Chapter Thirty
I can’t stop working on it.
Frozen Edge Photography.
I can’t hide my smile as I study the website on my iPhone screen. I can’t believe I’ve actually done this, but I have. Nobody knows, of course. I haven’t launched it yet, and I still have a lot to do, but I’ve spent all this week developing my new business.
I have pulled my best hockey pictures and displayed them in a cool, artful way.
I’ve also built sections where I’ve posted other types of pictures I’ve taken, like soccer and Georgie’s jars.
I’ve researched all the business paperwork I need to file so I can begin my new adventure, and I’ve done everything from filling out sales-tax forms to registering my business name.
I’ve created a logo. Designed my website.
Started social media accounts for Frozen Edge.
Booked an appointment with another professional photographer to have some headshots made.
I’ve got a million questions to ask Georgie, too, about running your own business, but I’ll wait until after the holidays to do that.
Sometime in this new year, Frozen Edge Photography will open.
And I’m going to share this with Aiden tonight.
I shiver excitedly at the thought. I cannot wait to show him what he helped inspire.
I see Mom coming back down the row, as we’re close to the start of the third period, so I tap out of my website and slip my phone back in my purse.
I’m going to share this with my family eventually, but obviously telling them about me and Aiden is the first priority.
Once we get through that, I’ll show them my business, and with Dad’s consent, share it with the communications department at the Manatees.
“I’m back,” Mom says, handing me a bottle of water.
“Thank you,” I say as she takes her seat.
The players step back onto the ice for the start of the third period. The music blares and the PA announcer roars about “our Miami Manateeeeeeeeeeees!” Everyone cheers, and my eyes stay riveted to Aiden.
The puck is dropped in the center ice for the faceoff, and the third period begins.
Aiden pushes it up the ice, out of our zone, to our first-line center, Brayden Morrow.
Beckham is flying up the left hand side of the boards, and Brayden passes to him, drawing all of Houston’s attention.
Aiden and the other defender are moving into the open space, so Beckham puts the puck right on Aiden’s stick.
Aiden takes the shot, and the puck goes right between the leg pads of the goalie—the five hole—and hits the back of the net.
Aiden has just scored the go-ahead goal.
“Yes!” I scream, shooting out of my seat.
The crowd roars in approval, with everyone leaping to their feet and cheering.
The goal song, “Ice Ice Baby,” blares through the arena, and Aiden is immediately swarmed by Beckham and Wyatt, who engulf him in a hug, along with Brayden and his defensive partner, Alexandre Cloutier.
Aiden’s mouth guard is dangling from the corner of his mouth, a huge smile on his face.
He skates over to the bench, fist-bumping his teammates with his glove.
I can’t stop smiling. I’m so proud of my man! I’m so grateful I got to see him score right in front of me, too.
I sit down, and I can feel Mom’s gaze on my profile. I turn to her, and once again she’s staring at me with that thinking expression on her face.
Deflection is called for, so I grab my bottle of water, unscrew the cap, and take a long drink. By the time I’m done, play has resumed, and I act like I’m oblivious to her staring at me. Eventually, she shifts her attention back to the ice, and I make a point of watching the game.
“Miami Manatees goal scored by number seven, AIDEN WENTWORTH, with an assist by number ninety-two, BECKHAM BAILEY!” the PA announcer roars.
I know I’m beaming. I can’t contain it. I glance at my mom. She’s watching me again. I shift my gaze back to the ice.
Next week this ends. There’s no more hiding being with Aiden. No more hiding my feelings.
I swallow hard as I look at Aiden on the bench, now studying something on an iPad with Alexandre.
I will be able to support my boyfriend openly, with all my heart.
I just pray I will be doing it right here, from this seat, once the dust settles.
* * *
I eagerly bound out of the elevator in Aiden’s apartment building. I can’t wait to celebrate his game-winning goal with him. It’s the first one I’ve seen him score in person, and I’m so happy I got to be there tonight.
I reach his door and rap on it. Milo starts barking on the other side. I hear Aiden’s voice, telling him to stop, and the barking ceases. Then the door opens, and the first thing I do is throw my arms around Aiden, drawing his mouth down to mine for a quick kiss.
“I’m so proud of you,” I murmur against his lips.
I kiss him again, but this time, I feel Aiden’s mouth curve up into a smile, and I can’t help but do the same.
He breaks the kiss and shuts the door, then pulls me into his arms. “I need to score goals more often.”
I laugh and drop my tote bag to the floor. “It was a beautiful goal. The way you got open at the top of the slot was chef’s kiss perfect.”
“I love that you understand the game,” Aiden declares.
I quirk a brow at him. “Is it hot?”
“You have no idea how hot.”
I laugh, and so does Aiden, but I know he means it. He loves that I can understand the game and he can actually talk to me about it on a high level.
Aiden grabs his post-game meal, and after he eats, I retrieve my phone and bring it over to the sofa. We all sit together—I’m on Aiden’s left, and Milo is curled up in his right, and Aiden is absently running his fingers over Milo’s left ear.
“I have something I want to show you,” I say.
“Yeah?”
I nod. “Yeah. It’s something I’ve been working on all week. And I never would have done this without your belief in me.”
Aiden’s expression is curious now, and I grow even more excited to share my website with him. I unlock my phone, tap on a few things, and then hand my phone to him.
“This is going to be the website for Frozen Edge Photography,” I explain. “My new photography business.”
Aiden takes my phone and stares down at the screen. His eyes widen, and then he immediately looks back at me. “You’re doing it,” he says, his face breaking out into a proud smile. “You’re freaking going to do it!”
The excitement in his voice, the proud look on his face—all for me chasing my dream.
How can my parents be against a man like this loving me this way? I think as Aiden eagerly begins to scroll through my website, studying each and every picture I’ve posted.
This is what I deserve. A man who not only believes in passionately pursuing his own dreams, but is equally passionate about me pursuing mine.
“Scarlett,” he says softly, his eyes never leaving my iPhone, “this is freaking amazing.”
A rush of pride surges through me. “Thank you.”
Aiden asks me questions about the pictures, about how my website is laid out, curious about my thought process and what I hope to achieve.
And it feels so good to talk about my photography.
Aiden is just as invested as I am, and it only makes me feel more confident about putting my work out in the world and seeing if this can become a career for me.
“Hadleigh gave me some good advice about taking advantage of opportunities that are within my grasp,” I say after Aiden hands me back my phone.
“Once things settle after we tell my parents about us, I’m going to ask Dad if I can share my website with the Manatees’ communications director.
I’m going to ask if I can freelance as my schedule permits and they need extra help, or fill in when he’s off, things like that. ”
“That’s a brilliant idea,” Aiden says, putting his arm around my shoulders and drawing me into his side. “And I don’t see how anyone can argue with you being there after seeing your work.”
I snuggle in next to him, relishing the feel of his hard muscle and body heat through the fabric of his T-shirt.
“Well, if I get the opportunity, some people will say it’s all because of my dad.
And he might open this door for me, but he would never pressure the communications team to give me anything.
Even if he wanted to do that, I wouldn’t let him. ”
Aiden’s hand makes its way to my hair, tangling in it. “This. Your talent is what will get you the opportunity.”
“But I wouldn’t have done any of this without you,” I murmur. “You forced me to take this dream out and examine it again. You challenged me to believe in it. Follow it. And I can’t thank you enough for that.”
“Scarlett?”
I hear the serious tone in his voice. I sit up so I can look at him.
“You did the same for me. But it was about love,” Aiden says quietly.
“I didn’t want to be in a relationship after my last one.
I decided hockey was going to be my focus, but I was using it as a barrier.
I wasn’t going to let anyone get near my heart and break it.
If I focused on the game, I would be fine.
“But then here comes this gorgeous girl, with the sexy red lips and sexy dress, and she needed feathers plucked out of her hair,” Aiden continues, his mouth curving up into a smile.
“I didn’t know it then, that not only were my walls going to fall, but they were going to be obliterated by this girl.
Thank you for being that girl, Scarlett.
Thank you for showing me how love should be.
Thank you for showing me that going against the rules isn’t always wrong.
Because what we have? It’s everything that is right about love. ”
It’s everything that is right about love.
“I love you so much,” I say.
“I love you, too,” Aiden murmurs.
As he leans in and kisses me, as I feel the love this man has for me, I vow that next week my parents will understand this.
They have to.