Chapter thirty-four #2
“Of course.” She grins, most likely happy to make a few sales.
“Ronnie, I can pay for my own dress.”
She waves me off. “Nonsense, let me get it for you. It’s a gift.”
I thank her and head back into the changing room to collect my things. My phone blinks with a new message from Shane, and a smile spreads over my lips as I swipe it open, only for it to drop once I see his reply.
Shane
That’s it. Nothing else…
He’s been answering me like this since I left. Small one-word answers, or in this case, emojis. And usually, he always replies immediately, no matter what he’s doing. But today, it always takes a few minutes, like he’s too busy to talk.
Like I’m bothering him…
I shove my phone in my purse and take a deep breath, trying to calm emotions that are rapidly swirling in my head with unwanted thoughts. I walk out of the changing room and meet Ronnie and Noah at the register.
A few minutes later, we make it to our appointment right on time. We settle down in our chairs starting with our hands first. I decide on a simple French manicure over my real nails, while Ronnie goes crazy and chooses blue with orange tips gel nails, just like her hair.
Noah signals to us from the waiting room that he’s stepping out to take a call, and Ronnie takes that opportunity to share a little secret. “Don’t tell anyone, but I scheduled an appointment next month to get my implant removed.”
My eyes widen as I look over at her. “Really? I thought you weren’t ready for that yet?”
“I wasn’t, but I’m seeing all of you having kids and it just made me crave it, too. Plus, the guys are so wonderful to me, and they’ve been so patient. I feel like this is the next step for us,” she says with hearts in her eyes.
I can’t help but smile. “I know one who will be overjoyed when he finds out.”
“Oh, he won’t be the only one.” She looks back at the door to make sure Noah isn’t back yet. “Noah might act as if it doesn’t bother him, but I don’t miss the little comments he makes about us having a child. Or how he always places his hand on my stomach for longer than necessary.”
She bites her lip, smiling. “I even saw him looking at custom-made onesies online, and he had written ‘Little Ellis-Adler’ on it. It was the cutest thing I’d ever seen. He has it saved on his computer.” She sighs. “How can you not want a baby with two men who are unconditionally obsessed with you?”
The lady doing her nails chokes on her own saliva, while mine stares at Ronnie with wide eyes. I giggle, because we always get this reaction when people who don’t follow hockey news find out Ronnie is with two of them.
“Yes, I have two husbands.” She lifts her left hand, that isn’t currently being done, and wiggles her ring finger.
“Lucky lady,” the woman doing my nails says, making us all laugh as they get back to work.
Noah comes back in a few minutes later, followed by a couple. The woman goes off with one of the employees, while her partner stays behind and openly flirts with the woman at the reception desk, looking over every few seconds to make sure his girlfriend isn’t paying attention.
My stomach instantly recoils at the sight before me, and I quickly look away. I tap my phone that lies flat on the surface of the counter, wishing Shane’s name would pop up, but it stays blank. I sigh, feeling a bit down and not knowing what to think about Shane’s strange behavior.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Ronnie asks quietly with concern lacing her voice.
I bite my lip, afraid to even bring up the subject. “Do you think Shane would ever be unfaithful?”
She gets this look of anger on her face instantly. “What? Of course not! Shane is as obsessed with you as this one is with me.” She nods toward Noah. “Where is this coming from, Brey? Has something happened?”
I shrug, looking down at my lap as my eyes gloss over.
“I don’t know… He’s just been acting weird all morning.
He’s barely texted me or even responded to my messages, and he’s been hiding his phone from me every time I get close and having secret conversations.
” I wipe at the tear that slips free. “What if… what if he’s seeing someone else?
What if he’s having doubts about us? Or maybe I’m not… fulfilling enough for him…”
She places her hand on my arm. “Oh no, babe, don’t think that way. I promise you, Shane isn’t seeing anyone else.”
“How can you be so sure?” I sniffle as more tears fall.
“Because he loves you.”
“I know that. I don’t doubt that he loves me, but sometimes love isn’t enough…” My voice breaks at the end, hating that this could be my reality, hating that my mind is conjuring up these thoughts.
“Please don’t cry, Brey. I swear it’s not what you think,” she pleads, but I can’t stop the tears from falling now that they’ve started. “Oh God… Noh, I need your help!”
Everyone in the salon looks at us, some with curiosity while others wear a look of concern. Noah hurries over and frowns when he sees my distressed state. “What’s wrong with her?” He crouches down beside me and rubs a hand along my back.
“She thinks Shane is cheating on her because he’s been distant today.” She gives him wide eyes, like they’re passing a secret message.
He stands and sighs deeply. “He’s not cheating on you, Aubrey. He’s planning you a surprise party.”
“Noh!” Ronnie gasps.
“What? Would you rather her continue to think he’s playing behind her back or simply tell her the truth?” he says, looking over at Ronnie.
“No, of course not. But you could have just helped me convince her that he wasn’t being a two-timing dick!”
“Kitten, those thoughts swirling through her head a second ago aren’t good for her health. I won’t have her dropping to the ground over this.”
“Wait, wait.” I raise my hand, quieting them. “He’s planning a party? For what?” I furrow my brow with confusion.
Noah turns back to me. “A baby shower mixed in with a bachelor-bachelorette party.”
“He is?” My eyes fill with tears once more as the employee switches to my other hand.
Ronnie smiles sweetly. “Yes, we were instructed to keep you out of the house until everything was ready.”
“So, he’s not seeing someone else?” I ask quietly.
“No, babe. He’s trying to give you everything you want, even if you say you don’t. That’s how much he loves you.” She gives her opposite hand to the lady in front of her as she starts attacking her nails.
I let out a wet giggle. “God, I feel like an idiot. It must be all these hormones messing with my brain.”
The lady doing my nails taps my hand. “Don’t worry, honey. I asked my husband for a divorce when I was pregnant because he bought me the wrong-flavored ice cream. We all go a little crazy while carrying.” She winks and gets back to work as everyone laughs.
An hour later, we’re finally pulling up to the gate as I open it, and immediately, I know that Noah and Ronnie were telling me the truth.
Because from the gate all the way to the front of the house are rows of cars.
If I had to guess, I’d say the whole team is here, including the coaching staff and anyone else who plays a part in Shane’s everyday hockey life.
Noah drives us down to the front door and parks in front of the garage doors where I notice all our friends’ cars nearby. Noah helps me out of the car just as Shane shows up. I wrap my arms around his neck once he’s in reach and tell him I love him with emotions in my voice.
His groan is followed by a chuckle. “Who told her?”
“Noah did.” Ronnie points at him.
“I didn’t have a choice. She thought you were having an affair,” he defends himself with a glare directed at his girl.
Shane holds me back, looking me over. “You thought that?” he asks, sounding hurt.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to! I just… You seemed so distant all day, and you didn’t seem to care when I asked you about the dress… I was just emotional and thought the worst.” I look down, ashamed of the thoughts that transpired in my head.
“No, I’m sorry, Angel. I was just so busy trying to get everything ready in the short amount of time we had. I should have known you’d pick up on it.” He cups my cheeks and kisses my forehead. “Come on, sweetheart. Everyone’s waiting for you.” He takes my hand and guides us inside.
“Ah! There’s my beautiful sister!” Eden is the first to greet me right at the door, throwing her arms around me.
I giggle and hug her back. “Hi, Eden.”
“She talks like she doesn’t have any other sisters.” Leah comes in next, rolling her eyes and kissing my cheek. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Hi. I’m so happy you’re all here.” I grin as Phoebe appears.
“We wouldn’t have missed this for the world. How are you doing, Aubrey?” She hugs me as well.
“I’m doing all right. Exhausted and ready to get this beauty out.” I laugh, rubbing my belly and blushing.
“Oh, I know the feeling.” She smiles and steps away. “You don’t have much left to go.”
“But not before the wedding!” Eden points a finger at me, then down to my belly. “You stay in there, little girl, until after they’re married.” She then looks back up at me. “Understood, Mama?”
I laugh again. “I’ll try my best,” I say, then groan when I’m hit with a pain in my stomach, bending over slightly as Shane gives me his arm to hold on to.
“Oh God! Please tell me I didn’t just jinx it!?” Eden gasps.
“No, no. They’re those fake ones. She’s been getting them a lot lately,” Shane answers her. “Let’s get you seated, sweetheart.”
I nod as the pain finally subsides, and he helps me over to the second sitting room we rarely use.
It’s an enormous space with multiple different seating areas and two fireplaces.
When we enter the room, I’m greeted by so many familiar faces, all saying hello and wishing me congratulations.
A lot of them I haven’t seen since the season ended, so it’s nice to have them around again.
“Wow, everyone is here.”
“Mostly, yes. Octavia was supposed to be here as well, but she called me this morning saying she wouldn’t be able to attend. Something about her mother having an accident,” Shane says.