Chapter Nine
ISABELLA
Iwonder how obvious it is that I’m pretending to be normal right now because I can’t stop smiling. Every time Austin says something, he has everyone else laughing, even Nick, who apparently is one of the grumpiest guys around.
Dinner flew by in good way. The food was fantastic, and the conversation never stalled.
And even though I’m having a lot of fun, there’s a part of me that wishes it was just Austin and I sitting across from each other.
I want to keep talking to him but don’t want to be rude to the rest of the group.
Abby and Eloise are both so great, and two women I know I’ll be friends with for the long haul.
Now the six of us are packed into an escape room, and everyone’s competitive side has officially taken over.
Even Nick is now invested, muttering under his breath while he aggressively looks through drawers like he’s on the hunt for treasure.
We need to solve a chain of puzzles to unlock the next room. Austin and I are searching through an old rusty filing cabinet, looking for anything that might be a clue.
“This is actually so fun,” I tell him, sorting through some papers. “I can’t believe I’ve never done an escape room before.”
“I’ve only done one,” he tells me. “My mom made my whole family go when I was home for Christmas a few years ago.”
I laugh softly. “That sounds exactly like something my mom would force us to do.”
He grins. “Force?”
“Both of my parents love anything that includes family bonding,” I say. “Although lately she’s mostly focused on her grandchild. If it doesn’t involve him, she’s not interested.” I pause. “Then again, she has been full of surprises lately.”
Immediately, my mind flashes to her encouraging me to text my ex that I have a boyfriend. And specifically, that Austin is my boyfriend.
My fake boyfriend. The same man I’m trying to get to know better. Who would probably run the other way if he knew about this.
Austin smiles as he slides open another drawer. “It must be nice being back with your family.”
I nod, leaning against the wall, taking some weight off my foot. “It is. And I love spending time with my nephew.”
There’s a brief pause before he says quietly, “I miss my family. I don’t get to see them much anymore.”
The distance between us grows smaller, and the noise from the others fades into the background for a second.
“I know how that feels,” I admit. “More than I’ve ever admitted.”
Our gazes lock on each other, and my stomach does a little flip.
“But that’s part of the deal when your career keeps you moving all the time,” he says. “Do you ever regret it?”
His question catches me off guard.
It’s something I’ve wondered more times than I can count.
Especially after a long day on my feet, dancing until every muscle in my body aches and another holiday is spent away from home.
I’ve sacrificed so much for this career, for the chance to do the thing I love more than anything else in the world. And most days, it’s worth it.
But sometimes it gets lonely. Not because I don’t have incredible friends and co-workers.
They are all amazing and become a second family in a lot of ways.
Still, it’s not the same as having people who’ve known you forever.
Family is different, at least in my case. I know it’s not that way for everyone.
“Sometimes,” I admit finally.
Austin exhales, almost relieved by my honesty. “Same.” He leans back against the wall next to me. “And I really miss home-cooked meals. My dad’s a chef, so going home basically means eating like royalty for a week.”
I laugh. “Okay, that actually sounds wonderful.”
“It is,” he says seriously.
“Hey, Reed,” Nick calls from across the room, a smirk tugging at his mouth. “Are you planning on talking all night, or are you going to help us?”
“We are helping,” Austin fires back immediately.
I raise an eyebrow at him. “I think we should try a little harder to look convincing.”
He snickers. “Maybe.”
Brad and Eloise discover another clue hidden beneath a loose floorboard, and suddenly everyone crowds around trying to decode the message that will lead us to the final room.
Honestly, I’ve almost completely lost interest in solving the mystery itself. My competitive side has officially taken a back seat to my growing interest in Austin.
Not that I’d ever say this out loud.
Still, Austin and I finally manage to focus long enough to piece together the last puzzle. The final lock clicks open, and we all cheer in excitement.
“And that,” Austin announces dramatically, “is how it’s done.”
Nick laughs. “Pretty sure you two wouldn’t have finished if the rest of us hadn’t carried the team for the last twenty minutes.”
Austin nods solemnly. “That’s fair. It was a group effort.”
“We do make a pretty great team,” Nick says.
Austin lifts his hand, making his way around the room giving everyone high fives. When he reaches me, our palms meet, but instead of pulling away immediately, his fingers linger against mine for an extra few seconds. My stomach instantly flips.
“We should go back to the café and get dessert,” Brad suggests. “I know the owner.”
He slides an arm around Eloise’s shoulders, and she leans into him automatically.
Watching them together and Abby standing with Nick stirs something familiar inside me.
Sometimes I do miss having someone by my side. The person who notices when you’re tired without you having to say it. Who supports you in every aspect. Hmm…maybe my mom was right about Dexter not supporting my career.
“Dessert sounds perfect,” I say.
“Yes,” Austin agrees quickly. “I’m always open for dessert.”
I’m secretly relieved Brad suggested extending the night because I’m not ready for it to end yet.
Not even close because being out of the house has already felt like a gift, and the company makes it even better. Especially Austin.
This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time. At one point my foot starts throbbing again, but Austin immediately notices me wincing and helps rearrange the cushions on a chair so I can elevate it comfortably. The others jump in too, fussing over me until I’m laughing too hard to protest.
By the time someone finally checks the clock, it’s after midnight. And unfortunately, reality starts creeping back in. It happened to Cinderella.
“Oh wow, it’s late,” Abby says.
The rest of us murmur in agreement as everyone slowly stands and gathers jackets and purses.
“Can I give you a ride home?” Austin asks me.
The question is casual, but there’s something hopeful in his expression that makes my pulse speed up.
I glance toward Abby, who gives me an eager nod. I had asked her for a ride home, but clearly she isn’t bothered at all.
“Sure,” I say.
Austin’s smile appears instantly, warm and genuine, which causes an excited jolt to shoot through me.
We all say our goodbyes, and I give Abby a hug. “Thanks for planning tonight.”
“Anytime,” she says. “It was a blast.”
“And you’re coming to the game with us tomorrow?” Abby asks, making it sound like a demand instead of an invitation. Austin eyes me curiously, waiting for my response.
“Um, well, I don’t have a ticket,” I point out.
Abby waves a dismissive hand. “Oh don’t worry about that. We know where to find tickets.”
I guess that’s one of the benefits of being engaged to a player.
“Yeah,” Austin adds with a chuckle. “We’ll figure it out.”
“Okay,” I say with a smile. “Sounds good.”
Austin and I step out of the café and into the crisp night air. The cool breeze brushes against my cheeks, it’s the perfect fall night. After being stuck inside for weeks, even walking down the sidewalk feels freeing.
“Thanks for the ride home,” I say as we head toward his car. “Honestly, I haven’t driven myself anywhere in forever.”
He chuckles softly. “Well, you’ve been a little busy.”
“Yeah, but still.” I let out a long breath. “You have no idea how good it feels to finally be out of the house. I was starting to lose my mind. I’m not used to sitting still all day, and now I remember why I’m not a TV person.”
“I get it completely,” he says. “Hockey keeps me on the go constantly. When we don’t have games, there are practices, workouts, interviews, and appearances. Sometimes I feel like my life is scheduled down to the minute.”
I glance over at him, realizing how much I relate to what he’s saying. Well, except for the games. Most people hear about glamorous careers and think it’s all excitement and fun. They don’t see the exhaustion that comes with constantly performing for everyone around you.
“It’s weird, isn’t it?” I say. “When your whole life has always been go-go-go, slowing down almost feels wrong. I’ve had so much guilt for not working.”
“Always.”
It feels nice talking to someone who understands without needing an explanation.
Austin leads me toward a sleek black SUV parked at the end of the row. He reaches for the passenger door and opens it for me without a second thought. This gesture impresses me.
My dad still opens doors for my mom, even after all these years. I always thought it was one of those old-fashioned things that doesn’t happen anymore. Austin offers me his arm as I carefully maneuver into the seat, awkwardly trying to move this stupid bulky boot strapped to my foot.
“You okay,” he says.
“Great,” I say with a laugh.
He stays in the doorway until I’m settled inside, and something about this makes my stomach do a flip. This reaction feels both strange and exciting—almost like we are on a real date. I’m still not clear if I should consider this a date since we were with four other people.
Austin walks around the front of the car and slides into the driver’s seat.
“So,” he says, starting the engine, “where are we headed?”
I pull out my phone. “I still don’t have my parents’ address memorized. Hold on.”
He grins. “No rush.”
This might be the best response he could have.
Once we’re on the road again, our conversation continues seamlessly.
“Does anyone else in your family play hockey?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Nope. Just me. My younger brothers went in completely different directions. Logan works in finance, and Brendan’s in medical school. Both stable, responsible careers.”
I wrinkle my nose dramatically. “True, but they aren’t as fun as playing a sport.”
Austin laughs. “That’s probably true.”
“And there’s definitely something to be said for what you’ve accomplished,” I continue. “I mean, the percentage of people who play a sport professionally must be low. There are way more doctors and finance guys walking around.”
“You make a great point,” he agrees. “Sometimes I forget that because hockey’s been my whole world for so long.”
“Well, you shouldn’t. It’s impressive.”
He glances over at me for half a second before returning his eyes to the road, but I still catch the small smile on his face.
“Thank you.”
“And despite the hectic schedule, I’m guessing you still love it.”
“Absolutely,” he says immediately. “Even on the hardest days, I wouldn’t trade this life for anything.”
I nod. “I feel the exact same way about dancing.”
Our conversation fades, but the silence doesn’t feel uncomfortable. The kind where neither of us feels pressured to keep talking. For the first time in weeks, I’m relaxed.
Before I know it, Austin slows as we turn into my parents’ neighborhood.
Feelings of disappointment wash over me because I’m not ready for the night to end.
“Here we are,” he says, pulling into the long driveway.
“Yep,” I reply.
He puts the car in park and turns toward me. “I had a really great time tonight.”
My heart stumbles a little. “Me too. Honestly, I needed this more than you know.”
“I’m glad.” He hesitates for a second before rubbing the back of his neck. “This is probably going to sound lame, but…can I get your number?”
I can’t help giggling. “Why would that sound lame?”
He laughs too. “I was trying to figure out how to ask without it sounding like a creepy pickup line. I’m not sure it’s possible though. Hey, can I have your phone number?”
“You did fine,” I assure him.
“Good.” He opens his phone and hands it over to me.
I happily type in my number.
When I hand the phone back, our fingers brush, and suddenly all I can think about is how long it’s going to take him to call me.
I’d really love a repeat of tonight, just the two of us.
“Thank you,” he says, his smile turning softer. “I’m hoping this means you’d be open to going out again?”
“Yes,” I answer immediately. There’s no hiding my eagerness.
His grin widens. “Good. We have games the next three days, but what about next Saturday?”
“Saturday works,” I reply brightly. “My schedule’s mostly open these days. Except for baby Jude’s first fall activities. Apparently, my sister-in-law and my mom have the entire season planned down to the minute. We’re heading to a pumpkin patch next.”
He laughs quietly. “I’ve always enjoyed the pumpkin patch. That sounds fun.”
“It does. I’m trying to soak up every aunt moment I can before I leave.”
As soon as I say the words, his expression shifts and his face falls. This reminder feels heavier than it did before. But it’s happening—I’m leaving to return to my career and my life. I just don’t know exactly when.
I clear my throat and force a brighter tone. “Anyway, I should probably let you get home. Tomorrow’s game day.”
“Yeah,” he says with a nod. “And of course Coach scheduled one of his famous early morning meetings.”
He hops out of the car quickly and hurries around to my side before I can open the door myself. Once again, he helps me out of the car, his hand waiting for mine which I gladly accept. He walks me all the way to the front door, the porch light glowing above us.
“I’ll see you at the game tomorrow, right?”
I grin up at him. “I’ll be there. I’m looking forward to it.”
He smiles. “Hopefully it’s a good one. Our wins have been a little inconsistent lately.”
A comfortable silence settles between us. Then, before I can process what’s happening, he leans in and presses a soft kiss to my cheek. This causes a shiver to race through me.
When he pulls back, he doesn’t move far. Instead, his eyes linger on mine before drifting to my lips. Suddenly, the space between us feels charged with something new.
I almost tell him to kiss me. But I hold back, letting the anticipation continue between us instead. This would give me something to look forward to when we go out again. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
“Good night, Isabella,” he says softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Good night, Austin.”
He gives me one last look before finally heading back toward his car.
The second I step inside the house, I press my back against the door and let out a low squeal.
Whatever this feeling is, I don’t want it to end.