Chapter Four
Lyndsey
It’s a few days later by the time we sit outside of Cassie’s office in the Spears arena.
Now that my phone is back on, Kayla has been drunk-texting me again most days and Aiden has tried to text me since we got back but I have done my best to ignore them both.
Hopefully, she will move on to her next true love soon and leave me alone.
And when it comes to Aiden, I don’t need to talk to him, I need to talk to a lawyer and wipe what happened from existence.
That is why even though he is sat in the seat next to me I’m trying my hardest to ignore him.
“This is very immature, darlin’, I expected more from you.” I know he is just trying to get under my skin and I hate that it is working. There was a time when his sharp words and grey eyes would render me speechless, but now I have to battle to bite my tongue.
Last year when he would bring me coffee, his flirting words would make me laugh and blush.
I longed for him to make a move but when he asked me out, I said no.
A part of me deep down must have known he would bring me nothing but trouble.
Case in point: the ring hidden in my bedside drawer, tucked under some sexy underwear I never get to wear any more.
Still, I wish I had been firmer with him, maybe then we wouldn’t be in this damn position.
I think back to some distinct memories I have from all those months ago.
Times when I should have done better to push him away.
The dinging of the bell on the flower-shop door has my attention snapping there.
When my eyes drift up to welcome the customer, my eyes lock with familiar deep eyes.
Eyes that I used to see on the billboard near Washington University when I was dating Kayla.
Eyes I saw up close in Liam’s kitchen a few weeks ago when Ellis introduced me to the team. Aiden Anders.
“Mornin’, darlin’.” His sweet southern drawl makes my knees weak. Something about that accent is my kryptonite.
“Cowboy.” I nod, acknowledging his presence while keeping my aloof, unaffected mask in place. “What can I help you with?”
Instead of answering straight away he places three cups onto the counter between us. Two hot coffees and one ice latte. Digging into his pocket he pulls out a selection of sugar and sweetener as well as those little milk containers. Looking between him and the coffee I’m honestly confused.
“So, I didn’t know how you like it. I panicked so I got a plain black hot coffee and an iced coffee so you can pick whichever,” he explains, picking up the third cup and taking a big gulp, like he is trying to keep his mouth occupied.
“Thank you.” I know I’m blushing. I can feel the heat of it on my chest but I can only hope it doesn’t spread over my cheeks and it will stay hidden behind my jumper. I busy myself mixing some milk into the hot coffee, leaving the iced one over on the side.
“So milk, no sugar. I’ll remember that.” He sweeps up the sugars and shoves them back into his pocket, leaning his hip against the counter.
I’m praying for a customer to come in. Aiden is basically a stranger.
Yes, I know more about him than he knows about me because of Ellis and because of Hot Hockey News.
It isn’t the most reliable news source but it’s a fun read.
“I’m sweet enough,” I say after realising we have been in silence for a while.
“Ain’t that the truth.” He winks. With his hand resting on the counter I can see the way his arm muscles bunch under his blue T-shirt.
“Need a bouquet for a hot date?” Ignoring his comment and the way his skin ripples over his muscles I take a small step away from the counter, straightening my spine.
I was almost leaning over into his space inspecting his tanned arms. I need to put space between us.
Physically and mentally. I have been blinded by a pretty exterior before and I’m not doing that again.
Aiden could have any woman with a pulse, as if he would want to date me. I need to get a hold of myself.
“No, I just wanted to see you.” Oh. He smiles brightly at me. His straight white teeth look like something from a dentistry ad. I bet he usually flashes that smile and every woman in a five-mile radius loses their panties.
“Oh. Why?” I cough. I pick up the coffee and take a huge gulp, needing something to distract me from his direct attention. I have never had anyone look at me as intently as he is.
“Well, I was wondering if you would grab dinner with me,” he asks, putting both hands on the desk between us and leaning forward into my space a little.
Not in an overbearing way, but it’s definitely intense.
Having his undivided attention on me makes me blush harder, but I won’t be swept up in his allure.
“Like a date?” He could just mean as friends, right? I mean, our friends are having a baby, we are going to be around each other a lot. He probably just means as friends, maybe even a meal with the rest of the team.
“Yes, darlin’, a date.” Oh. He laughs at my wide eyes. His smile quirks up on the left as he smirks at me.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
So I stuck to it, I didn’t go on a date with him.
After a while he got bored anyway. The day Ellis passed out and Aiden came to check on me was the last day things felt normal between us.
After I sobbed into his chest in an adrenalin drop, he put distance between us.
A typical man, unable to handle emotion.
I know it was a good thing to put walls between us but maybe if I had gone on the date and things had faded more naturally, I wouldn’t have still had some lingering feeling for him that led me up the aisle.
The door to Cassie’s office swings open to reveal her stood in a grey pinstripe pencil skirt with matching jacket and a white high-neck top underneath.
Her white patent leather pumps make her short legs look great and her black bob finishes her look.
I don’t know how she always looks so put together but I wish she would share some tips.
I’m good at putting outfits together but I have never looked this professional a day in my life.
“Come in, what the hell is the matter with you?” she asks Aiden, crossing her arms over her chest as we shuffle past her. A man in a suit is sat at her desk, I’m assuming it is one of the Spears lawyers.
“Look, Cas, I didn’t mean for this to happen.” For the first time Aiden actually seems sheepish. It’s a new sound but I think he is just trying to soften her up. It doesn’t work.
“Sit down!” She rolls her eyes, moving her attention to me as she sits at her desk across from us. “Other than the obvious, how are you?”
“I’m doing okay, just want to get this wrapped up,” I admit, clasping my hands together on my knee to keep my leg from bouncing. Cassie’s eyes shift between Aiden and me and under normal circumstances I would probably squirm under her scrutiny, but right now I have too much going on to care.
“Looks like I missed a real party, next time I’ll move some meetings around so I can come.” She laughs lightly.
“I wish you were there,” I sigh. “You’d have kept us in line. Cas, we need to keep this quiet.”
“I’m good at quiet.” A strange smile spreads across her face. A mixture of determination and a small excitement at getting to do the thing she loves. Her job.
“Really?” I ask, a little sceptical. I mean, there hasn’t been a lot of drama around the Spears from what I can remember. Other than Edge’s on-ice aggression and Ellis’ pregnancy stirring up a little bit of trouble last year, everything is usually calm.
“Do you remember when an ex-Spears player got a DUI? Or when a girl claimed Felix was going to be the father of her baby, even though she wasn’t pregnant?” she asks, tapping her fingers on the desk, clearly proud at the shocked look on my face.
“Did that really happen?” Aiden asks, and I’m even more shocked to know he was clueless.
The team treat their captain like their personal therapist, always asking him to pick them up from nights out or to ask advice about family drama.
He is a big part of what makes this team work, he is always willing to be a listening ear and has a special knack for making people feel at ease.
“Yeah, and I kept it quiet, and I can do it here too.” She laughs, moving her attention to the suited man next to her. “Mr Collins here will be helping to get divorce papers written up.”
“Divorce? What happened to an annulment?” My voice comes out a little shrill. Okay, a lot shrill, but I can’t be blamed. I thought we would be signing a form today and this would be over.
“Your wedding was legally binding. The marriage is ironclad, the only way to end the wedded bliss is with a divorce.” Mr Collins at least has the decency to look apologetic but that doesn’t do much to soothe me right now.
“But that will take longer, won’t it?” I ask, my hands wringing in my lap. My voice still comes out loud and a little aggressive but I can’t seem to catch my breath enough to act normal.
“Unfortunately, it’s the best we can do.” He shifts in his chair, no longer looking me in the eye.
“How quickly will the papers be drafted?” My hand slams down on the desk between us. I need him to look me in the eyes and tell me the truth.
“Lyndsey, calm down,” Aiden starts, making me swivel my head in his direction.
“Don’t tell me to calm down, how are you okay with all of this?” I snarl, throwing my arms out, nowhere near close to calming down.
“I don’t want to be married either but it’s not his fault. We got married, just because we don’t remember it that doesn’t mean you can put the blame on everyone else.” He leans forward, grabbing my hands in his, but I wiggle out of his hold, my anger growing into a borderline state of panic.
“Easy for you to say! You don’t have a shitty family or a crazy ex you’re trying to keep this from.” My words come out somewhere between a growl and choked cry. Tears flood my eyes but I bite the inside of my cheek to keep them at bay.
“What?” he asks, his eyes widening and his voice reaching a low, dangerous tone. He looks like he does on the ice right now, that is not something I’ve ever seen, even between all of our moments alone during my shifts at Ellis’ floral shop, Bloom and Blossom.
“Nothing, don’t worry about it.” I shake my head, reminding myself to keep my cool. I turn back to Mr Collins and ask, “So a few days? A few weeks?”
“Probably a week but as soon as…” The office door swinging open interrupts his explanation. All four of our heads snap to the intrusion to find Edge filling out the door frame.
“Jesus, Edge, just because you’re a regular that doesn’t mean you don’t have to knock,” Cassie snaps, and Edge looks between all of us, confused.
“Sorry, I thought… nobody would be here, it’s an off day,” he mumbles, properly chastised.
“Well, you’re wrong so close the door,” she says, but before he has the chance to do what she says I jump to my feet, wanting out of this room.
“Don’t bother, Edge, are you busy or can you drop me off at home?” I ask, shrugging my handbag over my shoulder. I can’t imagine how frazzled I must look but he doesn’t mention it.
“Lyndsey?” Aiden takes a hold of my wrist, but not wanting to say anything else – he knows that if he says too much we will be caught.
“Yeah, of course I can, you okay?” Edge coughs, nodding slightly. His eyes still look between us all but he doesn’t comment.
“I will be.” I look back down at Aiden and where he has his fingers around my wrist. “Just let me know when everything’s ready, okay? And maybe stay away from any booze for a while, you can’t be trusted.”
Without giving him time to reply, I pull my arm free and storm out of the office.
Edge follows me without a word. It’s one of the things I like most about the Spears offensive player, he minds his business.
People see him as a brute just because he can get aggressive on the ice but when I see him holding Liam and Ellis’ baby Charlotte in his huge arms, he is soft and calm.
After the past few days, it will be nice to spend some time in comfortable silence without prying questions.
It will give me time to figure out what I’m going to do while I wait for Mr Collins to contact me about the papers being ready.
As soon as that is done, I can go back to my regular life.
I can go to work and laugh with Ellis without hiding stuff from her.
I can go back to ignoring Kayla’s texts begging to have me back.
I can spend time in my apartment as far away from the Spears captain as I can get.