Chapter 22
STONE
Iskate solemnly on the ice as my brother stands on the side, watching me with a somber face, probably concerned. Allowing the puck to slide side to side, this is probably my most pathetic moment on the ice, even more than the day my career ended.
For the last few days, I’ve felt sick to my stomach. Harlow is coming to Lake Spark to talk, which is often code for parting ways.
“Damn, get it together, Stone,” my brother says.
I don’t even need to slow down, I’m moving at nearly a snail’s pace. I was hoping that the ice would clear my head, it always has in the past. Well, a lot of fucking good this is doing.
Braking by Vaughn, I step off the ice to go sit on the bench, and he follows. He looks at me with sympathy before he leans over to rest his elbows on his knees, waiting for me to say something.
“She’s coming to break up with me,” I say, deflated, and sigh.
“Are you sure?”
I flash him an unamused look. “Get there faster with the clues, Vaughn. Talk, visit, we’ve been floating in and out of what we want. Eventually a crossroads must come. Seems that moment might be now.”
He chortles at me. “Some roads never end. You said it yourself.”
“But directions normally lead you to a destination too.”
Vaughn blows out a breath. “Since when did you become Mr. Negative? This is kind of depressing. Either be optimistic or accept what’s coming and be mentally prepared for that.
I refuse to let you walk around for weeks or months in pieces.
” He pats my shoulder and squeezes for encouragement.
“You once helped solve my relationship woes. It’s because you were meant to solve your own problems one day. ”
I break away from his touch to lean down and unlace my skates. “I gave her an ultimatum, Vaughn, probably one of the worst plays in history. I brought this on myself.”
“Truthfully, it’s a winning move. Without clarity, you’ll both be miserable and uneasy. All the more reason to be calm about her visit. You know all the scenarios on the table.”
The pit in my stomach is stabbing, and I want to refuse the possible outcomes, but I know it’s what I needed to do, and I am at peace with wanting to stay near my family and welcome Harlow into that fold with open arms. It’s belief that a life with her would be better here.
I can't call it selfish, even though they say follow someone to no end, but if she took a step back and evaluated the big picture, then I’m positive she would see that the pros for moving to Lake Spark outweigh me moving down there.
But transplanting her life isn’t the issue.
She’s scared of love.
Harlow just needs to admit defeat and come to that realization on her own.
I throw my skates into my sports bag, not having one care in the world that ice skates should be treated with respect, like a bottle of fine wine.
“This is hell,” I state blankly.
“Put on your big-boy pants, Stone,” Vaughn says, staying firm that I need to get it together.
In the corner of my eye, I see Holden stepping down the stairs with his daughter. While his daughter looks excited, Holden looks ragged and tired.
“Slow it down,” he tells Lori.
She looks over his shoulder. “I need to get ready for practice.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Holden flops down in the stands behind us. Before we can ask him anything, he rubs his face in exasperation. “Shit, forgot her snack for after her figure skating class. Ugh, add this to the list of how life is not going as planned.”
Vaughn and I look at one another with questionable intrigue. “I would love to hear what’s going on, but I have a team meeting in ten. See ya, guys.” Vaughn stands. “Even though it sounds like you’re in a shitty mood, give my brother a pep talk, will ya? I tried my best.”
Holden has a bewildered look on his face as my brother walks away. He turns to me with brows furrowed. “Something you haven’t told me?”
“So…” I’m not sure what to say anymore. “Harlow is coming to visit.”
He nods slowly. “I know.”
“You know?”
“Yeah, I was in the lobby at the desk looking for a package that arrived for me, and I heard Stuart answer the phone when she checked on her reservation.”
My body freezes, and my mouth goes dry. “A reservation? At the Dizzy Duck? Without asking me to arrange?”
He nods. “Fuuuck.” I swipe my hand across my jaw and do my best to let a long breath try to calm me.
“Is that… a bad thing?” Holden asks, clearly confused.
I side-eye him. “She’s staying at the Dizzy Duck instead of my place. That’s a bad sign. Astronomically bad. Besides, she knows that at the snap of my fingers I can throw in my stake-in-ownership card to get us a room at our beck and call.”
Holden groans. “Not really. The hotel is kind of busy these days and…” His casual tone changes when he notices that I’m not amused.
“Come on, why is this such a bad end-of-the-world kind of sign? When I heard mention of the reservation, I just assumed you two were going to have a romantic night or something.”
Shaking my head, my frown turns into a scowl. “No. It means for sure this is our ending. She said if we were to break up, it would be in person, and I’m sure she doesn’t want to stay at my place, as that would just be awkward after she rips my heart out.”
He swings his palm side to side in the air. “Whoa, wait. Why do you think she’s going to do that?”
“I gave her an ultimatum. Last time we were together, at my brother’s wedding.
I felt like we’ve been going in circles.
The reality is that one of us has to move.
It can’t be me. As much as we’re told to follow your heart, it’s utter bullshit.
Logistical reality of day-to-day operations has to be considered, and my life is here. It’s far easier for her to move.”
“Your relationship isn’t a business plan. Maybe she took the time for reflection and…” Holden can’t give me an answer that I want to hear. “Hey.” He smiles. “Maybe she just wanted to book a room to admire the moose head for writing inspiration.”
I stare at him blankly. “Really? Yeah, totally. She decided to come to Lake Spark and the inn to admire a dead moose and squirrels on a tower before she breaks up with me.”
“I was trying to make you laugh. Besides, the moose head is by far better than a duck head which would just make all the guests feel awkward, considering it’s called the Dizzy Duck Inn.”
“Seriously, let’s get our focus back.” I throw him a hardened look. “Maybe I shouldn’t give her the chance, and I should just take the lead. End things to ensure I’m in control. It could soften the blow.”
Holden tips his head toward the ice. “You never stopped trying to win when you played hockey. Why stop now? There must be a realization that she hasn’t connected to yet that would be the gamechanger for her life.”
If only he knew.
Harlow has had things thrown at her. Horrible things…
…but amazing things too.
Our bond and attraction.
“You’re right. I’m just… out of ideas on how to handle this.”
“Don’t overthink it. Just lay it all out from the start. Accepting her answer isn’t an option. She’ll come around if you two are the real thing. If not, then I’m sorry to say that she’ll be the one that got away.”
Abruptly, I stand and grab my bag. “I should go simple is what I think you’re trying to say. Forget the dozen roses and romantic dinners on the rooftop of the Dizzy Duck. What I would write, I just need to tell it to her face.”
“I was not saying…” It drags out. “Yes, I was totally saying that. A great idea. One that I most definitely came up with myself and not you on your own having a realization.” He smiles tightly.
I snap my fingers. “I should go. I need to meet Harlow at the airport later.”
Yes. I’ll practice what I’m going to say the moment she gets off that plane.
Standing on the tarmac, I'm waiting for her with a present, a stack of letters in envelopes tied with string.
I wait anxiously as the flight attendant opens the door.
This feels like a moment from an old movie, because I know Harlow will probably have a cute little dress on with a sunhat, her hand trying to keep it down in the wind.
A subtle smile cracks on my lips when my theory is proven right, and our eyes meet for a moment that feels as though a key is turning in a lock between us, and I could be on either side of the door.
The corners of her mouth tilt up, then she takes a few steps down the stairs, and it feels like eternity.
When she’s at the bottom, we both mosey and meet in the middle. Harlow glides the strap of her bag down her shoulder, and it falls to the ground.
It doesn’t matter what’s about to happen. Our arms of their own accord naturally find their way to wrap around one another, and I pull her tight, afraid to ever let go. I kiss the top of her head, inhaling every fiber of her body that I can.
“Stone.” My name escaping her lips sounds like a yearning that I wish she would let me solve.
Creating some space between us, we still don’t part ways; instead, our hands stay firm on one another near our elbows, with the envelopes hanging by a string on my finger.