Chapter Three
Ipull up to Arden’s house a few minutes after midnight. When I left the sports bar, the rain had thankfully passed.
It was smooth sailing from that point on. I even made up for the time I lost by stopping for a break and a bite to eat.
And now I’m finally here.
Blowing out one long, relieved breath, I cut the engine and unbuckle my seat belt.
Time to go in.
But wait.
I hesitate. I don’t want to just go up to the door and ring the doorbell. That would most likely wake up Willow. That’s not good, as she has to be at work early tomorrow morning.
She told me as much the last time we talked. In fact, she was bummed she couldn’t stay up and welcome me.
I’m sad, too, but I’ll see her tomorrow.
I can’t wait.
Willow and I, though we haven’t met in person, get along really well. Once she and Arden were officially a couple, he introduced her to me on a Zoom call.
We hit it off and bonded right away. We actually talk a lot. Maybe that’s because we’re only a year apart. Plus, one of our favorite things to do is tease Arden about his age. He turned thirty this past spring, and we like to remind him all the time.
Good thing my brother has a good sense of humor.
Speaking of which, I’m ready to finally see him!
Smiling, I take my phone out of my purse and text Arden a simple I’m here!
I should have just done that from the start. He’s probably anxiously awaiting my arrival.
Whoa, he is. He just busted out of the front door and is practically running down to my car.
Laughing, I pop open the driver-side door and jump out just as he rushes over to me.
Grabbing me up in a big, brotherly hug, he says, “Hey, Ellie. It’s so fucking good to see you. I’m glad you’re finally here.”
Even though we text and FaceTime a lot, it’s been a while since I’ve seen my brother in person.
That’s why I hold onto him extra long.
Finally, I let go and step back.
Smiling, I tell him, “It has beentoo long. I missed you, big bro.”
“I missed you too,” he says. And then, raising a concerned brow, he asks, “How was the drive? Did you run into any rain?”
He knows my feelings on driving in the dreaded wet stuff.
Nodding, I say, “Yeah, but only once. A storm hit just outside Chattanooga. I stopped and waited it out.”
“Good call,” he says, nodding.
“Yeah, but…” I blow out a breath. “Besides that one incident, the ride down here has been pretty uneventful.”
“Good, good.” Pointing back to the trunk, he asks, “Is your suitcase in there? I can carry it up to the house for you.”
I break into a grin. “Suitcases, you mean, plural. And yes, they’re in the trunk.”
Using the key fob, I pop it open.
Chuckling, Arden heads to the back of the car, where he easily lifts out my bags.
Though they’re both oversized and packed to their limits, I still have to sigh and say, “Pretty sad that my whole life fits into two suitcases, huh?”
Arden pshaws. “Oh, stop, Ellie. You have stuff back at Mom and Dad’s house. This isn’t all you own.”
He’s right, but my life in Chicago, brief though it was, does indeed fit into two bags. There’s no denying that.
But now is not the time to dwell on the past. I’m here to start a new chapter, one where I plan to have a little fun before I decide exactly what I want to do next with my life.
As my brother and I head into his house, I share with him that I was able to catch some of his game.
I, of course, don’t mention how I was lusting hard over Nils while I sat and ate my burger and fries, wondering all the while what he tastes like.
Yeah, I don’t think Arden would want to hear about that.
Nor would he approve.
So I focus instead on when the game went into overtime.
“Hey,” I say, nudging him with my elbow. “That was a great goal there at the end. Way to go.”
Setting my suitcases down in the entry hall, and looking quite pleased with himself, as he should, he replies, “Thanks, Ellie.”
Softly, I say, “I know how much it meant for you to get the winning goal against that team.”
My brother took it so hard that he flubbed a shot, one that could have won the Thunder their playoff game and the series that round.
I’m happy when his blue eyes meet my turquoise ones and he says, “Yeah, I can now truly and completely put that loss behind me.”
I know he means it.
Arden told me how Willow played a big part in him moving on from that missed shot, but I know my brother, and I’m certain he felt he needed to prove something to his teammates.
Namely, that that bad chapter is behind them all.
It is—it’s a new season.
Really, it’s a new season for all of us.
Arden yawns, and I’m reminded of how late it is.
Shit, I’m tired too.
“Hey,” I begin, “let’s get some sleep. We can catch up more tomorrow.”
“Yeah, sounds good,” Arden mumbles as he stifles another yawn. As he picks up my suitcases, he says, “Follow me, Ellie. Willow and I made up a bedroom for you just down the hall here on the first floor. Ours is upstairs, so we were thinking this way you’ll have your own bathroom and some privacy.”
Uh-oh, does he think I’m staying at his house long term?
As I follow him down a darkened hall, I remind him, “I’m only going to be here a few days, Arden. Just until I find a decent extended stay hotel that I like. I checked out a few online, but I’d prefer to see them in person before I make a decision.”
I hear him huff as we reach what will be my room…for now.
As he steps inside, he hits a switch that turns on a small lamp on a nightstand next to a full-size bed.
I look around.
The bedroom is nice, decorated in neutral sand and brown tones.
Arden sets my suitcases down on the floor and turns to me. “Yeah,” he says, “about that extended stay hotel idea…”
As he trails off, I state firmly, “Hey, I’m not budging on not living here. I am just not going to impede on your relationship with Willow. It’s too fresh and too new. I mean, shit, you guys just moved in together. So yeah, no”—I shake my head—“there’s nothing you can say to change my mind about living somewhere else.”
There really isn’t, and he knows it. He and Willow should have this time to themselves. My staying here in their space would kind of be like me coming along on their honeymoon.
Eww, no.
Holding up his hands in placation, my brother says, “No, I’m not going to try to change your mind. I know you’re set on not living with us, and I respect that decision. But what if I told you there may be another place, besides a hotel, where you can stay?”
Hmm, this is an interesting turn of events.
Intrigued, I cross my arms and say, “And just where would that be?”
Slowly, like he wants to parse out the details to ease me into the idea, he says, “You could stay at a teammate’s house. One who lives alone, and has a huge place. I think it would work out well. We have plenty of road games, as you know, so you’d have the whole house to yourself a lot of the time. Even when he’s there, this guy is someone I can completely trust.”
Hearing that last part, I scoff. “Someone you can completely trust? What does that even mean, Arden? Do you think I don’t have a mind of my own?”
He levels me with a stern look. “Ellie, you know I don’t mean it that way. I’m just saying that, capable as you are, it makes me more comfortable knowing you wouldn’t have to ward off any unwanted advances. This guy is truly trustworthy.”
Rolling my eyes, I relent. “Okay, okay. I see your point. So who is this ‘truly trustworthy’ teammate you want me to be roomies with?”
I’m imagining it’s one of the few not very attractive guys on the team. I can see Arden thinking I’d not be tempted if the dude’s an ogre.
I’m mildly irritated still.
But then I just about pass out when Arden says, “The teammate I’m talking about is Nils Sten.”
Holy crap!
What?
This could not be any more perfect if I had scripted it. The guy I have my eyes set on, and Arden is serving him up to me on a silver platter.
Hell, yeah!
But I have to play it cool.
If he catches on that I’m in any way attracted to Nils, he’ll call this whole thing off. Arden will be all on board the extended hotel-train, then.
Fuck that.
I’m staying with Nils.
Making a face like I’m deeply contemplating this proposal and not really sure how I feel about it, I say, “Oh, I don’t know. I’d hate to ask that of him.”
“You don’t have to ask,” Arden says. “Nils actually offered.”
“He did?” I blurt out, stunned. “Why would he do such a thing?”
Arden sighs. “He’s just a good guy like that, Ellie. And we’re very good friends. In fact, he said something that was pretty funny, but may actually happen.”
“Oh, yeah,” I say, curious. “What’s that?”
“He said you’ll probably end up being like the sister he never had.”
What?
Good God, we don’t want that!
Of course, I can’t say any of this to Arden.
So, smiling slyly, I just murmur, “Mmm, yeah, maybe. You never know.”
Yeah, right.
“So, what do you think?” he asks. “Do you want to stay with Nils?”
Do I ever!
I need to still play it like I’m not sure, so I hedge, “I don’t know, Arden. I guess if you’re absolutely sure he’s okay with it, I’ll consider it.”
He assures me, “He is definitely more than okay with it.”
I shrug. “Then okay. Sure. I guess I am too.”
Internally, I’m cheering—Yes!
Arden looks pleased, as well, but for a completely different reason.
“That’s great,” he says, smiling. “I feel better already knowing you’ll be living at Nils’s house. We can work out the logistics later, but I’ll let him know you said ‘yes’ to staying at his place.”
“All right.” I nod.
We wrap up, and Arden leaves me alone in my temporary bedroom.
I sit down on the edge of the bed and start smiling like crazy.
I cannot believe I am going to be freaking living at Nils’s house.
I can put my fun little plan to seduce him into effect immediately.
Or maybe, if I end up really liking him as a person, there could be more.
It’s a possibility, right?
Since I’ll have him all to myself quite a bit, I could potentially get him to fall for me—like head over heels in love.
Okay, I know I’m getting way ahead of myself.
But still, wouldn’t that be something?