Chapter 8
VIOLET
Ihum as I scoop a spoonful of cooked rice into Nugget’s bowl then place it in his cage, slightly taken aback that he doesn’t seem to irritate me as much today.
The bell above the shop door informs me that someone is here.
“What in the world?” Brielle’s perplexed voice causes me to look over my shoulder as I close the door to Nugget’s cage.
“What?” I say before closing the container of rice that I brought from home.
Brielle sets her umbrella by the door before she walks over to lean against the counter, with her eyes never parting from my direction. “You’re actually smiling while you feed the parrot.”
“So?” I shrug as I walk behind the counter. I feel like my sister-in-law came to have a talk. “What brings you by on this dreary Monday morning?”
We both look out the window to see the rain pouring down.
“It’s supposed to be this way all week. Blah.
I guess we needed the rain, and it doesn’t really matter, Ford and Connor are at the ice rink all week for summer camp anyway, and something tells me that your free time is spent indoors with a certain former hockey player. ” She taps her nails on the counter.
My face tightens, and my eyes freeze on Brielle who isn’t wasting time and going the direct route, proven by her smirk that she caught me off guard. “Oh? What would make you say that? Nothing is going on, and with whom? So many hockey players waltz in and out of Ford’s life.”
Brielle continues to tap a steady beat, with her face poised with confidence. “The one who is in Lake Spark for a week and graced our dinner table over the weekend.” She raises a brow at me.
“And?”
“The old lady from the knitting club saw you two a little cozy in your store, then told someone at the general store when April just so happened to be there to overhear, who then informed me before the BBQ, which naturally meant that I was observing you with my lawyer eyes, and you failed, like completely. There is totally something between you and Declan Dash.”
My jaw goes slack because that’s one hell of a gossip train, and yeah, she’s a lawyer, so squirming out of this may be tricky.
But the reality is that nothing is going on between Declan and me. We’re only having fun, and nothing will come of it.
“Nothing is happening,” I half-lie and pull out my purse to grab my lip balm, only to notice the paper airplane from yesterday, and I can’t control the smile that tugs on my mouth.
Brielle, who is now rubbing circles on her belly, doesn’t seem to believe me; I can tell by her stoic facial expression.
“Look, say what you want, but if anything, whether serious, fun, or who knows what is brewing between you and Declan, then just know that Ford will lose his cool. He’s seen every shitty choice his former teammates have made, and as much as Declan is a friend, it only means that Ford is even more critical of him when it comes to women. No, not even, when it comes to you.”
“Like I said, nothing to worry about. Does Ford think something is going on?”
Brielle scoffs a laugh. “Please, it was the weekend, and we have a sixteen-year-old. His mind was occupied with that, so you’re fine.”
“You know, even if I was, you know, well, I’m allowed to have a little… fun,” I justify.
“Of course you are, but not with your brother’s friend.
When it goes wrong, then it really goes wrong.
Plus…” She reaches out to touch my hand on the counter.
“You deserve a hell of a love story, not some guy who will make you laugh but never commit. Violet, you can keep telling me that life is great, but I know that’s not true.
Something is missing for you. Your mom never played a big role in your life, but you made peace with that long ago, probably because you have family here who adore you and need you.
But I know you want to experience romance and family for yourself.
You used to tell me about the husband and kids you want one day. After…”
I close my eyes because I don’t want to hear her reminder of a disaster from not long ago. It’s hard to accept that I have an absent mom and I bury myself into my brother’s family. I’m watching everything that I want on a daily basis.
She licks her lips and takes a beat. “Since the…, you throw on a smile, but I think you believe you don’t deserve more.
” Thankfully, she doesn’t repeat the memory that I don’t need today.
Instead, she squeezes my hand for comfort.
“One day you will realize, and I’m not sure Declan is the guy who would hold your hand and walk you into that happy ever after you’ve dreamed about. ”
Abruptly, I pull my hand away. “Geez, Brielle, you didn’t even bring me a coffee from Jolly Joe’s for this deep conversation.” I roll my eyes.
“Want to send the pregnant lady out in the rain to go grab your coffee and a cinnamon roll so you’ll listen?” She grins.
I cross my arms and pretend to be annoyed. “I mean, let’s not get dramatic. You’re probably on your way there anyhow.”
“I am. Why don’t you join me. Don’t you have a lunch break soon?”
I smile awkwardly. “I do, but I have an appointment at one. Tilly is coming in to help this afternoon and will handle this place for an hour or so.”
Brielle narrows her eyes in on me. “Appointment?”
“Yes. I need to deliver some flowers to the Dizzy Duck.”
She scans the room. “Strange. I don’t see any flowers ready for delivery.”
“I still need to make the bouquet,” I lie.
Brielle looks at her watch. “It’s already 12:40.”
For fuck’s sake.
I throw on a fake smile and walk to the middle of my store and pull out a few flowers. “Making it now.”
“Sure you are,” she says, playing along.
With a sharp movement, I pull out a lily from one of the buckets on the floor. “I’d better get moving on this.”
“You do that then, and just remember, fun is fun until either someone catches feelings or Ford discovers that your constant smile today is due to Declan.”
“It’s all fine because nothing is going on,” I call out in an attempt to deter her thoughts once more, knowing it’s pointless, but I felt a need to try.
I slam the bouquet of flowers that don’t even match into Declan’s hard chest the moment he opens the hotel room door.
“Don’t get excited, I was trapped and had to make a bouquet to survive, and I’m not wasting flowers,” I explain, and my eyes instantly land on the trays of food sitting on the table by the window in his suite.
Even though I beeline it to the food, I sure as hell notice that the man looks good in jeans and a t-shirt, and his jaw is more defined since he doesn’t seem to have shaved today.
“Trust me, my entire body is riveted with excitement for these flowers,” he says sarcastically as he closes the door. He sets the flowers on the desk and walks to the table. “You’re late.” He grins.
I’m already sitting down and examining what food we have. “Sorry, Brielle wanted to remind me that life can be puppies, babies, and sunshine.” Looking up, I see that Declan has a confused expression on his face, as he should. “Ignore me. I’m late and starving.”
He indicates for me to lift the cover of the tray, and I do so eagerly to find a burger and fries. “Figured you’ll burn a ton of calories, so I’d better go all out.”
A fry lands in my mouth and tastes heavenly.
“I totally skipped breakfast this morning by accident. A bride was waiting at my door because she was eloping at the courthouse and forgot about flowers, then Brielle came by, and hell, I’m not even sure I’m caffeinated today.
” I shake the ketchup bottle because hunger is taking over my words and body.
“I’m a little scared what Monday-you looks like on coffee now.
” Declan sits down in front of me and removes the cover on his plate and reveals a BLT sandwich.
“It’s okay, I need to eat too. I’m training a group of ten-year-olds at 2:30, and something tells me that I need energy for that.
I need a relaxing de-stressor too, but I think that’s why you’re here. ”
I throw a fry at him, but I can’t help but beam at his humor. “I think you kind of enjoy helping at camp. Is it the first time that you’re on the ice since the season ended?”
His face turns soft as he pauses for a moment. “I guess it is. It’s slightly different, but maybe I didn’t notice since playing hockey comes naturally.” Declan flexes his jaw side to side and seems to be at peace with his realization.
“Kind of cool that you get to do something else with hockey now.”
“I think everyone is waiting for me to fail.” He laughs.
I take a break from chomping on my food and study him for a second. “Curse of a family name or…?”
“Nobody wants the rich guy to succeed. In truth, the whole owning-a-hockey-team thing leaves a lot of room for error. I’m not used to all these business meetings. It’s kind of a relief this week being in Lake Spark and back on the ice.”
I prop my head in my hand and appreciate his honesty on the topic.
He notices that I’m staring, and his lips twist. “I feel like hockey players take on projects once they retire. When Ford retired, it was full-on Operation Win Back Brielle, and then family and the sports complex, it all keeps him busy. I guess owning a hockey team is your project?” I flash him an odd look.
Partly because, for some reason deep within, it doesn’t feel like he is convinced of his next chapter.
A sound escapes him, and our eyes lock for a thick moment. “You maybe have a point. It’s going to be hard not to bring up Ford in conversation, isn’t it?”
“Probably.” I sigh.
“How did you end up as a florist?” Declan asks before grabbing a bottle of water.
I set my burger down, no qualms that I can eat like it’s a night at home chillaxing.
“After college, I wanted to start a business, and I’ve always loved flowers.
I was never great at sports, but I did join a sorority, which might be the reasoning for some of my tendencies.
” I tilt my head to the side in contemplation.