Page 51

She lifted an eyebrow as she surveyed the clean countertops, the freshly swept floors, and the empty café.

Even the coffee machine was sparkling clean as it had barely been used today.

“There’s no one here, Vi. The whole town’s at the game, and the weather's so terrible I doubt you’re going to get customers anytime soon. I’m sure Nicole can cover for you.”

“I totally can,” Nicole called out from the storeroom.

I still couldn’t bring myself to contemplate it.

I was trying to avoid the feelings that bubbled up inside me whenever I thought about Reed, so watching him play hockey certainly wasn’t going to help with that.

“I think you should come,” Mia said. “I still refuse to believe Reed didn’t have real feelings for you. ”

“I told you about his history with Jeremy…”

“Yeah, but does that really matter? You were using him to get to Jeremy too, if I recall.”

“And I was totally up front about that,” I murmured. “Why did he keep all this stuff from me?”

She shrugged. “I can’t answer that, Vi. But it’s not like he went out of his way to pursue you and trick you into dating him. You were the one who kissed him at the bonfire. The poor guy was just standing there minding his own business, and bam, your tongue was down his throat.”

“Mia,” I groaned. “You’re not helping.”

She let out a sigh and seemed to relax a little. “I’m just trying to make you realize that things between you and Reed aren’t as black-and-white as you think. Does it really matter why you both got into this fake relationship at the start if the feelings at the end were real?”

I knew she was talking sense, but I wasn’t in a very rational place right now. Maybe Reed had developed feelings for me over time, like I had for him, but that still didn’t explain why he was keeping so much from me. Jeremy’s story seemed to fill in those gaps.

Mia looked like she wanted to continue trying to convince me, but she could probably see how drained I was and thought better of it.

“I don’t have to go to the game,” she said, sympathy in her expression. “Do you want me to stay here?”

“And ruin your date with Grant? I don’t think so.”

She gave me a small smile. He’d finally asked her out. It might have only been to see a hockey game together, but I knew she was over the moon.

“Do I look okay?” she asked.

“Gorgeous,” I replied. “And you’re not even wearing your first-base outfit.”

She folded her arms and raised an eyebrow at me. “Uh, only because you ruined its magic by not kissing Reed that night. I’m still angry at you about that, by the way.”

“I kissed him the next day.”

“It’s not the same.”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll find another piece of lucky clothing to replace it.”

“Oh, I have,” she replied. “I’m wearing my lucky lingerie.”

My eyes widened. “What?”

Mia laughed at my shocked expression. “Head out of the gutter, Vi. I didn’t say my get lucky lingerie.” She shook her head. “I was wearing this bra when Grant asked me out. I’m sure he’ll ask me on a second date since I’m wearing it today.”

“I’m sure he will too.”

She laughed once more, but as she glanced up at the clock, she swore. “I’m going to be late. Are you sure you don’t mind if I take your car?”

“It’s fine. It’s not like I’m using it.”

“Thanks. I owe you.” She rushed over to give me a hug. “I’ll text you updates about the game and boo whenever Reed or Jeremy have the puck.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Sure, I do.” She smiled. “I’ll see you later.”

And then she was gone. The café felt so much emptier without her in it, and I really wished we had some more customers to take my mind off Reed and the game.

Nicole was doing inventory out back, so I couldn’t even chat with her to fill the silence.

That left me alone with the many thoughts I was trying my best to avoid.

I decided to wipe down all the tables again to pass the time.

And once that was done, I went over the chairs and menus too.

I was interrupted by just one brave customer who had ventured out in the storm for a cup of coffee.

They must have been the only person within a twenty-mile radius not at the hockey game.

But serving them was a nice distraction, and I was relieved that all they wanted to talk about was the weather.

Once they left, the silence returned, so I decided to clean and organize the storage shelves.

This place was going to be sparkling before my shift was over.

When the bell above the front door chimed, I turned, hoping to see another customer, but I was surprised to find Paige bursting into the café.

“Paige?” I gasped. “What are you doing?” The big game had already stated. Surely, she should be at the arena watching Grayson and the other Darling boys play.

“What am I doing?” she said through panted breaths. “The more important question is, what are you doing?”

“Uh, I’m working.”

“Obviously,” she said. “But why aren’t you at the game?”

“Uh…” I was still getting over the shock of seeing her here. “Because Reed and I aren’t together anymore.”

“Yes, I heard. But he’s playing terribly, and I know it’s because you guys broke up. I don’t know what happened, no one will tell me, but I’m guessing he messed up somehow. Is there any way you can forgive him? I think he needs you there.”

I paused as I considered the best way to answer. I wasn’t sure how much Paige knew about my arrangement with Reed, but at this point there was no point in hiding the truth.

“There’s nothing to forgive. Reed and I were never really in a relationship, Paige.”

The way her eyebrows pulled together in a confused frown told me she’d been completely in the dark about our deal. “What do you mean?”

“We were only pretending to date.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Well, you might think it sounds ridiculous, but I needed to show my ex I’d moved on, so Reed agreed to help. And Reed…” I hesitated as the words stuck in my throat. “He had his reasons too.”

“Which were?” Paige prompted.

I didn’t know anymore. Reed had originally said it was to keep his adoring female fans off his back, Jeremy had told me it was for revenge, and just yesterday, Grayson said it was because Reed had liked me all along.

I knew which one I wanted to believe, but that wasn’t the one I thought was genuine.

“My ex is the captain of the Sunshine Prep Saints, Jeremy Hoffman,” I said “Reed never mentioned it, but I recently found out he and Jeremy have a nasty history. I thought Reed was pretending to date me to ward off other girls, so he could concentrate on hockey, but I now know the real reason was to get back at Jeremy.”

Paige’s expression shifted back and forth between confusion and thoughtfulness as I spoke.

“Get back at him for what?”

“I guess Reed and Jeremy both liked the same girl a while back, but she chose Jeremy.”

Paige shook her head and then let out a hushed laugh. “Are you talking about what happened with Natalie?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, that’s not the way it went down,” she said, softly smiling at me.

“It isn’t?”

“No, not at all.” She leaned forward on the counter and placed her hands on mine. “Reed and Natalie started dating in freshman year. Reed was totally head over heels for her. It was really cute.” She laughed again at the memory, but then her face fell.

“It didn’t take long before Jeremy got jealous,” she continued. “I don’t know why. Maybe he didn’t like sharing his best friend. Maybe he genuinely liked Natalie. Or maybe the friendly competition on the ice that had been the basis of their friendship for years finally boiled over.”

She was watching me closely as she spoke, like she was trying to gauge my reaction. I kept my face as neutral as possible, but my heart was beating at a record pace, and my mind was racing even faster.

“If you ask me,” Paige said with a shake of her head. “Jeremy’s just a dick. But whatever the reason, he went after Natalie. They ended up getting together behind Reed’s back, and he didn’t find out for months. Reed was heartbroken when he eventually caught them.”

I was struggling to keep my emotions under wraps.

This wasn’t the story Jeremy had told me at all.

Of course, he was actually the bad guy in this situation.

Deep down, I’d known he was just saying those things to get to me, but I’d let them wedge their way under my skin.

I’d been too scared to take a leap of faith with Reed, so I’d welcomed Jeremy’s attempts to clip my wings.

There was still one thing that didn’t sit right with me though.

“If that’s true, why didn’t Reed just tell me?”

Paige rolled her eyes. “I tried to get him to,” she said.

“But he never talks about it with anyone. He really changed after what Jeremy and Natalie did to him. He shut almost everyone out and threw every piece of himself into hockey. The Darling Devil rumors started to build up, and he embraced them, claiming it was good for his reputation on the ice. But really, he was just hiding the real Reed Darling from the world so he wouldn’t suffer similar heartache again. That was until he met you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve watched him come to life again these last few weeks, and I know it was because of you, Violet. Despite all the walls he puts up, you somehow got through to him, and he fell for you.”

As she spoke, my throat constricted, and a mix of conflicting emotions flooded my chest. It tore me up to learn Reed had experienced a similar heartache to me.

But it felt even worse to know that while Reed had put his heart on the line and told me how he felt I’d been too scared to do the same.

My instincts had urged me to flee at the first sign of danger, and I hadn’t been brave enough to stick around when there was even the slightest chance what Jeremy told me was true.

And I’d foolishly believed this game was more important to Reed than I was.

“Whatever was going on with this fake relationship,” Paige continued. “I don’t buy it. I think you’ve fallen for him too.”

I knew I couldn’t deny my feelings any longer. They were growing and swelling inside of me, bursting out of the box I’d desperately tried to lock them in, as if they had a life of their own.

“Everything I felt for him was real,” I whispered.

Paige’s face lit up with a warm smile. “Then what are you waiting around here for?”

I hesitated. I felt like a baby bird standing at the edge of a precipice, trying to decide whether fear would hold me back or I would jump and try to fly.

“Trust me, Violet. Reed would never hurt you. Just give him a chance, and I know he’ll prove that to you.”

She bit her lower lip as I thought over what she’d said.

Paige was right. After what she’d told me today, the least I could do was give Reed a chance.

If he genuinely returned my feelings and he ended up losing his big game because I allowed my fear of being hurt to hold me back, then I would never forgive myself.

I refused to be scared anymore, and I felt my resolve strengthen within me. “Do you think we can still make the game?

“Yes.” Paige clapped her hands together with excitement. “If we leave now, we can get there for the final period.”

I glanced over my shoulder, surprised to find Nicole had emerged from the storeroom and was leaning against the door frame.

“Go,” she said as she caught my gaze. “Go get your guy.”

I shot her a grin before I turned to Paige. “Any chance I could get a ride?”