Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
NATHAN
When I drive to Chance’s acreage, I’m riding solo. Riley will meet me here later.
The newly built house smells like fresh paint and delicious food. I’m surprised by the number of people who are present—including Mauve, Bobby, and some guys from the original Lucky Strikers hockey team.
Theilan and Watson—two of the most prominent former players—are noticeably absent.
I straighten when I see the team manager with a plate teetering with hors d'oeuvres.
Max has been keeping a professional distance from all the trainees at the camp, but he’s been extra distant with me. I’m starting to believe he intentionally switched to volunteering at another tent when I showed up that day at the fair.
I make a beeline for the team manager.
“Hey, Max,” I say.
I’m over six feet, but Max makes me feel like I haven’t hit my growth spurt yet.
The giant man looks down. His lips purse together at the sight of me. “Campbell.”
I keep grinning, even though I get the feeling he’d rather we not speak. “Nice. Jalapeno poppers.”
“Yup,” Max says.
I mentally face-palm. Jalapeno poppers? This is the man who holds my future in his hands and all I can talk about is peppers stuffed with shredded chicken.
I’m aware, after training for the league, that sometimes a player with a great attitude and team spirit will get chosen over the more ‘talented’ draft, so I keep pushing for conversation despite the awkwardness.
“Where’s Chance?”
“He’s setting up the hidden cameras,” Max says, glancing around as if looking for an escape.
I’m about to admit defeat and let him go. Suddenly, a small woman in a flowery dress appears beside me.
“Oh my gosh! Nathan Campbell! Hi!”
“Hi,” I say, grateful for the woman’s enthusiasm. It’s a perfect distraction from my crash-and-burn conversation with the team manager.
“I’m May, April’s sister. I’m a huge fan.”
“Thanks.” I accept the hand that she sticks out and shake it.
“Is April here yet?” Max asks, his voice much warmer than it was before.
“She’ll be here in about ten minutes. Rebel and Cordelia texted me when I walked in. I couldn’t do the girl’s day with them because of the job hunting, but I did bring dad.” She spins around, pointing to a feeble-looking man with a walking cane who’s sitting with Mauve.
When May spins back around, her eyes zero in on the food in Max’s plate. “Ooh. Jalapeno poppers.”
That’s exactly what I said, but Max starts grinning at May as if it’s the best joke he’s ever heard.
“Let me get a plate,” May says, launching at the buffet. As she reaches for the tongs, it drops to the ground. “Drats. Clumsy me.”
When May bends to retrieve the utensil, Max places his fingers around the edge of the table to protect her from bumping her head. May doesn’t notice and rises without skipping a beat.
“Nathan Campbell, I’m going to tell you a secret,” May says as she hands the tongs to one of the caterers who promptly presents her with a new one.
“There were all these ‘who’s hotter?’ quizzes online comparing you to Chance McLanely last year.
And don’t tell April…” The young woman winks over her shoulder.
“But I chose you about fifty percent of the time.”
“Wow. Fifty percent?” I laugh because I can sense that she’s sharing her story in good fun. However, when I glance at Max, he’s glowering.
Maybe I should make my exit now.
Thankfully, Chance walks in at that moment with a video team. I can feel the energy shift in the room.
And Riley still isn’t here.
Nat: Chance just arrived and April will be here any minute. Where are you?
Riley: I’m on my way, but someone’s cow is blocking traffic on the highway.
A cow?
I frown at the message.
Nat: Call me if you need me.
Riley: The cows are safely on the other side now. Traffic is moving again.
Renthrow and Kinsey yell my name and I tuck my phone away. We chat about tomorrow’s game until Chance gets to us.
“Campbell, you made it!” Chance says.
I grab his outstretched hand, pulling him in for a quick hug. The video production team crowd us in a way they didn’t with his family members. I wonder if it’s because we were compared to each other so much when I was in the league?
“What’s with the camera crew? Won’t that give you away?” I ask.
“I told April we’re recording for a documentary about my life.”
“That’s a good cover story.”
Chance hugs Renthrow and Kinsey too. When he pulls back, his hand is shaking.
“You good, bro?” I ask.
“Oh yeah. I knew April was the woman I’d spend the rest of my life with from the moment I saw her. I’m not nervous about that part at all.”
“Then why are you sweating?” Kinsey points to the droplets on Chance’s forehead.
Chance winces and pulls out a handkerchief that was probably ironed and straight when he first got the suit. But now? It’s a crinkled testament to his nerves.
“As sure as I am, there’s always the possibility that she secretly hates me or that she’s not ready or that she doesn’t even want marriage anymore—”
“None of that will happen. She’s going to say yes.” Renthrow squeezes his shoulder.
“Thanks.” Chance glances around me and then his eyes dart across the room. “Where’s Riley? Didn’t she come with you?”
“She’s on her way.”
A grin explodes on his face. “Hey, make sure you treat that lady right.”
“That’s a given. But why the warning?”
“Because, from now on, Riley Carter is my non-biological sister.” Chance grimaces. “Not in the way you two were. I just mean that if you or Riley fell into the water, I’d save Riley.”
Renthrow barks out a laugh.
I stare at Chance in shock.
“She’s family now. You mess with her, you mess with me. So… don’t mess with her.”
“I didn’t plan to, but thanks for the reminder.”
Chance pats me on the chest and moves on.
Kinsey arches a brow. “What was that about?”
“Riley took care of a problem for him. Didn’t you hear?” Renthrow says.
“Oh, that?”
“What happened?” I probe, wondering if they’re referring to Riley and Layla. I still haven’t gotten an update from Riley about this afternoon.
Kinsey shrugs. “I don’t know the details. Rebel asked me to do a favor for Riley, so I did.”
“What favor?”
“She wanted my dad to come down to The Tipsy Tuna.”
“Isn’t your dad the sheriff?” I have no idea how I’m aware of that information, so the gossip in Lucky Falls is both robust and subtle.
Kinsey nods.
“Did she say why?” I wonder.
Kinsey shakes his head.
“So you just… asked your dad, the sheriff, to go down to The Tipsy Tuna because Rebel asked?”
Kinsey looks at me dryly. “Do I need another reason?”
I think of Riley asking me for a favor and realize I wouldn’t need another reason either. “Nah, it makes sense.”
At that moment, the subject of our conversation steps through the door and my heart starts pounding loud enough to drown out the music.
“Riley!” I bound over to her as if she’s the puck and I see an opening on the ice.
Her eyes glitter brightly in response.
She’s wearing a pair of dressy black slacks that drape over her lean body and a fancy blouse that hangs only on one shoulder. As usual, there’s a dark outline around her eyes, making them spark like the dancing tips of a fire.
She’s beautiful enough to take my breath away.
My hands are itching to loop around her waist, but there’s the pesky fact that Riley hasn’t yet agreed to be my girlfriend. Rather than overwhelm her, I force my hands at my sides.
“Am I too late?” Riley asks, ducking shyly.
“N-no. I mean, April is… I think… Chance said…”
She’s so stunning I can’t even speak in proper sentences.
May’s voice rings out. “She’s here!”
Riley’s attention diverts to the commotion, but focusing on the imminent proposal requires more effort on my part.
Whoops and cheers of ‘you got this, Chance’ and ‘go get her’ break out. Chance leaves the room and the event organizer directs us to a projector screen that’s showing live footage.
“Let’s find a good spot.” Riley takes my hand like it’s the most natural thing in the world and I happily follow her to the front of the crowd.
Conversation is buzzing in the room, but it feels like there’s only me and Riley as I stand close to her.
“Did you get a lot of work done?” I ask.
She nods. “I wanted to program the ECU, which has to be done over the internet, so I couldn’t leave the shop.”
Riley launches into a whispered description of her diagnosis session. The more she talks, the less I understand but the hotter she gets.
“Oh, it’s starting!” someone yells.
‘Oohs’’ break out around us.
I force myself to look at something other than Riley and watch the videographers capture April on screen. Chance greets her with a hug and a kiss on the forehead.
‘That’s a lot of cameras,’ April says.
‘Just act natural’, Chance responds.
“Why are all the tall hockey players at the front?” A voice that sounds like May complains.
I realize I’m one of the culprits and sheepishly back away from Riley. She gives me a disappointed look as the crowd shifts forward.
Wishing I could be beside Riley, I watch Chance lead April into a large garage filled with vintage, luxury cars.
Riley and the other female mechanics all audibly gasp.
On screen, April covers her mouth in a similarly shocked and delighted fashion. “What is this?”
The lights in the spacious garage turn on one after another, revealing several empty bays. “This is our garage. And these empty spaces are for the vintage car collection I want to build with you.”
“What?” April’s jaw drops.
Chance points to a license plate on, what I’m assuming, is a very expensive car by the way Riley swoons when the camera pans to it.
The license plate spells out ‘Will’.
Then the camera swoops to another car and I hear one of the other female mechanics screeching, “Lord have mercy.”
The license plate spells ‘You’.
By the time the camera pans to the ‘Marry’, April figures out it’s a proposal and starts crying and nodding.
Riley twists her neck to look at me, her lips inching up.
As Chance and April officially become an engaged couple, I stare into Riley Carter’s eyes and feel a certainty that—just like Chance with April—I’ve found my person too.