Page 41

Springtime

“ Yes, a dog parade. Well, it’s a Boston terrier parade. And then a bunch of food trucks and tents with crafts and other dog stuff.” I attempt to smooth my hair back into a messy bun—all my buns are messy with curls like mine—and tug my makeup bag across the counter toward me.

I’m in my own bathroom, in my own small one-bedroom apartment.

It was kind of great living with my brother and getting to know him again, but I was so ready to have my own place.

I love Kellen, but I think it’ll be a long time before I give up this kind of independence again.

If ever.

“What has happened to you, babes?” January says with a deep frown through the video call. “I can’t believe you’re fully a dog person now.” She raises her eyebrows and hums. “Actually? This was totally predictable given how you swooped in to save Waffles from your ex like a red-headed knight in shining armor.”

“I think it’s adorable,” Raleigh says. “Just you and Kellen and Ava?”

“Yes, I think.” I swipe mascara on my right eye. “Atticus isn’t coming.” I do my left eye and then glance down at the screen.

She blushes furiously. “Why would I care what Atticus is doing today or who he is dating?”

“Who was talking about Atticus’s dating life, sis?” I swipe both eyelashes once more and steal another look at my friends.

“Not me!” Raleigh squeaks.

“If it makes you feel any better, or worse, I dunno, Kellen says he’s not taken home a girl while they’ve been on the road for months.”

“Really?”

“Your magical kiss on New Year’s Eve did not cure that boy of his sluttiness, Raleigh Durham.” January shakes her head.

“I still can’t believe you snuck off and kissed my brother and didn’t tell us until weeks later.” I pull out a concealer stick and dab under my eyes.

“It wasn’t a big deal. And I don’t care if he takes home girls when he travels. Or that he hasn’t done that recently.” Raleigh scrunches her face.

January groans.

“You are almost six months out of your second divorce being final and that deserves celebration.” January points at the camera. “So go sow some wild oats, or something like that.”

“I am. I’ve gone on a bunch of online dates. And I’ve been chatting with this one guy who lives in Utah.”

“Okay, great, but slow your roll, Raleigh. Nothing wrong with taking your time getting back out there.” I brush light blush on my cheeks and grab lip gloss.

“I know.” Raleigh rakes her fingers down her face. “I’ m thirty-three years old, and I’ve been divorced twice. And now I’m online dating. What a fucking disaster.”

“Aw, sis. Do you need another trip out to Colorado? It’s supposedly amazing here in the summer.”

“Maybe,” Raleigh says.

“Really? Come this summer!” I look down at the screen and zip up my makeup bag. “Please? We’ll only be in England for a few weeks.”

“Well. Maybe. I might have a lot of free time coming up.” Raleigh bites her lip. “Let’s get back to this dog parade.”

“Wait—” January asks. “What do you mean by I might have a lot of free time ?”

“I just might, okay?” Raleigh’s cheeks turn red. She combs her fingers through her thin, shoulder-length blonde hair.

“Raleigh!” I pick up the phone and switch off the bathroom light.

“I don’t know.” Raleigh’s voice is miserable. “I’ve been thinking of taking a break from work.”

“Like a long vacation?” I furrow my brow.

Raleigh’s always had the most stable career of the three of us. She went to pharmacy school after we graduated college and has had a good paying, stable job since then.

Her love life? Not quite as stable.

“I’m burning out. From this town. From this job. From everything.”

“Okay. We should talk about this more, but I really need to run.” I grab my water bottle and fill it at the refrigerator, balancing the phone in my other hand.

“Me too, actually.” Raleigh looks relieved. “Love you guys, talk soon.”

“Wait,” January says. “You’re avoiding the conversation.”

“I have to think about things. And I need to get ready for my shift. Bye!” Raleigh disconnects .

January and I stare at each other. Something’s definitely going on there.

“That was weird.”

“Yup.” January laughs.

“You know you are always welcome here too. Savannah asked about you last time I talked to her.”

I followed my instincts and actually started being friendly to Savannah. Turns out, she’s sweet and supportive and funny as hell. And she needs a few more good friends in Fort Collins.

So do I.

“She’s registered to take the Colorado bar.”

“Good for her,” Jan says. “I follow her on the socials, but she hasn’t posted anything about that.”

“Not sure if that’s social media material.”

“Maybe not.” January shrugs. “I’ll think about visiting sometime. Maybe I’ll come for New Year’s again.”

We agree to tie Raleigh down for the next video call as soon as possible and then say goodbye.

Waffles sits at my feet, staring up at me, tongue hanging out of his mouth.

“Ready for the parade, Waffles?”

He barks and smiles. Fine, maybe that’s just his face, but still, it looks like a smile. His name is perfect for him. I don’t know why I didn’t see it at the beginning.

Fifteen minutes later, I spot Kellen and Ava as I approach A Good Book. I take a moment to appreciate the sight before me.

Kellen’s crouched down in front of his daughter, saying something in her ear, making her laugh. He stands and takes her small hand in his large one. My hot hockey player boyfriend is in a snug long-sleeved gray t-shirt and jeans that probably cost more than all my pants put together.

He turns to look at me and when his eyes meet mine, his smile is brighter than the sun that shines on Fort Collins. And the sun shines 300 days a year here .

Ava spots us and squeals, running full speed and skidding to a stop to let Waffles jump up on her chest and give her a billion kisses.

“He’s wearing his new name tag!” Ava touches the soft leather tag clipped onto his collar. I got one back in January, but Ava wanted me to get another one with a bit more bling. So he’s got a glittery silver name tag that says Waffles , surrounded by pink and purple gems.

“Hey,” I say when Kellen steps around Ava to kiss me softly. My cheeks warm, and I’m filled with all the feelings.

“Hi. Ready for this?”

“I suppose?”

“Hey! It’s Kellcy!” Atticus’s voice rings out, and I jerk my head in his direction.

“What are you all doing here?” I groan but can’t keep the smile from my face. Atticus, Lachlan, and Harley are all lined up waiting behind Kellen.

“Quick, get your cameras out!” Lachlan’s Aussie accent causes a few heads to turn around us. “We can sell pictures of them to NHL Tea!”

“Sorry.” Kellen shrugs and ignores Lachlan. “I couldn’t keep them away.”

“Mind if we come along?” Harley asks, always the polite, reasonable one. “None of us have ever been to a dog parade.”

“Sure, might as well.”

“Oh, and Bri’s joining us as well.” Lachlan whips out his phone. “She’s here.” He looks up and waves at Bri, crossing the street to meet us.

“It’s an official Kellcy Fake Dating Planning Committee reunion.” Bri hugs Lucy and then Ava.

“What about Heath, Romeo, and Finn?” I ask.

“Don’t you dare,” Kellen says with a laugh. But then his eyes widen as he sees those very boys heading our way on the sidewalk. “Are you kidding me? ”

“Romeo, Romeo,” Atticus calls to the approaching group. “Glad you could join us.”

“This is ridiculous.” Kellen shakes his head, but I can’t help but laugh.

“I adore dogs,” Romeo says with a wide, toothy grin. He squats down to pat Waffles’s head.

“Hello, Miss Ava.” Finn nods his head to Kellen’s daughter, who smiles up at her father’s teammates. Heath stands next to Finn, quiet as usual.

“Just one more,” Atticus says. “There she is.” He points to Savannah, approaching us with a wide grin.

“Hey, Savannah.” I smile at the woman, and she stops and greets me.

“We are our own parade.” Kellen grumbles under his breath, but I know he loves it.

“Should we video call your friends?” Atticus asks me.

“Video call? At a dog parade? Nah. I just got off the phone with them anyway.” My brother looks disappointed.

“Let’s go, you guys. The start of the parade is a block over.” Kellen smiles at me.

“Can I hold Waffles’s leash, Lucy?” Ava asks and reaches her little hand out.

“Of course.” I pass the leash to Ava. Six months ago, I wouldn’t have trusted Waffles to behave with a six-year-old at the end of his leash, but months of dog training have significantly helped.

Kellen reaches out and grabs one of my hands, weaving his fingers with mine.

“Can I hold your hand too, Lucy?” Ava looks up at me with big, beautiful blue eyes.

When I got to Fort Collins last September, I didn’t know what I really needed. I thought I knew. But I had no clue what was coming.

I didn’t know that the mountains of Colorado, this small town, and a job with the Blizzard were what I wanted. Being around my brother and the hockey team. Stopping at Deep Roots Cafe and A Good Book and making new friends. Celebrating the New Year with January and Raleigh and getting them to promise to come visit me again. Not knowing what I’d do without Waffles.

I didn’t know that the devastatingly handsome hockey player next to me and his adorable six-year-old daughter are exactly what I want in my life.

But now that I know all that, I’m gonna hold onto it with everything I have.

I reach out and grasp Ava’s tiny hand in mine.

Kellen leans over and kisses me, his lips expressing the things we talk about all the time.

“Let’s go, Daddy! Let’s go, Lucy!” Ava says. But then Waffles darts over to a fire hydrant. Ava pulls us forward to follow him, and Waffles immediately picks his leg up and pees.

Ava cracks up, and Kellen looks at me and smiles.

“Waffles,” I groan.

THE END

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