Page 12 of Soulmates and Slapshots (Love in Maple Falls #6)

FIONA

“ I don’t know if I have anything to say to you,” I say, my voice cold. “You have quite a bit of explaining to do.”

Even though it sounds like I’m lecturing a teenager, I refuse to back down. After the stunt Hayley pulled the other night, I’ve been dodging her calls. I finally decide to put her in the hot seat and get some answers.

“ Me? ” she bursts out, her voice high with disbelief. “Were you planning to tell me you were going on a date? It only takes a few seconds to send a text with important information like that.”

I scowl and cross my arms, even though she can’t see me through the phone. “I didn’t have a chance. It all happened fast.”

Which, to be fair, is one way of describing my quick thinking. Thankfully Weston was a good sport and went along with it.

“Well, don’t leave me hanging,” she presses. “I need the details. Who is this man? Where did you meet him? Tell me everything. ”

“Not until you tell me what on earth you were thinking, putting Joshua on the phone like that. I think I’ve had enough surprises when it comes to that man.”

There’s a pause. “I know. But it was the only thing I could think of to get you to talk to him—face to face. Especially since you're still there. It would be easier if you would come home so you guys could sit down and hash things out.”

“Why would I want to be face to face with him?” My voice cracks before I can stop it. “Did you forget that he was the one who ended things? He was the one who made that decision on his own and then surprised me with it.”

“I haven’t forgotten,” she says quietly. “Believe me, I gave him an earful. I told him he was a complete idiot. And trust me, Fiona, he knows . He knows exactly what a huge mistake he made.”

“Good,” I mutter. Even though this doesn’t erase the flashbacks of that fateful night.

She’s silent for a few seconds before the questions start coming again. “I thought you were just going out there to visit your aunt for a few days. And now you’re…dating someone? What exactly is happening?”

I bite my bottom lip, unsure how to answer that. Weston and I are…well, we’re something . Friends, mostly. Sort of. I think? I did throw a bucket of water at him to raise money.

“What’s the big deal?” I snap. “I’m not allowed to have a little fun while I’m on vacation?”

Ugh. Now I officially sound like my aunt.

“Fiona, come on,” she says gently. “You know I always have your back no matter what, but I’m worried about you.”

“Do you have my back?” I ask. “Because right now, it feels like you’re working overtime trying to get me back with the guy who broke my heart without warning. ”

She’s quiet again, and I know she’s thinking it through. This hasn’t been easy on her. Or on any of our friends, really. We all became close around the same time, but still, she crossed a line. So much for staying neutral.

“I just…I’ve never seen him like this,” she says finally. “The strong, confident Joshua? He’s gone. He’s a mess, Fiona. Completely lost without you.”

I close my eyes and lean back on the couch, torn between the flicker of sympathy and the anger that’s still swirling inside me.

“Well, that’s the decision he made.”

I might sound a little harsh, but I don’t care.

“So, does that mean you’ve moved on with this small-town mystery man?”

Ha. Weston isn’t exactly a small-town guy. He’s as new to Maple Falls as I am.

“He’s not from here,” I reply.

“Ah. I’m finally getting some details. Where is he from? And did you say you were celebrating something? Is he really a hockey player?”

I sigh. “Truthfully, we just went out for pizza the other night. That’s the extent of our date.”

“Do you like him? He looked hot, but it was hard to tell. What’s his name?”

She continues firing off questions in typical Hayley fashion.

“His name is Weston.”

That’s the only bit of information I’m giving her at this point because—well, I’m not dating Weston.

“And…”

“And…I have to go,” I say. “I’m meeting up with my aunt at the town’s fall festival. ”

“Oh, now that sounds like a regular Saturday in a small town.”

“Supposedly it’s the biggest event of the year here,” I reply.

“Is Weston going to be there?”

I think about Weston signing autographs and shaking hands with fans.

“I believe he is.”

“Fiona—”

I sigh. “What?”

“Never mind. Just please think about what I said. Don’t let a quick vacation fling cloud your judgment. Especially with a hockey player.”

“What does that mean?” I ask.

“You know how it is. Dating a professional athlete can bring a whole new set of problems.”

I roll my eyes. Hayley doesn’t have the best track record in relationships either, so I’m not taking anything she says to heart.

“Anyway, I’ll talk to you later.”

After I disconnect the call, I pull on my boots and throw on a long trench coat.

Maybe Joshua is having regrets now, but that doesn’t mean I need to run back to him.

Being away from New York has caused a shift in me.

I’m starting to think there is more out there for me.

It’s a lot to process, but right now all I want to do is enjoy myself.

And hopefully that includes spending more time with Weston.

Maple Fest is everything I imagined—and so much more.

The air practically hums with energy as I arrive, the crisp leaves flowing through the breeze.

Just beyond the entrance, I spot Aunt Dee waving excitedly.

She's impossible to miss, dressed head to toe in what she proudly calls her very own "cowgirl glam.

" Her outfit includes a denim dress, a bedazzled belt, a pair of bright pink cowboy boots, and a matching hat adorned with rhinestones and glitter.

“You look sparkly,” I tell her, grinning.

She does a dramatic twirl, ending in a delicate curtsey. “Why, thank you, ma’am.”

“So, where should I start?” I ask, glancing around at the bustling festival.

“Anywhere and everywhere,” she replies as we start walking toward the heart of town. “You don’t want to miss a thing. We’ve got food trucks, games, dancing, crafts, hayrides…and a haunted house.”

“Sounds like my kind of day,” I say, already trying to take it all in.

We stop to grab some famous Maple Fest hot apple cider from a wooden booth decorated with garlands of leaves and tiny pumpkins. I love cider. It’s like fall in a cup. The air is thick with delicious scents, and my stomach lets out a loud growl.

“Okay, I want to eat everything ,” I admit.

Aunt Dee laughs. “That’s the spirit.”

As we walk, she clears her throat. “So I stopped by the Ice Breakers table earlier.”

My brain immediately goes to Weston. I haven’t seen him since the night of our impromptu pizza date—when I may or may not have forced him into a casual hangout. Although, in my defense, he didn’t protest .

“You should go over and say hi,” she adds, “get some autographs for your collection.”

“I don’t have a collection,” I reply.

She sighs. “Well, you need to start one. It’s the perfect time.”

“Uh, sure. But first I need food.”

As much as I want to see Weston, I need something more substantial than cider.

Aunt Dee leads me from booth to booth like a seasoned pro, pointing out her favorites. We sample a smoky chili that smells divine, roasted corn, and split a gooey maple-glazed donut. Every bite is better than the last.

As we wander, I admire the town's decorating. There are cornstalks wrapped around lampposts, piles of pumpkins lining the sidewalks, and orange and gold banners draped across storefronts. The trees themselves add to the ambiance, their leaves a blend of red, amber, and gold.

“There it is,” Aunt Dee sings suddenly, pointing across the square. “The Ice Breakers table.”

I follow her gaze and spot Weston immediately. He’s mid conversation with a family, kneeling to high-five a little boy who looks starstruck. Weston laughs, and my heart does a backflip. Seeing him talk to excited fans adds a whole other layer to what he does.

I must be staring, because Aunt Dee leans in and murmurs, “You might want to wipe the drool off your chin. I know it’s hard not to stare.”

“I wasn’t staring,” I say a little too quickly.

She snorts. “Uh-huh. Sure you weren’t.”

The table is busy. It’s obvious that Weston and the team are a big hit, so I join at the end of the line without hesitation.

“What are you doing? You don’t need to wait in line,” Aunt Dee tells me. “Just walk up there. You have special privileges since you and Weston are friends.”

“I’m not cutting in line,” I say, eyeing at least a dozen people ahead of me. “These people were here first.”

She sighs dramatically. “Fine. I’ll be back in a bit. There’s a pumpkin painting contest I need to win.”

I watch her disappear into the crowd. Meanwhile, I inch forward slowly, enjoying the buzz of chatter around the booth. It’s sweet to see how excited people are to meet the players. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and I find myself smiling just being part of it.

As I near the front, Weston glances up, and the moment he spots me, his whole face lights up. His smile and those dimples make my pulse kick up a notch.

“Hey,” he calls out, waving me over like we’re old friends.

“Hey yourself,” I say, stepping closer. “This is very exciting. Has it been this crazy all morning?”

“Pretty much,” he says with a laugh. “But it’s been great. I love talking to the fans.”

Two of his teammates look over, clearly interested in our conversation.

“Fiona, meet Bama and Nate,” Weston says, gesturing toward them. “Guys, this is Fiona.”

“Bama?” I ask with a smile. “As in Alabama?”

He grins. “Yes ma’am. Born and raised. You can call me Carson.”

“And I’m Nate,” the other one says. His smile is just a touch too perfect, and he exudes the kind of confidence that practically announces itself. I have a feeling Nate is Nate’s biggest fan.

“Nice to meet you both,” I say politely .

Nate gives me a look like he's used to women fawning over him. I’m not impressed.

I move a little closer to Weston. “So, how’s it really going?”

He shrugs. “Honestly? It’s been great. Your aunt was here earlier.”

I laugh. “Of course she was. Was she the first one in line?”

“Surprisingly, no,” he says, chuckling.

“Wow. She said she needed to add to her autograph collection.”

“Well we all appreciate her enthusiasm,” he says.

We both grow quiet for a few seconds.

“Anyway, I don’t want to keep you from all the fans.”

“My first shift should be over soon,” he tells me. “Do you want to hang out for a bit?”

My heart does a little flutter. “Sure. But I’ve already sampled half of the food here,” I tell him.

“Ah, I haven’t eaten anything,” he wails.

“No problem, I can give you a lot of recommendations,” I tell him.

“Great. I’m looking forward to it.”

I move off to the side to let him visit with more of his adoring fans. I can’t think of a better way to occupy my time at Maple Fest than spending time with Weston.