Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
ALICE
Declan
Are you sure you’re good for tonight?
No one would blame you if you wanted to stay home
Alice
I promise
I’m okay
If I had any issues going to the game tonight, I would tell you
Okay, you know I’m just worried about you
I love you for it
But I’m good
Okay
See you after?
Nothing could stop me
Taking the elevator up to the family suite, my stomach feels like a lead weight.
I’m not nervous for the game or spending the evening with the girls, but I’m still trying to come to terms with everything that’s happened over the last few days.
When my parents called us over for dinner, I didn’t plan on the worst happening. But them invalidating my trust?
I shake my head, walking toward the suite. I still can’t believe it.
But then Leon swooped in and told me Enchanted Petals is all but mine, and I’ve been a mess of emotions since. The easy thing to do would be to hide away and let everything overwhelm me. It’s not what I’m going to do. It wouldn’t do me any good.
I hear familiar voices as I cross the threshold into the suite. Angie and Piper are standing there, and the moment they see me, they hurry over to wrap me in a hug.
I guess that answers the question of whether they know what happened.
“How are you?” Piper asks. “Cash filled me in.”
“Yeah. I can’t believe what your parents did,” Angie says.
“Should I be worried on how gossipy the guys are?”
Piper pulls back and smiles at me. “Those boys don’t know how to keep anything to themselves.”
The diamond ring glints on her finger in the harsh overhead light.
“You got that right. But it’s because they love us,” Piper says.
“Is it okay they told us?” Angie asks.
I nod. “He’s only looking out for me.” I shrug a shoulder. “It’s kind of nice to have people in my corner.”
Angie smiles, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “You’re part of the Black Diamonds family now. You both are. So whatever you need, just tell us. We’re here for you.”
My chin quivers as I pull them both back in for hugs. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”
“I’m sorry for everything you’re going through,” Angie says, leading us toward the seats.
“I don’t want to talk about it. It’s going to make me emotional and it’s the last thing I want.”
“You got it.” Piper drops down into the seat next to me, patting my knee.
Tonight the only thing I want to enjoy is watching my husband play hockey, with friends around me who have turned into family.
These women not only welcomed me, but their partners welcomed Declan into the fold.
I can’t imagine how hard it is to get traded this far into your career, but Declan took it all in stride.
I don’t know what I’d do without him. Without these women. It has me smiling for the first time in days. Because while I might have lost one family, I gained another.
Cheers start to ring out around the arena as the guys take the ice. Even though it’s still early, everyone is excited for this season.
The hockey game tonight is the just the distraction I need. They are playing Detroit who, as Declan says, is one of the worst teams in the league besides the Knights. It’s easy to see the unmatched skill as the two teams take each other on.
Troy is able to get an easy goal right away, and Nick defends our goal, blocking the only early shot they are able to send his way. Cash and Declan are a force to be reckoned with, as Cash passes to Declan who gets a goal.
“Hell, yeah!” I jump up and down, screaming with the rest of the arena. “That’s my man!”
“Damn right.” Piper wraps an arm around me. “Great assist, Cash!”
“I’m going to go grab a drink. You two want anything?”
“I’m good.”
“I’ll get something later.”
I nod, walking back to the kitchenette to grab myself a beer. I crack it open with a hiss and take a cooling sip. My phone buzzes in my pocket.
Pulling it out, I see an email from my father’s attorney. He would be the only one to have an attorney working on the weekend. I roll my eyes at him.
My teeth crack as I grind them together. He couldn’t have waited until Monday to tell me that my trust is voided for falsifying my relationship?
God, what a dick.
Why in the world did they even have kids if this is how they are going to treat their offspring?
Maybe if I were a man and he could have molded me into his perfect little soldier, he might have something other than contempt for me.
I’ve never gotten love or care. Feigned interest and contempt on a good day.
“Sorry, Dad. I don’t want your job,” I mutter, locking my phone and putting it face down on the counter.
Someone I don’t know is grabbing a plate of meatballs and smiles at me. I return it, trying not to look crazed by talking to myself.
Three short bursts vibrate my phone against the marble. I should turn the damn thing off if it’s going to keep doing that. The crowd starts cheering. My guess is it was a good stop since I don’t hear the siren indicating a goal.
Glancing at my phone, there are three messages from Leon.
Leon
Hey, babe
Here’s the contract I’ve drawn up for Enchanted Petals
No rush. I know you’re at the game with that sexy husband of yours
I roll my eyes as I read his message. I’m not surprised he says this. Tapping on his message, I pull up his contract. Looking it over, all the terms and conditions are laid out.
Except one thing.
Alice
Are you giving me Enchanted Petals for free?
No
Then why don’t I see anything about payment?
It’s taken care of
Taken care of?
How?
Who took care of it?
I plead the fifth
Ugh!
I’ve had enough surprises this week
Why don’t you ask that sexy husband of yours
Have you two been conspiring behind my back?
I wouldn’t call it conspiring
Helping you, maybe
Now, go watch that husband of yours play hockey for both of us
Please
You’re just watching it because you’re obsessed with hockey butts
Duh
Who isn’t?!
“Everything okay back here?”
Piper startles me, and I drop my phone on the counter.
“Yeah. It’s good.”
“You were gone for a while, so I wanted to check and make sure you’re alright.”
“Just my husband conspiring behind my back to start the process of buying Enchanted Petals.”
I slide my phone into the back pocket of my jeans.
“Wait, seriously?”
I nod. Leon and I started the topic of me buying him out this past week, but apparently he and Declan started the ball rolling.
“I can’t believe them.”
“It’s nice that they both care about you so much,” Piper says.
“It is. Now to figure out a way to pay Declan back.”
I have a good chunk in savings, but even then, it was still going to stretch me to drum up the cash to start the buyout process.
Since I’ve been doing the books, I know exactly how much the shop is making. Comparing it quarter to quarter, I can see just exactly what the event with the Black Diamonds got us. A huge boost that hasn’t quit ever since.
“Well,” Piper says, grabbing a fresh drink and handing one off to me, “it’s better than him not caring, right?”
“You’re right. God, I love that man.”
“Yeah, you two are pretty cute together. I’d say he’s a keeper.”
“He is.”
I follow her back to our seats just as Troy goes on a breakaway and puts the puck in the back of the net.
Damn. The team is on fire tonight. I high-five Angie and take my seat.
“Team’s looking really good this year. Is it always this fun watching them play?”
“Yes.” They both answer immediately.
“It’s even more fun after,” Piper says, waggling her eyebrows.
“Piper, we’re in public,” Angie hisses.
“What?” She throws her hands up. “It’s not like you weren’t thinking it.”
“I think we all were.” I giggle.
It’s not like Declan and I were together when he used to play for the Knights, but I could always hear how dejected he was when they lost, which was more often than not. Every time he walks through the door, he’s beaming. You can’t erase his smile. He’s downright giddy.
I love seeing him so happy.
“In case Declan didn’t tell you,” Angie starts as the horn to signify the end of the period sounds, “we’re all going out after the game. And you’re not allowed to say no.”
“Right. There will be plenty of time for shenanigans tonight,” Piper says. “I like the afternoon games.”
“Me too,” Angie says. “Is Puck taken care of?”
Piper nods. “One of the neighborhood kids comes over to check on him and feed him.”
“Oh, I bet he loves that.” I smile.
“Puck loves anyone who will give him attention. And the kid is really sweet. He’s saving his money to go to math camp this spring.”
“That’s really kind,” I say.
“Yeah, Cash is a good guy.” Her eyes are focused on the bench as Cash and the rest of the team head to the locker room for intermission. “What the kid doesn’t know is Cash has already given his mom the money to send him, so it’s going to be fun money for him.”
“I love that.”
I remember Cash’s reputation from a few years ago all too well. The bad boy of the league. Hearing him now? You would never know that guy existed.
“Good thing he’s a keeper,” Angie says.
I laugh since she wasn’t around to hear our earlier conversation.
“I’m not giving that man back for anything.” She stares down at her ring. “I still can’t believe he kept the proposal a secret.”
“Oh, I can,” Angie states. “I was in on it and it was hard. You’re too sneaky for your own good.”
“I am not!” Piper scoffs. “Am I?”
She turns her attention to me.
“Umm.”
Piper waves me off. “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is we’re engaged.”
I fiddle with the gold band on my ring finger. I don’t have anything like Piper or Angie, but I don’t care. The simple band is all I need.
It’s perfect for me and Declan. Perfect for working at the shop.
I don’t need anything fancier because as long as I have Declan?
I’ll have everything I need in life.