hadley glances over her shoulder at me, and I take the moment to capture her chin with my crooked finger. “What do you mean?” she asks, curious.
“One of my teammates is back in Sweden for the summer and invited me to his family lake house there. Maybe it would be a good escape. The summer is ticking, and I’ll have to start preparing for the season soon.”
“Sweden?”
“Why not?” I shrug then tip my mouth down to trace her lips with mine.
“I’m not sure. Kind of feels like I’m running away.”
