Page 34 of Fake-Off with Fate (Love in Maple Falls #1)
JAMIE
Sitting out on the little patio off my room at the lodge, I try to assess how I currently feel about living in Maple Falls.
I had my doubts about how I’d do during my first week here, but then Ashlyn took me under her wing and helped me start to feel a sense of community.
The Ice Breakers’ continued efforts to help raise money for the town are a big part of that, as well.
But now that Ashlyn is no longer here, I once again feel like a visitor on the moon. I remind myself that I still have the team, and the guys and I are getting closer every day. For instance, Carson and Asher have decided to share a rental house.
It helps that we won our second game, too. Being two for two is a nice way to start the season, and I have a strong feeling we’ll just keep winning. And that’s not just cockiness on my part, either. The Ice Breakers have a magical team chemistry the likes of which I’ve never seen before.
Today is the first day of Maple Fest and while I had planned to go, I was going to do that accompanied by Ashlyn.
It’s weird to think of being there without her.
She hasn’t called me back to tell me what’s going on with her house, and while I don’t want to be a bother, I really want her to keep me updated.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I call her .
“Hello?” Her voice is breathy like she just sprinted a mile.
“How’s it going?” I ask.
“Jamie, hey. It’s okay. Good, really.”
When she doesn’t elaborate beyond that, I ask, “How’s your house?”
“Still here,” she says. “They created a fire line a few blocks from me and managed to stop the spread. It’s already at eighty percent contained, so it’s only a matter of time before the whole thing is out.”
I’m relieved for her but at the same time another, less altruistic, thought hits me. Had Ashlyn’s house burned down, there was still a chance she might have come back to Maple Falls. Now there’s not. “I’m happy for you,” I tell her. And I am. I’m just not happy for me.
“Thank you. It’s been a wild week for sure.”
“Do fires usually last so long?” I ask.
“Not usually, but the Santa Ana winds have been stronger than normal, and the continued drought doesn’t help.” She adds, “There are also several other fires burning so resources are strained.”
I honestly don’t know why anyone lives there but I don’t say that. Instead, I go with, “How’s your new job?”
“My job? Oh, you know, it’s fine.”
Her answer makes me wonder if she really has a job. “I thought it started today.”
“Uh, yeah. But I put it off until tomorrow. You know, just resettling back into my place.”
Neither one of us says anything for a few beats and for the first time, I feel like I’m struggling to make small talk with Ashlyn. I finally tell her, “Maple Fest starts today.”
“Yeah, I know. Have you gone yet?”
“No. The girl who was going to show me around had other plans.” Even though I don’t want to be petty, I’m still feeling a bit sorry for myself.
“What girl?” Is it me or is there a hint of jealousy in her tone ?
Stretching my legs out in front of me, I take a sip of my coffee before telling her, “You.”
“Oh. Yeah, well, I’m sorry about that.”
“You could fly up today and still join me,” I suggest. “I’m guessing your new client won’t expect you in on the weekend.”
“Jamie.” She sighs my name like I’m an annoyance. “I can’t.”
“Okay.” I suppose there’s no sense arguing with her. “I could come there, and we could do something fun.” I don’t know why I can’t leave well enough alone, but I just can’t.
“Don’t come,” she tells me. “I really do have to start my job tomorrow and I have a lot to do here. Callie and her husband are staying with me until they can figure out their next step.”
I’m not sure what her friend and her husband have to do with me coming out to lend my support, but Ashlyn’s made it clear I’m not welcome. It’s strange how much that hurts.
“Okay, then, well, I better get going,” I tell her.
“To Maple Fest?” she wants to know.
“Maybe.” My evasiveness is pure petulance but since Ashlyn has made it clear she doesn’t want to see me, I don’t feel the need to let her know what I’m up to.
“Have fun,” she says, suddenly trying to sound like there’s no tension between us.
“Will do.” And then I hang up. No “Goodbye,” no “Talk to you soon.” I just hang up feeling butt hurt that Ashlyn means more to me than I mean to her.
The first person I see when I walk into Maple Fest is Lucian Lowe. He’s a defenseman for the Ice Breakers and honestly, one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. If he were a dog, he’d be a golden retriever service dog. You know, sweet, playful, and above all else, helpful.
Lucian is with Neesha Gilmore. She runs a café inside a local bookshop, which I have yet to go into, but I understand it is first rate. She also has a cupcake business on the side. Neesha is the one whose cupcakes Ashlyn turned me on to when we went to the farmers’ market together.
From what Lucian has told us, Neesha had a painful breakup with another hockey player, and she had vowed to never have anything to do with another one.
That’s why Lucian isn’t telling her he’s on the Ice Breakers.
He’s trying to win her over first. Which is the reason I don’t go over to say hello.
Lucian doesn’t want Neesha to wonder why he has so many hockey player friends.
The next person I see is Dale. He’s waiting in line at a stand selling apple cider donuts, and he’s not alone. Walking up to him, I say, “I see you’ve found a friend, Coach.”
Shirley May from the diner is by his side and she’s wearing a smile that literally stretches from ear to ear. “Jamie,” she says excitedly. “How are you doing? Where’s Ashlyn?”
“She’s gone back to LA,” I tell her.
Shirley May’s expression falters. “For good?”
I shove my hands in my pockets as my fingers clench into fists of frustration. “That’s what she says.”
Dale puts his arm around my shoulders consolingly. “That’s too bad, son. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not like we were dating for real,” I tell him. But it is Dale’s fault we were even pretending to date and that is currently making me feel the tiniest bit hostile toward him.
Sensing my mood isn’t good, he says, “She seemed like a nice girl.”
“Nice?” Shirley May exclaims. “Ashlyn Thompkins is one of the best people I know. I was so hopeful that when she came home, she might stay.” The diner owner’s gaze shifts behind me.
“Will you look at that. Mayor Thompkins has finally shown his face. We were all starting to think he was on his deathbed or something.”
I turn around and see a hefty man of average height approach us. His arm is around a woman that I would know was Ashlyn’s mother anywhere. The two are lookalikes with the small exception of about thirty years.
The mayor and his wife approach us. “Dale,” he calls out. “I hear your team is doing well.”
As they close in, Dale shakes his hand. “Mayor. It’s nice to see you again.” Then he gestures toward Mrs. Thompkins. “This must be your lovely wife.”
The mayor announces, “This is my beautiful Alicia.” Ashlyn’s mom smiles sweetly as she looks at her husband with borderline adoration. It appears Ashlyn knew what she was doing sending them away together.
Dale turns to me and says, “This is Jamie Hayes, our captain.”
“Jamie!” The mayor seems inordinately pleased to meet me. “I’m sorry I missed our supper, but I understand Ashlyn took good care of you.”
“Yes, sir,” I tell him. “Your daughter was very kind to share a meal with me.” I don’t bother saying anything more because that would just be weird. Also, it’s not like there’s any reason to.
“What do you make of this business with Alexander MacDonald, Bill?” Shirley May asks the mayor.
“It’s troubling, for sure,” the mayor says. “But even so, I’m sure we’ll figure this out together.”
“We’ve missed seeing you around town,” the diner owner tells him. “It’s good to have you back on your feet.”
“I left you in good hands,” he says without confirming or denying the state of his health.
“Ashlyn would make a great mayor,” Shirley May announces.
“From your mouth to God’s ear, Shirley May. I’ve been telling her the same thing for a couple of years now, but I don’t think she’s getting the hint.”
“Ashlyn has a big life in LA,” Alicia Thompkins interjects. Then she tells her husband, “You got to choose your own path, now you let our daughter do the same. ”
The mayor looks at his wife lovingly. “Of course, dear. Anything you say.”
After a moment of silence, I interject, “Well, I’m off to get a pretzel with that beer cheese sauce I’ve heard so much about. Good to see you all.”
As I walk away, Dale calls out, “Remember what I told you when you first moved here.”
I stop in my tracks before turning back to him. “Don’t feed the bears?”
He laughs. “Well, obviously, but that’s not what I’m talking about.”
“Don’t take candy from strangers?” I joke.
Another head shake. “Cupid lives in Maple Falls,” he says with a wink.
Glancing in Shirley May’s direction, I tell him, “Looks like that’s working out for you.”
His face illuminates like he just got hit with a spotlight. “I sure hope so, but I think it might work out for you, too.”
I never told Dale that I was having feelings for Ashlyn, so I don’t know what he’s talking about. But then I turn to follow his gaze.
What in the world is Allegra still doing in town?