Chapter 18
Kayleigh took Dakota’s arm on Friday night and pulled her past the crowd of rowdy patrons ready to hit the floor. General
skate was about to begin as Kayleigh steered her best friend into the office at the back of the rink.
Once they were tucked inside the office, Kayleigh closed the door and rested her hands on her hips. “All right, Dakota. We’re
alone now, so spill it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Please.” Kayleigh harrumphed. “I’ve known you since we were kids, which means I can read you. You’ve texted one-word answers
to my messages all week, and you didn’t smile once during our lessons tonight. You’re usually bubbly and energetic, but you
look as if you haven’t slept in a month.” Her expression filled with compassion. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
Dakota dropped onto the chair across from the desk and slumped backward. “It’s been a rough week. Things are spiraling out of control for me financially. The store situation has gotten worse.” She shared about her mortgage payment rising, how she hadn’t recovered from the lost stock, and how sales at the store hadn’t improved.
Kayleigh sat on the edge of the desk. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“I don’t think so, but thanks. I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out what to do. I almost called my dad and asked
for help this week, but I don’t want to hear ‘I told you so.’” Dakota rubbed her forehead.
Kayleigh leaned forward and rested her hand on Dakota’s shoulder. “Sometimes we need to swallow our pride and ask for help.
That’s not a sign of weakness.”
“I know.” Dakota sighed. “I’m getting there.” She rested her hands on her lap. “But that’s not all that’s going on.” She sniffed
and examined her faded blue jeans. “And I think I’m losing my mind because...”
Kayleigh gave her a palms-up. “Because what?”
“I can’t stop thinking about Hud.” Dakota grimaced and waited for the explosion of her best friend’s disapproval.
Kayleigh blinked. “You what?” Her nose scrunched. “Why Hud?”
“I saw him Sunday.” She explained how her family had surprised her with a cookout and how Hud wound up staying for supper.
“After my family left, he fixed my cabinet doors and then we talked on the deck for a while, and it was... wonderful.”
She bit her lower lip, and Kayleigh frowned. “Now I can’t get him out of my mind. I almost stopped by his house the other
night, but I talked myself out of it. Seems he’s moving to the Middle East. I know he’s just going to disappear from my life
again, and I’ll be left nursing another broken heart.”
Kayleigh held her hand up like a traffic cop. “Whoa. Stop right there. What about Parker?”
“I haven’t spoken to him in a while. We’ve texted here and there, but he’s been busy at school with exams and grading senior
projects. There was also a big field trip he was preparing for last week.”
“It’s obvious that he really likes you, Dakota.” Kayleigh tapped the corner of the desk. “Don’t you think you need to be honest
with him instead of leading him on?”
The guilt that had followed her around all week pressed down on her, making her posture wilt even more. “Yes, I know I need
to.” She rubbed the back of her head. “I’ve been staring at the ceiling at night trying to figure out how I’m going to fix
my store and my heart. I’m losing my mind, Kay, and I don’t know what to do.”
“I thought Hud was your past and Parker was your future.”
“I thought so, too, but apparently I don’t know how to let go of the past.”
A knock sounded on the office door. Kayleigh skated over to open it, and her husband filled the doorframe. “Hey, Brice.”
He peeked past Kayleigh and eyed Dakota. “Parker’s been looking for you.”
“Oh. Thanks.” Dakota’s stomach pitched. She pushed herself up from the chair and squared her shoulders. It was time to face
the truth. She’d been using Parker as a distraction when her heart was truly craving Hudson, and Parker deserved better.
Kayleigh touched her husband’s arm. “We’ll be out there in a sec, okay?”
“Sure.” Brice gave her a curious look, then backed away from the door.
Kayleigh closed the door again and wagged a finger at Dakota. “You need to be honest with him.”
“I know, I know, but this isn’t the place to do it. I’ll ask him to give me a ride home since I rode here with Skye tonight.”
“Good idea.” Kayleigh’s expression warmed. “My nana always says honesty is the best policy.”
Dakota nodded, but the best policy certainly wouldn’t be the easiest.
***
Bile rose in Hudson’s throat while he stood by the snack bar and watched Dakota and Parker talking near the rink. A pop song
thundered through the speakers, and when Parker touched Dakota’s arm and leaned close to talk to her, Hudson’s nostrils flared.
All week long he’d tried in vain to shove thoughts of Dakota from his mind, but she remained there, lingering at the edge.
He couldn’t stop reliving Sunday night, recalling how easily they’d joked and laughed together. How she’d teased him, elbowing
him in the side while her eyes gleamed. He’d felt that old connection come alive again. She seemed disappointed when he talked
about moving to the Middle East, which surprised him, and when they reminisced, she seemed to enjoy reliving those times as
much as he did. But most shocking of all was how willing he’d been to talk about his parents and share his grief. He meant
it when he said he’d never opened up to anyone like that before. He hadn’t even discussed those feelings with his sister or
his aunt. But Dakota always seemed to unlock something deep in his heart and soul.
He’d longed to stay on her deck and talk all night, but he didn’t want to risk ruining the progress they’d made. Dakota had gone from shutting down and almost asking him to leave the last time he’d been in her house to inviting him to stay and talk. Too much of a good thing could have ended badly.
When they’d said good night, he couldn’t stop himself from touching her hair and running his finger down her soft cheek. He’d
somehow squelched the urge to kiss her, even though he had the overwhelming feeling that she’d wanted him to.
At the same time, he knew she was seeing someone. He’d hoped she’d tell him the relationship with Parker was over, but now
as he stood in the rink, he could see it wasn’t. He could tell from their body language they were still together, and he realized
he’d been kidding himself when he started to believe she might actually still care about him. If he confessed to her that
he still cared, what would stop her from rejecting him just as she had seven years ago? His heart couldn’t survive that again.
He must have imagined their connection, and it was best that he just leave Dakota and the rest of this town in his rearview
mirror when he took off for good.
But for some reason, that idea hurt him almost as much as the thought of leaving his family behind.
“What would you like, mister?”
Hudson swiveled back to face the snack bar, where a redheaded teenager with spiky hair, braces, and freckles stared at him.
“Two Cokes and two pretzels with cheese.”
“Sure thing.”
He paid the kid and toted the food over to where Gavin sat in what seemed to have become their usual booth every Friday night.
Hudson would miss these weekend visits to the rink too.
“You look like you’re ready to punch someone,” Gavin said before breaking off a piece of his pretzel.
Hudson shrugged at that idea and sipped his Coke.
“What’s up?”
He turned toward where Dakota and Parker had been standing, but they were gone. Most likely they had joined the rest of the skaters on the rink. “Dakota is still seeing that guy.” He tore off a piece of a pretzel and dipped it in the cheese.
“And this is news to you because...”
“We sort of had a moment Sunday night.” He explained how he had supper with her family and then stayed and talked. “I thought
maybe—” He stopped speaking because he sounded like a ridiculously lovesick guy, and he didn’t have time for this. Besides,
he wasn’t staying in Flowering Grove, so none of it mattered anyway. “Never mind.”
Gavin remained silent for a beat and ate a few more bites of pretzel. “If you care about her, you should tell her.”
“There’s no point.”
“Why not?”
Hudson turned toward the rink just as Dakota and Parker skated past. “She’s with him, and I’m leaving town soon.”
“She might not be with him if she knew you cared.”
Hudson shook his head.
“The attraction between you two is pretty potent. I wouldn’t be surprised if Parker has noticed it too.”
Hudson sipped his Coke and cut his gaze toward the rink. Gavin was wrong. But doubt still lingered in the back of his mind.
“Come skate with me, Daddy.” Anissa appeared at the table and took Hudson’s hand. “You too, Mr. Hud.”
Hudson couldn’t resist her. “Yes, ma’am.” He pushed himself up from the table and allowed her to steer him toward the rink.
***
Later that evening Parker steered his Kia SUV into Dakota’s driveway. She gripped the passenger side door handle and tried to remember the speech she’d mentally prepared during the short ride home.
The evening had passed at a snail’s pace. She had tried to stay busy, encouraging Parker to skate so they could avoid getting
into a deep conversation at the rink. But now they were parked in her driveway, and it was time for her to be honest with
him. The truth would most likely break his heart.
She bit back a grimace and fixed a smile on her face before unfastening her seat belt. “Thanks for the ride.”
He moved his fingers over the steering wheel. “You’ve been quiet tonight. Wanna tell me what’s wrong?”
Her gaze involuntarily moved to the house next door, where light glowed in the second-story windows and Hudson’s fancy SUV
sat quietly waiting for him. She had seen him talking with Gavin and also skating with Anissa, which made her smile. She’d
even managed to skate near him a few times during the night, but they hadn’t shared more than an awkward hello. She’d longed
to have another conversation with him, but his curt greetings spoke volumes. Hudson didn’t want to be more than acquaintances,
and it was better that way.
So then why did her heart insist on craving him?
“Dakota?” Her eyes met Parker’s, and they seemed to plead with her to tell him the truth. “Please talk to me. Have I done
something to upset you?”
She shook her head as her stomach lurched. “No, not at all.”
“Then what is it?”
“Parker, I’m really sorry I’ve been so standoffish. The truth is...” She gripped the door handle. “The truth is, I’m just
not ready for a relationship. You’re a sweet guy, and I’m grateful my niece set us up. But I’m just not in a good place emotionally,
and I’d really prefer we just be friends.”
Her speech, which sounded so awesome in her head, was incredibly pathetic when she said it out loud. She angled her body toward Parker, and to her surprise, Parker’s lips formed a sardonic smile.
“Friends, huh?” he asked. “That’s what you want?”
Oh boy.
“Y-yes,” she stammered. “Just friends.”
He nodded slowly as if working through something in his mind. “Does your reluctance to date me have anything to do with your
ex?” He pointed toward the colonial.
Dakota’s eyes widened. Had she been that transparent?
“You’re really going to act surprised?” Parker gave her a look of disbelief. “I suspected you had feelings for him the day
I stopped by and caught you hugging him, but I hoped you were being honest with me.” Hurt spread across his face. “That’s
all I’ve wanted, Dakota—honesty. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”
“No, Parker, it’s not. And you deserve so much better than me.”
He rested his arm on the steering wheel. “I just wish I’d realized sooner that you were stringing me along while you waited
for your ex to notice you.”
“It’s not like that—”
“Please don’t say anything else, Dakota.”
She pushed the door open and climbed out of the vehicle before turning back toward him. “I never meant to hurt you, Parker.”
“Too late,” he said before slipping his SUV into Reverse.
She stood in the driveway as he backed out and his taillights disappeared into the dark. Hugging her arms to her middle, she
longed for the shame and remorse that crashed inside her to subside. But she knew she deserved to feel as bad as she did.
She had led Parker on, and he did deserve better—so much better. She hoped he would find someone who appreciated him for the
kind, patient, thoughtful, and sweet man he was.
Dakota swiveled toward the colonial next door, and for a moment, she considered knocking. She longed to sit on the deck with Hudson and talk until the sun came up, but tonight he’d seemingly kept her at a distance, which was probably for the best.
With a heavy heart, she trudged toward her front door. She would stare at her ceiling again tonight and hope that somehow
she could get herself through this mess.