Chapter 19
Emalyn
The car pulls up to the house and Ronan opens the door for Vanessa with Poppy in the baby carrier...
She flashes him a smile. I nearly feel sick.
It’s like watching a little family. What if one day, he wants more than a puppy?
There’s a distinct line in the sand. Future babies check yes or no.
I'm on the no side. Who the hell would want to be on my side of the line? No option. No choice. Then there’s Vanessa with her blinding smile and soccer legs.
I watch as her gaze flicks up to where Kade and I stand before she ducks her head and climbs into the back seat. Ronan stops before he gets in, meeting my eyes. An easy wink and he’s gone. My gaze follows the vehicle pulling down the drive until it’s gone from view.
I guess now’s as good a time as any to end this. Sort of the whole point of coming out here before Ronan bulldozed his way into the trip.
I turn to Kade who is still staring in the direction the car disappeared.
“So…” I start. He runs a hand through his hair as he glances at me, almost looking surprised to see me still standing here. “I should probably get back to the arena. Might get some good shots for the social media pages.”
My chest aches with disappointment in myself. Kade is talented in his career, kind, and genuinely interested in me. I should just end things like I planned. Now’s the time to do it, when we are alone. Yet… I don’t.
Instead, he’s a perfect gentleman. Understanding. Somehow, it makes it worse.
We pack in comfortable silence, and pack the car.
“I’m sorry the trip got cut short.” I start picking at a string on my shirt.
“It’s okay. It seems like he exaggerated his angler skills.” Kade says, tossing me a sideways glance. My snort turns into laughter halfway through, and he joins in. He puts the vehicle in reverse, arm going behind my headrest as he backs up. Kade clears his throat. Once, twice.
“So the brand campaign has been going well.” He begins. I glance at him from the side of my eye. He is on set too, so I'm not sure why he’s asking.
“Yea, not bad. I think they need to find their on-camera chemistry a bit more, but it will probably be great by the second or third shoot.” I shrug.
“Mmm.” He hums, noncommittally.
“Do you not think it’s going well?”
“Hm? Oh for sure. It’s just… Vanessa seems all starry eyed over him,” He mutters, waving a hand through the air, “I know that it’s mostly the Sandy’s Donut thing, but it just doesn’t seem good for a young athlete like herself. What do we really know about this guy?”
My head jerks back. There is so much to unpack there.
“What do you mean? Ro has been my best friend since high school.” I hear my voice slightly rising with defensiveness. “He wouldn’t take advantage of her or anything. Besides, she’s an adult. So there’s nothing to take advantage of.”
“You don’t think so? She was a recipient of his scholarship foundation, so maybe there is.” He shrugs, although I can see the tips of his ears turning red. Kade’s not as unaffected by this conversation as he’s pretending.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I scoff, shaking my head and readjusting in my seat. “What scholarship?”
Kade looks at me incredulously as he pulls into the stadium parking lot.
“Wait, are you telling me your ‘best friend since high school’ didn’t even tell you he’s the founder for the biggest donut chain in the country?
And yet, you’re not worried about him taking advantage of someone because you know him so well?
” Kade scoffs, putting the car in park and turning in his seat to fully face me.
Is that true? How did I never know this? I suppose we didn’t talk as much when I went away for college.
But then, something else occurs to me.
“Why are you so concerned with Vanessa anyway?” I ask, my voice still stunned over the previous revelation. Kade’s cheeks tinge pink.
“No reason. She’s just my best friend’s little sister.” He mutters as he rubs his jaw, looking away.
“Uh huh.” I say absently. I know how that goes. “I’m gonna go sit in on this meeting. I’ll text you.”
“Alright.” He leans across the console, planting a kiss to the corner of my mouth. Something shifts in my chest, as I feel absolutely nothing for the way his lips press against my skin. Not even like I did when we were new.
Am I forever going to fall in and out of meaningless relationships as I search for someone— anyone to make me feel even a fraction of how Ronan does?
I give Kade a small wave as I head into the building.
Stopping by my office, I slip into a more business casual outfit. I always keep a spare outfit tucked away— just in case.
There’s a meeting happening just down the hall that has at least sixty percent of staff and players gathered. Everyone’s keyed up, making last minute adjustments and tweaks, in hopes of getting the Cup. It’s looking good for the Bruisers at the moment.
I slip into the back, finding a seat next to Alli along the side. Her eyebrows shoot to her hairline when she notices me.
“All good?” She asks, schooling her expression. I blow out a breath and nod.
I try my best to keep my eyes off the players seated a few rows back.
“Between one and ten how likely am I to get away with calling him Randy?” Ronan asks out of the corner of his mouth. It’s louder than he intends. Considering I heard him from near the front.
Fitz snorts.
“You have a solid chance, bro.” Ryan grins supportively, reaching across to smack his shoulder. “Go try.”
I roll my eyes.
Coach Randall stands towards the front of the room, chatting with the assistant coach, Jessica. Thankfully, when Ronan takes a confident step in that direction, Tate grips his shoulder and pushes him back into his seat.
“Don’t manhandle me, Texas. Save that shit for the ice.” Ronan scowls.
I can’t help but giggle to myself at their antics. Alli waves Dakota over to the table where we are sitting.
“Hey.” Dakota says, her signature blush and bashful smile on display as she slides into the seat next to Alli.
“Those scrubs make your ass look great by the way.” I give her an exaggerated wink and two thumbs up. She flushes deeper, fighting a grin.
“Thanks, Em.”
The general manager begins the meeting, discussing expectations for everything from the medical team to the media teams down to the players and coaching staff. Whoever wins this game, will be sent to the Stanley Cup Finals. A best of seven competition to win the cup.
The regular season’s stats had Ronan ranked as the number two goalie in the league, just below his current rival— if you can even call him a rival.
Ronan is too loveable to have any real animosity towards anybody.
It’s more of a friendly competitiveness.
They both had a good play off run, and the whole country is watching to see how the two of them will do if they end up tending the goals in the Finals.
What would they do if no one got a puck in on either side?
My thoughts are interrupted by a mini pretzel hitting my cheek. Glancing over my shoulder, I narrow my eyes on Ronan.
“What are you, twelve?” I whisper-shout.
He bites his lip to tamp down his smile at my sass.
I throw it back— missing terribly. Not even Ro’s goalie reflexes could stop the slow motion horror as the pretzel veers off to the right, hitting Ryan in the eye.
He was so focused, soaking up every word that he didn’t see it coming.
The fall backwards out of his chair is dramatic to say the least. Or I hope it is. I didn’t throw it that hard, did I?
“OW! What the f—?” His hand is covering his eye as he sits on the floor between Tate and Fitz. Oh no, I’ve singlehandedly taken out our winger. I’m so fired. Not that I need this job for the cash— but all my friends are here.
My wide eyes move to Ronan’s without permission. He makes a cutting motion across his neck with his hand and tucks the pack of pretzels into his navy hoodie pocket. Don’t say anything. Right.
Pretzel just flew out of the sky then.
“Are you okay?” Dakota asks as she rushes to him, bending down and trying to pull his hand away from his eye so she can look at it.
“Ah— I don’t think I can open it.”
“Fuck’s sake, Quade.” Coach King barks, smoothing a tattooed hand over his short hair, “Go to medical and let her look at it.”
Half of the room is still standing from the commotion as we watch their retreating backs. Coach Randall mutters a ‘fucking hell’ before gesturing to Jessica to take over for her part of the meeting.
“Thank you all. Before you go, I believe Ronan has something to share with everyone.” Jessica says, gesturing to him to join her at the front.
I see him tapping out the beat to a song on his leg as he comes to the front of the room.
He’s always done that. A smile tugs at my lips from the familiarity of it.
“Thanks, Coach.” He pats her shoulder. She gives him an encouraging smile. “Some of you may know this already, but I have a scholarship foundation that gives students opportunities they wouldn’t have otherwise.”
He stops to clear his throat, and I see him mentally gathering himself to stay on task.
“The foundation has an opportunity to partner up and expand our reach to other cities. In honor of that, we are going to have a charity gala after the season. They’re going to send out the fancy, cordial shit, but I wanted to personally invite every one of you.
This mission is very important to me and the entire reason Sandy’s Happy Donuts Foundation was created in the first place.
It would mean the world to me if you guys would come and show your support. ”
After he finishes his speech, he runs a hand through his hair, messing up the blonde strands. The room erupts in applause and whistles.
“We’ll be there!” Fitz throws his arms around Tate and Ripley.
Ronan’s face breaks out into a devastatingly handsome grin. My heart skips in my chest.
“Can’t take you two anywhere.” Alli mutters when the meeting’s finally concluded.
“You saw nothing.”
“Oh, I saw something.” She leans toward me, still looking straight as she adds, “And it wasn’t just the pretzel.”
I elbow her. Hard.