Chapter 2
brIELLE
Glancing down at my floral-print dress, I shake my head at myself that I purposely undid one button at the top. Grabbing my glass of Chardonnay, I internally berate myself for the button move, knowing I did it because I was going to see Ford today.
“You seem kind of out of sorts,” my friend Lena tells me. “It was a Ford day, wasn’t it?”
I notice she smiles to herself as she drags her brown hair to the side.
We are sitting at the bar while we wait for our table to be ready.
It’s a chic enough restaurant, but then again, everything in our small town of Hollows is decorated with perfection, down to the lighting hanging over our heads.
“Yeah, it was. I think it’s worse now. I mean, now we don’t have another hockey season looming over us.” I take a sip.
“And hockey is what kept you two in line? I really don’t get you guys.” She grabs some nuts from the small bowl.
“It’s complicated.”
She scoffs a sound at me. “Enlighten me.”
“You know the story. I was eighteen, unexpectedly pregnant, and being together wasn’t really…” I can’t even explain it.
Lena affectionately touches my shoulder. “That was then. You’re telling me through the years, the opportunity didn’t arise for you and Ford?”
“No.” I’m firm on my answer. “For so many reasons. Hockey pretty much ruled the schedule, and I couldn’t even imagine being in a relationship around that. I had law school to focus on. Plus, we both tried to move on.”
“How did that go for you?” She raises a brow at me with a knowing look.
“Well… I’ve dated, so has Ford.” And it was excruciating on all counts and a big-time failure.
“Yet you are both still alone.”
“Doesn’t mean we should try being together. We have Connor to think about, it’s way too risky.” And my heart can’t handle another heartbreak with Ford involved.
He already affects me enough; I can’t even imagine what it would be like to feel as though our possibilities could become a reality.
“I’m just saying you shouldn’t be getting butterflies in your stomach at every parent-teacher meeting and pick-up or drop-off. I see my ex and feel blank, nothing.”
I nudge her shoulder with my own. “That’s because you now have a hot professor to occupy your life.” Her ex-college sweetheart is now her fiancé after reconnecting after her divorce.
She clinks my glass with hers. “That I do. Which also proves the point that second chances are not a fairytale.”
I play with the stem of my wine glass, trying to shake Ford out of my head.
It’s a hard task since summer Ford is an extra dose of handsome.
Even all these years later, his skin warms well with the summer light, and he keeps his tall, slim figure in shape, even if he isn’t training, and God, his brown eyes complement his matching hair that I know he’ll start to grow since it’s the summer months.
It's the shape of his shoulders that I like to look at the most. They’re broad, but the curves remind me of the way he used to hold me, the nights I would lie in his arms, and the time I leaned against him as I cried for hours.
Lena snaps her fingers in front of me. “Holy cow, you’re lost in Ford thoughts again. I can tell by your face; you are dreaming away.”
“Ahh, okay, you’re right. I guess the meeting today is still fresh in my head. I will be back to normal by the main course, I promise.”
She hops off the stool. “I’ll hold you to that. Be right back, need a ladies’ room stop before dinner.”
“Sure. I’ll order those mozzarella sticks you promised me.” My favorite by far. She offers me a warm smile.
Sighing, I look into my wine glass before taking a drink, thankful that Lena is the designated driver tonight.
“You’re too pretty to have a frown on your face.
” A deep man’s voice grabs my attention, and I look up to see a man in a suit at the bar.
I didn’t notice him before. He looks a few years older than me, and admittedly, he isn’t bad on the eyes.
I can tell the gel in his hair makes his hair seem darker than it is.
“Oh, just a weekday reflection. Nothing a deep breath and a glass of wine can’t fix.”
He indicates with his fingers in the air for the barman to come to him. “I know how it goes. Luckily, I use the train rides back from the city to clear my head, but I need a drink before I work on a deposition until the early hours.”
“You’re a lawyer?”
“I am.” He nods to the barman. “A whiskey neat, and the lady will have…”
I shake my head. “Oh, nothing. Thank you. I’m here with a friend.”
“Let me know if you change your mind.” The corner of his mouth hitches up.
I smile politely. “What kind of law do you practice?”
“Corporate. Does that interest you?” He has a suave grin.
“Actually, I’m sitting the Bar this summer. I finished law school at the university here in Hollows.”
“No way.” He slides to the free stool next to me. “That’s my alma mater. What kind of law do you want to practice?”
“Family law or property, I think.”
He thanks the barman for his whiskey. “That area would suit you.”
I have a conspicuous grin. “What makes you say that?”
“You have a soft face.” He seems proud of his comment. “I’m Brody, by the way.”
“Brielle.”
“That’s a beautiful name.” I swear he is investigating my lack of rings on my fingers.
“I hate it sometimes. Nobody knows how to shorten it, Bri or Elle or even Rie.”
“All still nice names.”
I feel Lena return as she touches my back. “Our table still isn’t ready?” She notices that I seem to be in conversation. “Ooh, he’s a looker and hopefully single for you. A distraction,” she mutters under her breath.
I shoot her a warning glare, but Brody seems to have heard. “I don’t want to interrupt your dinner plans, but here…” He reaches into his suit pocket to pull out a card and offers it to me. “Maybe you would like to meet up to discuss law, Brielle?”
Lena nearly chokes, probably because we both know that was not what he means—or maybe he does. My flirting skills are a bit rusty. “Take the card.” She utters her suggestion with an overdone smile.
Hesitating for a few seconds, I can’t tear my sight off the card, reminding myself that I’m not taken, need a diversion even, and my fingers flex out.
“Or not.” Lena yanks my arm out of nowhere. “Ex.”
“What?” I look to her and see her eyes are blazing with shock.
“Hockey baby daddy, nine o’clock,” Lena whispers.
At the speed of light, my head whips in the direction of the door where I see Ford standing there with a steely look, hands hanging at his sides and forming into fists. His jaw flexes, and judging by the fact he is storming in our direction, then I know he witnessed the last minute.
“Ford?” I’m confused as to why he’s here.
He is quick to bring his arm to the back of my chair, as if he needs to make a claim, and his eyes land on Brody who left the card on the bar.
“What are you doing here?” I ask him.
“You know this guy? He’s Ford Spears, a hockey legend.” Brody seems surprised and looks at me, as if suddenly I’m an alien. “You watch hockey?”
“Oh…” I nervously tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, as that is the connection Brody is making to Ford. “Actually…”
“Elle is the mother of my child which makes me the father of her child, so we are connected.” Ford flashes a victorious smile, with his eyes seeing red.
Protective Ford is a force not to be messed with, and it’s oddly sexy as hell.
Rolling my eyes, I sigh, as I know there is only one way out of this. “Excuse us. It was nice to meet you,” I tell Brody who has a neutral look because he seems to recognize that Ford and I have a delicate relationship, to put it mildly.
I grip Ford’s shirt sleeve and yank him with me as I head to the door and out onto the sidewalk of Main Street.
Turning to him, I don’t know what to think. “What are you doing here, Ford? I thought you were going back to Lake Spark?”
His eyes stay glued to me, not blinking, while his feet stay firmly planted. “I’m clearly saving you from men in suits who are only after one thing.”
I scoff in disbelief that this is where our conversation is heading. “Not that it’s any of your business but I was waiting for Lena, and he was just making small talk, he’s a lawyer.”
“A man giving his card to a woman looking like you do in that dress is not making small talk.”
“What’s wrong with my dress?” I step closer to him and poke his chest with my finger. “You have some nerve.”
He is quick to defend. “When it comes to you, yeah, I do.”
I could cut the air with a knife. He knows how to break down my defenses because I cherish the idea that he feels he has a claim to me.
I drop my finger and blow out a breath as I gather my thoughts, and I realize that I still don’t have my answer. “Why are you here?”
He pinches the bridge of his nose, clearly agitated. “Would you have taken his card?”
I fold my arms over my chest. “What? I don’t know. Maybe. To be polite.”
It’s the truth, maybe he would be the key to forgetting about you.
Ford scrubs his face with his hand. “Don’t be polite.”
I shake my head because we’ll go in a circle. “Answer me as to why you’re here.”
He tilts his head to the side and licks his lips. “I’ve been thinking about what Connor’s teacher said.”
“Oh.” My heart pinches.
“I think it’s a point we needed to hear, maybe we should be putting in more effort.”
“What more can we do?”
“Summer vacation, we should spend time together, the three of us.”
My eyes grow big, and my mouth opens but no words come out. I feel my throat go dry, and I swallow. “Like a family trip or something?”
“Something like that. Why don’t you come stay at my place after Connor’s hockey camp finishes? A little lake time, all three of us.” There is so much conviction in his voice that I know he believes his suggestion is a plausible solution.
A gasp escapes me. “You’re serious?”
“Very.”
I step to the side as I take in the last minute. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”
It’s really not.
It would mean more time with Ford, memories of our younger selves, and the confrontation that Ford is no longer married to hockey.
Ford is quick to grab my arm to draw me back to him, ensuring our eyes meet. “It’s an excellent idea. We’ve had family dinners together, but this is something more and for him. Showing Connor that we are all one team.”
“One team.” I huff a laugh because this isn’t what I imagined calling my dream family.
“He needs this, Elle,” he pleads.
“I… I don’t know.” I’m doubtful. Very doubtful.
There is a pause as we both stand there as two former lovers trying to find our road forward.
We both promised to always put Connor first, and that’s my inner turmoil at this very second. Do I ignore the warning signs if it means putting Connor first?
“Margo… it’s her birthday, and she’s asking that you visit.” He adds fuel to the fire.
“Ford…” What do I say to that? Margo did so much for us. She stood up for us when nobody else would.
“We owe her.”
I blow out a long breath. “I know.”
“Is it so bad that we give a little time for Connor and Margo?”
I look at him like he’s crazy. “You know it’s not just that.”
Do I need to spell out all the reasons this is a bad idea? His heated look is reason one, and my jumping heart is reason two.
“Come on, Elle, neither one of us will be able to sleep knowing we could give Connor a week to help ensure he knows all is okay.”
“You’re right. It’s just…”
He catches my gaze and places his hands on my shoulders so I can’t escape. “You can have your own room… if you want.” Ford’s swaggered-mischief ways cause me to smirk, but I still give him wide eyes. “You can study and relax whenever. We can take Connor to places together on your breaks.”
I should be more focused when studying, but Ford is presenting an offer to consider.
“I mean, I guess a little family time would be reasonable.”
“Then agree.”
I puff out a breath. This isn’t going to be my smartest move, but it’s for Connor. “Okay.”
Ford’s long finger brushes my cheek. “Good.”
My face is blank. “You hunted me down instead of calling?”
He grins. “Of course, you’re easier to sway when we’re face to face.”
It’s because I melt a little inside every time I see you.
“Is Lena driving you home or do you need me to drive you?”
My thighs tighten from the thought of being stuck in a car with him. I know he would walk me to my door, and because I hate the idea of him driving back in the dark, then I would offer him the sofa and drive myself crazy.
My voice nearly croaks. “I’m good.”
I kick a small pebble on the ground and cross my arms over my chest, shaking my imagination away and focusing on his request for family time. “But Ford, let’s just remember that… we had a plan.” Agreed on long ago.
He exhales loudly. “Plans can change.”
His statement stirs something inside of me, hope mixed with fear.
Gently I tip my head up to acknowledge that I heard him. “Night,” I say.
When I walk away, every ounce of me knows he is right. Plans can change. But that doesn’t mean they should.
By the time I’m back inside, Lena is at our table for dinner, and I join her.
She props her chin up on her hand as she patiently waits for me to explain.
“I just agreed to spend a week of family holiday time at Ford’s lake house.” I take a long breath.
Lena smirks as she holds up the card from Brody and ceremonially rips it in two. “I don’t think we will be needing this then, like ever.”
“I’m in way over my head,” I say, admitting defeat.