Chapter 26
. . .
Drew
The comfort of my sister’s arms is exactly what I need when she pulls me into an embrace in the Vancouver Airport.
“I never want to go that long without seeing each other again,” I whisper into her blonde hair, which smells of peaches and caramel.
She takes my carry-on bag, which is all I brought with me since I had anticipated a few days in Brooklyn and not another week away from home.
“Drew, we only had to wait another six weeks, and you could’ve spent Christmas here. You didn’t have to rearrange your entire work schedule.”
We begin walking toward the exit, where the pickup line is situated.
“Did you drive here, or are we getting a taxi back to your place?”
She rolls her eyes, and we step out into the frigid November air; it’s even colder in Vancouver than it was in Brooklyn, and I instantly regret not packing my winter parka.
“I borrowed Greg’s car. Taxi prices are ridiculous around here.”
“You really should think about getting your own car,” I reply as she lifts my bag into the trunk.
She slams it shut, and I make my way to the passenger side, pulling open the door and climbing into Greg’s black SUV.
Marley slides into the driver’s side and cranks the engine, immediately pulling onto the road. From memory, the journey from the airport to her house is at least a half hour, giving me plenty of time to unload on the one person I can talk to freely about everything that’s happened.
Ordinarily, I would talk to Mom as well. But given the circumstances, it feels unfair to expect her to keep such a huge secret from Dad.
“With Greg working from home, we only really need one car, and auto insurance is so damn expensive!”
I look at her with wide eyes. “You know that our parents are millionaires, right? I’m sure if you asked them, they would get you a car.”
Marley shakes her head and joins the freeway. I’ve always considered myself humble, but my sister takes it to another level. Her stubbornness also reminds me a lot of Will, and suddenly, I’m thinking about our last interaction in the hotel lobby.
I really wanted to invite him to my room so we could reenact everything we’d shared the night and morning before, but falling into bed together wasn’t going to help clear my head.
It was supposed to be just sex—a hookup between two people who couldn’t resist the urge for each other any longer.
That wasn’t what transpired though. The way he looked at me, the emotion that coursed through my body when he pushed inside me for the first, second, and third time—they weren’t typical of a one-night thing or the way I imagined it would be if I ever slept with Will.
I am scared of being discovered and the consequences that will follow. But I’m also scared because I don’t want to be another Hallie, falling victim to Will’s charm, only to be left brokenhearted when he’s done with me.
So, why did he look at me like I was holding his heart in my hands?
And why did his eyes linger on mine until the very final second when the elevator doors closed in the lobby?
“I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that wanting to see me isn’t the only reason why you booked a last-minute flight to Vancouver.”
I gaze over at my sister, her silhouette growing blurrier by the second.
This is why I needed to come to Vancouver.
“I think I’m in way over my head, Marl.”
We leave the freeway, and she pulls up at a stoplight.
Marley takes my hand in hers, resting them both on the center section. “Is it to do with a guy?”
I blow out a long breath, and we start moving again. “How did you guess?”
She squeezes my hand. “Because I know my sister and because you have that look in your eyes—one that screams that you’re in love.”
My laughter rings around the car. “In love?! What drugs are you taking this week?”
Marley doesn’t laugh along with me though, releasing my hand so she can take a right and merge onto another freeway.
“What’s his name?”
I stare out of the passenger window. Even though she’s my sister, I’m struggling to make eye contact, for fear of how she’ll react.
“Drew?” she presses me for an answer.
“I need you to promise that you won’t freak out when I tell you this.”
“And you know whenever someone begins a line with those words, that’s exactly what the other person does.”
“It’s Will.” I say the words quickly, like I’m ripping a Band-Aid off.
One hand on the steering wheel, she holds up the other. “Wait, what?! As in Will Jones?! William freaking Jones?! The family friend you’re supposed to be representing and … oh my God …” She draws in a sharp breath, horror in her voice. “You’re in love with him?!”
“I’m not in love with him!” I shriek. “But … yeah, I’m talking about Will Jones.”
“Holy freaking Lord.”
“Not helping,” I sing at her. “I was hoping for more of a calm response to this news. You know, the kind where you tell me that I’m not a freaking idiot for sleeping with him.”
“You’re sleeping with him?!” Marley practically pulls off the road. She grips the steering wheel tighter, drawing deep breaths into her lungs.
I don’t say anything for a few beats, giving her time to calm down.
“Drew … I … I don’t know what to say.” She quickly looks at me and then back at the road. “I guess all I can think to ask is, what’s he like in bed?”
We both start laughing because of all the questions my sister could have asked, of course she had to go ahead and pick the most inappropriate one.
“Listen …” She holds up another hand, still laughing as she says, “You can’t blame a girl for going there.
The boy has a reputation for being amazing in bed.
You only have to run a quick search of him on social media to figure that one out.
” She winces at her own words. “Sorry, that’s not what you wanted to hear. ”
I shrug and gaze out of the window. Vancouver truly is a beautiful city. “I’m well aware of his reputation, but that’s the thing …” I turn to look at her. “I think he might really like me.”
Marley side-eyes me, but doesn’t say anything else.
“And I think I might really like him too.”
Marley takes a seat at the kitchen table and slides a plate of spaghetti Bolognese my way.
It looks incredible, but my appetite has deserted me in favor of my stressing over the boy with a smile that makes me giddy.
He will have landed back in Seattle by now, and I haven’t heard a thing since last night.
I stare down at my phone.
“Were you hoping that by running off to Vancouver, he might follow you here?”
Marley’s question hits me right in the gut. I don’t want to admit the truth in it or the fact that I’m missing him and allowing my mind to spiral.
What if he’s hooking up with someone else right now?
“I came here to see you,” I tell her. “But, yeah, I’m thinking about him, and I can’t deny that.”
I twirl some spaghetti around my fork, but it clatters to the plate when my phone buzzes on the table, and I immediately grab it.
Will
In case you were wondering, I miss you. And, yeah, I’ve already googled flights from Seattle to Vancouver. Twice.
Okay, maybe three times. But who’s counting?
“Oh, girl, you are definitely into him.”
I could try all night but still struggle to hide the smile as it pulls at my lips.
Taking a big bite of food, I close my eyes and swallow. “You’re still a great cook, Marl.”
“Don’t deflect, Drew. I want to know what Will said.”
“How do you know it was him who messaged me?”
She narrows her eyes. “And don’t play dumb with me either.”
Now hungrier than ever, I pick up my cell and unlock it, bringing up the text thread with Will and handing her the phone.
For several minutes, she studies our interactions as I continue to eat. Every now and then, she gasps or raises an eyebrow, and I giggle, wondering which bratty comment from Will has my sister all twisted up. Probably all of them.
Rather than me verbally fill her in on every detail, it feels easier to let her read through everything that’s been said.
When she’s finished, Marley locks my phone and slides it toward me.
I take a last mouthful of pasta and wait for a verdict.
“What do you think?” I eventually ask, too anxious to let the silence last any longer.
Blue eyes, a shade darker than mine, gaze back at me. “I think we need to go out and have a drink. Because that boy”—she points to my cell—“isn’t going to stop until he has my sister right where he wants her.”
I open my mouth to reply, but she shushes me, turning all gooey-eyed.
“And I, for one, am really freaking jealous. Any girl who claims that she doesn’t want a hot hockey player obsessed with her is nothing more than an accomplished liar.”