Chapter 23
APRIL
Iinterlace my arm with Piper’s as we watch through the window the ice hockey game down below. We are in the box seats, which means we have an abundance of snack options behind us.
“It’s nice that you got away for a night,” I mention. The baby is nowhere in sight.
“Much needed. The joys of having an adult stepson. It means he can do babysitting duty with his wife. My grandmother is great, but she can’t handle overnight visits.
Anyways, Hudson and I put Lucy and Drew up in a fancy hotel room with the promise they will watch Gracie for a few hours.
Tomorrow I will take her to visit my grandmother before stopping by the football field to see our favorite coach,” she explains while her head angles as she tries to follow the game happening.
“I’m still upset you didn’t bring the baby,” my mother calls out from where she stands next to the buffet because her law firm supports the team.
I take a sip of my beer bottle and ignore her. “Remind me again why every athlete in Lake Spark decided to use my mother’s firm for their legal woes.”
Piper smiles and touches my shoulder. “Because they follow Hudson’s advice when they need a city lawyer who is a shark in heels. Plus, I am super confident they get a discount.”
“Fun.” I’m not enthralled.
We both search for our men. Ford invited us all to watch his hockey game since they are now heading into mid-season and, according to him, are now in their prime of excellence.
Spencer and Hudson went to sit down by the ice where there is more action, and I think they did it for a media op to show support for Ford.
“I bet Ford’s ex is here somewhere,” Piper notes.
“She comes to games?”
“Yeah, more for their son than anything is my guess. They are on good terms, just not the terms Ford probably wants. I've met her a few times, and Brielle is super sweet. She's studying law and interns at your mom’s firm. Brielle doesn’t like coming to Lake Spark, but maybe we should invite her to something here in the city.”
“Why not? Is there some secret athlete partner’s club that I get initiated into?” I try to keep my smile small.
Piper nudges my shoulder. “It would seem like you and Spencer are on a path forward.”
“Surprisingly so.” But as much as he has been the kind of boyfriend a girl could dream of the last few weeks, especially since Hadley discovered our secret, not to mention he makes my heart flutter and occupies my thoughts, I can tell something is on his mind.
“I just hope he doesn’t get cold feet. That tends to happen when men are around me. ”
“You think that’s happening?”
I shrug a shoulder and then my face squinches. “Yikes.” I notice two hockey players slam into the boards together.
“Am I allowed to say that this sport is by far more interesting than our guys’ sports?” Piper speaks in a hushed tone.
I scan the room to ensure nobody can hear us. “Hockey totally is.”
“And what you said about Spencer. I don’t think he is losing interest. He just has Hadley, and I’m sure the closer to baseball season we get, the more his focus shifts.”
Blowing out a breath, I turn to walk to the buffet. Piper follows me, and we each take a plate to grab snacks. “I mean, in the grand scheme of things, the only thing that is my hard red flag is when someone lies to me, I’ve had enough of that.”
The sound of a throat clearing makes me glance over my shoulder to find Hudson and Spencer arriving in the room, and maybe he heard me. Spencer just continues to have a wry smile.
Piper walks to Hudson to give him a kiss. “How was it down there?”
“Cold, but damn, Ford is fast and ruthless.” Hudson wraps an arm around Piper.
“I’m sure he will appreciate that we’re here,” Spencer adds.
Okay, I think he definitely heard me, as he is avoiding eye contact.
“I think I’m going to run to the ladies’ room, I’ll be right back,” I announce.
Leaving the room, I can’t help but feel a familiar pit in my stomach. A feeling of impending doom.
And five minutes later when I return, I see Spencer talking with my mom. It isn’t the "charm the girlfriend's mother" type of mood between them either, it seems to be more serious.
“It’s your decision.” My mother’s voice is the last I hear as they both notice me, and their posture changes. They give one another a confirming look and throw on smiles.
“Everything okay?” I ask just as Spencer brings his arm around me for a side hug.
He smiles weakly at me. “It’s fine. The game is almost over. We’re in the lead, so we can escape now if you want, before it gets busy.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Enjoy your evening, you two. Don’t forget to nail down those holiday plans, then we can schedule when to meet,” my mother reminds us before hugging me.
Searching for Piper and Hudson, I see they are busy talking with someone, probably my uncle’s lawyer. They both wave to us, and Piper blows me a kiss before indicating with her fingers to call her.
“Bye, Mom,” I say.
Stepping back, Spencer takes my hand in his and leads the way. Security offers us a different way out to avoid the crowd, and the entire walk feels like something has shifted.
The car ride back to my place is no different, and by the time we get into my apartment, I can’t take it because he is what I want, and I thought I’ve been clear, but that also means I will be shattered if he doesn’t feel the same way.
I throw the keys onto my kitchen counter and turn to Spencer. “If you want to break up then do it now, this silence is excruciating.”
Spencer looks at me like I’m crazy and steps to me, quickly interlinking our fingers. “Why in the world do you think that?”
I don’t look into his eyes. “Because you’ve been acting strange. Especially since Hadley upgraded me in the friend book, you’ve been… I don’t know. Something is on your mind.”
I notice his chest rising as he heaves a sigh. “I heard what you said.” My eyes shoot up to meet his. “About how lies are your red flag.”
“And?”
Nerves seem to flood his face. “I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you…”
“Tell me what?” I feel that pit in my stomach crawl up inside of me, reaching my chest and causing my throat to strain. I hate fear.
“I want to be honest.”
“About what?” I feel like I may throw up.
Spencer glances away then looks down at our hands entwined together. “I lied about the video.”
I drop our hands like a hot tamale. “What?”
“I mean partially. My cloud was hacked and the video was on it, it’s just that it didn’t take as long to be solved.” I can tell he is biting his inner cheek.
“But you had me stay with you when we hated each other.” I’m trying to grasp what this all means.
“At first it was true, but I might have delayed telling you some important details.” He pinches his nose, unsure where to look.
I weave my fingers through my hair as I attempt to put the puzzle pieces together. “What details?”
“It was solved already the day we went to Pioneer Park.”
I feel my eyes go bold. “But you only said a week later that the situation was solved.”
Finally, he looks up at me with guilt flooding his face. “I know. The call I got at Pioneer Park wasn’t my agent, it was Celeste from your mother’s law firm to confirm.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” My hands come up into the air, and I clench my fists together. “I thought for a week longer than I needed to that someone might leak a video of you and me doing something wildly good but totally for nobody to see.”
“I’m so sorry. I just… I don’t know, seeing you with Hadley, and you were jealous of the pioneer making soup—”
My palm flies up. “Are you kidding me? Do not bring that twenty-year-old dressed in a bonnet into this discussion. What would possess you? We wanted to kill each other that day.” My voice is fuming.
“Something inside me just, I don’t know… was curious.”
Damn it, his smoldering eyes do something to me, and when he steps closer, I feel my heart quicken.
“Do. Not. Step closer,” I seethe out. “I will not let your wicked ways break down my resolve,” I admit.
I shake my head before I rub my face into my hands. Spencer is quick to grab my arm, hooks his finger under my chin, and ensures I’m staring into his ridiculously handsome eyes.
“Who knows, maybe if I didn’t do that then we would never have happened, and I’m so happy we happened.” His face is pleading with me to understand.
But I feel a tear form in my eye. “It’s not even about the video. In some fucked-up way, maybe one day I will think your ridiculous scheme is sweet. But you lied to me, and I hate lies. Would you have even told me if you didn’t hear me making that comment?”
“Yes. I’ve been wrestling with it for weeks, and with so many other things I want to tell you,” he swears.
“Lies are lies. My ex lied to me when he said he wanted to marry me, Hudson and Piper lied to me when they were seeing one another in secret, now you lied to me. I hate feeling like a fucking fool and like I’m some idiot for not seeing the signs sooner.” I’m boiling with anger.
Spencer still kisses my forehead, as if it will make it all okay. “I’m so sorry. I promise you, I didn’t do it to hurt you. I want to be honest, put it all on the table.”
“I’m so angry.”
He bows his head, ashamed. “Tell me what to do to make this better.”
That damn salty tear streams down my cheek. “I think you should leave.”
“Not until I tell you something else that you should know.”
Shaking my head and stepping back, I stand firm because I know I will just crumble into his arms. “No. I need space right now to calm down.”
“April, please—”
“No. I’m having complete déjà vu to a time where you drove me nuts in all the wrong ways,” I snipe. “Please.” I hold my palm up to him and feel defeated. “Just go.”
His face stills before he flexes his jaw. It takes a few seconds, but he relents and walks past me and out the door.