Chapter Forty
Aiden
It’s late in the morning by the time I wake up.
When my arm stretches across the bed, I feel the cold sheets where Lyndsey should be.
I hate that she didn’t wake me. I feel like I haven’t seen her in such a long time between travelling and needing sleep.
I want to spend every minute with her but I know she has her own life.
Still, when I grab my phone to send her a good morning text my face breaks into a huge smile when I see she has already sent me a message.
Morning Cowboy, I think you should go look in your car… there might
be a little gift there for you
My heart starts to pound as I jump from the bed, not bothering to throw on any warmer clothes.
Just wearing my boxers and a pair of slippers, I slide into the garage and fling open the driver’s-side door to find a small white envelope waiting there.
What is she up to? Not being gentle, in my impatience I rip it open, pulling out the small card inside.
The smell of food and sunshine was the backdrop of the first place I met you. Do you remember where?
Of course I remember. That barbeque where Ruin introduced us to Ellis for the first time and the moment I realised her best friend Lyndsey was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.
Quickly I jog back inside and upstairs, throwing on the first clothes I find.
A pair of jeans and an old T-shirt that has seen better days, but I don’t waste time finding something better.
I need to know what she has in store for me.
It takes every part of my restraint to not break any laws as I zoom the few minutes to Ruin’s house.
His modern home is littered with proof of his family.
Jack, his stepson, has left his bike on the grass out front and there is a basketball hoop and small hockey net near the garage.
Knocking on the door I rock from one foot to the other as I wait for him to open it.
I hear Charlotte squeal from behind the wood and let out a deep breath as the door swings open, revealing my old teammate and his daughter strapped to his chest.
“Here he is!” he laughs. Charlotte reaches out for me and I take her. She puts her little hands on my face, squishing my cheeks together.
“Hi!” she yells right in my face, making me laugh, and Ruin steps out of the way so I can bring her inside.
“Hey, Char, how is my best girl?” I tickle her little belly and she howls out laughter, trying to wiggle out of my arms again for her dad to save her.
Seeing him as a dad is amazing to me but I always knew he would take to it like a duck to water.
He is naturally one of the most caring men I know and any kid would be lucky to have him as a dad.
Still, I want to know what he has for me more than I want to chill with Charlotte.
Without saying anything he pulls an envelope out of his back pocket, identical to the first one. I rip it open just the same.
I like it when you are looking fresh, don’t be late.
“I don’t know what this means?” I tell him, panicked. The first clue had so much more information.
“I do. We’re going on a trip, aren’t we, baby?” And Charlotte nods like she is in on this plan.
The two of them put on their coats and we get into our cars.
It’s easier if I just follow him that way, we don’t need to move the car seat over.
Plus Ruin is a bad liar so I think he wants me to be in my own car so I can’t question him.
After a few minutes, when I don’t bother to even turn on the radio, we pull into a parking lot I recognise.
Stopping the car in the spot beside his we get out of our cars and head to the shop our barber owns.
I don’t know how Lyndsey knows where I get my hair done but I could do with a cut.
A lot of players don’t cut their hair or shave when they are in season, so worried about their superstitions, but I have always felt like I play better when I feel fresh.
And if Lyndsey is wanting me to look my best I won’t complain, especially with how tired I have been.
Edge is waiting inside the shop for me. Ruin slaps my back and Charlotte waves as they call out their goodbyes. I’m whipped into a chair as soon as I’m inside and my barber starts working on my usual cut. Short but not to the skin on the sides and enough on top for Lyndsey to pull on.
My day seems to be flying by. By the time my hair is finished, Edge is waiting outside for me and, when I walk out, he hands me another envelope.
I have spoken to Coach Mitch, you can watch tapes another day. My favourite hockey to watch is our smallest hockey player where you spilled the beans about our marriage. What could be waiting there for you?
I know what this one means luckily. The rink where Jack plays with his kids’ league. I smile at Edge, but he is looking at me with a crinkle between his brows.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, even though I want to get in my car and speed off again.
“You will figure it out. Your wife is something else.” He laughs now. Whatever had him troubled disappears. Just as Ruin did, Edge pats me on the shoulder, sending me on my way again.
When my car pulls into the rink’s lot, I realise what had Edge frowning. Rook is waiting for me, his eyes widening in excitement when my car pulls up. Instead of waiting for me to get out he comes over and climbs in, bringing a big clothing bag with him.
“This is so fucking cool, eh!” He is bouncing in the seat, looking so much lighter than he did at the end of last season.
We didn’t make it to the playoffs last year, his rookie season, and he took it out on himself, but this year there has been a change in him.
He is as bouncy and childlike as he always is but I can see in his eyes that there is something more relaxed about him.
“You have a note for me?” I ask because he isn’t as quick on the draw as the other two were.
“Oh shit, yeah. I have it somewhere.” He starts rustling through his pockets until he finds an envelope tucked in his jeans back pocket.
It’s a little bent where he has sat on it but I’m no less excited.
“Wait, before I give this to you, have this first.” He hands me the garment bag and I pull the zip down a bit to peek inside and see a full suit.
“Jesus, how did she plan all of this?” I ask, but it is rhetorical. I’m just so blown away with her clear display of affection.
“All of us had a part. Mine was obviously the suit and Cassie got a reservation. Wait, shit, I wasn’t supposed to tell you anything. Fuck!” He slaps his hand over his mouth. His eyes are wide, scared I’m going to be mad at him, but it just makes me laugh.
“Give me the envelope, Rook.” I take pity on him. I’m too excited and happy by how my day has unfolded that I couldn’t be mad at him even if he had actually done something bad.
I had already assumed this day was going somewhere and a restaurant makes the most sense. And besides he didn’t tell me where it is so he hasn’t ruined any clues.
“Yep, I’m leaving before I say anything else. Have a good night.” He winks, his words filled with innuendo and absolutely no subtlety, and I roll my eyes. He jumps out of the car with a small salute and ambles off towards his car.
I don’t tell him but I think this night is going to be amazing. Setting all of this up is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me. Hell, I have never had a real partner before and, when I thought about it, I always assumed it would be me planning all of the dates.
I am a simple girl, I love flowers. Even if someone tried to ruin this place for us, they couldn’t succeed. One final stop before you find me.
The memory of Kayla warning me away from Lyndsey isn’t a great one but we do have a lot of good memories of Bloom and Blossom.
It is where I would visit her with coffee when Ellis was on bed rest. It is where I held her in my arms for the first time – yes, she was crying, but it is still nice to me.
Plus, after all of this, I know Ellis would have been angry if she didn’t get to be involved.
She might be Lyndsey’s boss but they are each other’s best friend. They found each other when the other was at rock bottom and I’m thankful that Ellis took Lyndsey into her heart because if she hadn’t then I never would have met her. Never would have fallen in love.
The drive to the shop is a familiar one.
I have done this drive most mornings I have been able to since we came back from Texas to take her to work.
For the first time my hands start to sweat against the wheel.
The road outside of the shop is filled with cars so I park a few blocks away and walk down to cool my hammering heart.
Before I even make it to the shop the door swings open and Jack’s head pokes out, looking up and down the street, and when he sees me he darts out, running to me.
“Anders! Come on, quick, you have to hurry!” he yells, bouncing at my feet, grabbing my hand and tugging me with all of his might.
“Okay, bud, let’s go,” I laugh, letting him pull me along, and when we get inside Ellis is stood with her arms crossed, clearly mad.
“Jack, you can’t just run out!” she admonishes him, but he doesn’t seem fazed as he runs over to her, pulling the next white envelope out of her apron and handing it to me.
“But I found him!” he tells her as though she hasn’t noticed me. She just rolls her eyes at him, clearly a little excited but not wanting to let him off with being reckless.
“I’ll deal with you later. Hey, Aiden.” She smiles, nodding at Jack as he hands the card to me.
I open it to find one final message.
Come find me husband. Il Moroso 6pm
It is already after five so I understand why Jack was so rushed. Knowing that after one last drive I’m going to see her makes my heart soar. After the day I have had there is nothing I want more than to kiss the hell out of her and see her green eyes shine up at me.