Chapter 37

DARCY

* * *

Some things make sense at the time, but in hindsight, they probably weren't the best decisions. I've been making more and more of those bad choices lately. Let's start with flying home without telling anyone my plans. I left the ballpark, packed my stuff, and was on the first plane out. I didn't even bother with a direct flight, so that's how I ended up in Atlanta. Then the weather came in, and they canceled my flight to Charleston.

So now I'm stranded in an unfamiliar city. I have no place to stay, no plans, and a heart that's moved from broken to shattered. I turn my phone off airplane mode to find a slew of text messages.

ASHLEIGH

Where are you? Are you okay?

SAMMIE

Seriously, why didn't you take me with you? Ride or die, remember?

MOM

Honey, I'm worried. Are you ok?

SAMMIE

Thelma, it's Louise. Where are you?

ASHLEIGH

It's not what you think. Call me.

COLE

You ok? Where are you?

SAMMIE

Getting seriously worried now.

CHANCE

Hey Beautiful! I hear you're out in the wild somewhere. You and that baseball boy are so alike. Let me know how to help or what you need.

COLE

I know you're an adult, but I need to know where you are! Call me.

SAMMIE

I know you aren't home - I watched the camera. Girl, just let me know U R alive, K?

My gut twists with guilt. I have everyone worried. I text Sammie quickly and tell her I'm fine and I'll be in touch.

Scanning through the texts, one catches my eye. I call Chance.

"Hey, beautiful." His voice is full of kindness and compassion, with a touch of hesitancy in his tone.

"Hey." Now that I've called him, I'm not sure what to say. I feel tears fill my eyes and I wipe them away with the back of my sleeve.

"Want to tell me where you are?" He's talking to me like I'm a spooked animal. It's endearing and makes me love this guy even more. Not romantic love, of course, but brotherly love.

"Atlanta." I sigh. "I just took the first flight out, and now my connecting flight is canceled, and I shouldn't have left, and now I'm stuck and don't know what to do." I sniffle, and I'm full-blown crying. My strong facade crumbles down around me.

"Okay, just breathe with me." I can hear him take a deep breath in and then let it out. He does that three times, and by the second time, I'm breathing with him. "Better?"

I sniffle again. "A little." My voice is quiet and timid. I'm talking to this big NHL guy while crying in an airport. How did I get here?

"First things first. Let's get you out of the airport and fed. I have a buddy in Atlanta, Lawsy, who lives with his sister, Harper. She's a few years older than you and a great girl. Let me reach out to them, and they can take you back to their place. They're cool, and they may be exactly what you need. Give me a minute. Is that okay?"

"I don't want to be a burden." Or a mistake, I think. "I can just get a hotel or something."

"I promise they won't mind. I was there last week and told him about you and the great job with the house. He would love to meet you, and Harper is the best. She reminds me of Emma. Oh, hang on, he's already texted back and said he's coming to pick you up."

"What? No, really, I can't."

"If you're uncomfortable," he starts.

"No, no, if he's a friend of yours, I'm sure he's great. I'm just a hot mess."

"Girl, I'm familiar with hot messes, and I can assure you, it doesn't scare me. And it won't scare Lawsy either. He's raised Harper since their parents died when she was in high school. He's like a big brother and dad rolled up into one."

"He sounds great. If you're sure, they won't mind." Honestly, the thought of a hotel room makes me uneasy, so even though I'm crashing, I feel a little better being around others.

"Nope. I sent him your number. He'll pick you up at the valet area. Think you can find your way there?"

"I'll find it."

"He'll be there in twenty minutes. And beautiful, I'm glad you called me. I'll always be there for you."

The tears start back up. His kindness means everything. "Thanks. I'm lucky to have you. I appreciate everything. But can you do me a favor and not tell everyone where I am? I can't take the interrogation right now."

"You have my word. I'll let them know you're safe. They care about you. Just take your time, beautiful. But a little piece of advice? Breathe. And listen to your heart. It knows more than your head when it comes to Matt. He may be a baseball player, but I like him anyway. I'm cheering for you two."

"But Chance, I can't cost him his friendship with Cole. Besides, he said I was," my breath hitches. "Never mind."

"What did he say?" His voice takes on a slight edge, his kind tone gone.

"A mistake," I whisper.

"Nope. I don't believe it." There's a pause while he thinks of what to say next. "Take care of yourself, but stay open. Focus on Darcy right now, and let time heal your heart from the hurt. You're amazing."

"Thanks. I don't deserve you."

"You deserve everything, Darcy. But let Lawsy and Harper take care of you, and you decide when you want to return to the world. Let me know if you need anything. I'm back home tomorrow."

"Thanks, Chance. You're going to make a girl very lucky someday."

He laughs. "Yeah, someday. I'd check in after my game, but I'm on the west coast tonight, so that might be late for you. But text me if you need me, okay? Take care, beautiful."

"Thanks again. Play safe." I hang up and shake my head. I can't believe Chance Fuller, an NHL superstar and total sweetheart, is my friend and knight in shining armor.

I make my way to the valet area to meet Lawsy, knight number two.

* * *

Lawsy picks me up in a tricked-out Jeep. The extraordinarily tall, buff hockey player is like a living teddy bear. His shaggy brown hair, amber eyes, and smile make him look kind and gentle. He wraps me in a hug and welcomes me to Atlanta. He's acting like everything is normal, like he usually picks up strangers at the airport during a thunderstorm.

He throws my bag in the back, and we drive through Atlanta traffic, the storm coming down around us. He's chatting away like this was a planned visit, and we're old friends. I'm not sure how much Chance shared with him, but he's taking it all in stride.

"I'm sorry to meet you under these circumstances." I try to tuck myself into the smallest space possible.

"Nonsense. Chance told me so much about you. Any friend of his is always welcome, circumstances be damned. He thinks the world of you." He gives me a million-dollar smile. That's when it hits me. Lawsy is Lawson Cartwright, star Atlanta hockey player and spokesman for Jeep, a cell phone company, and several other products. His eyes quickly appraise me, and his focus returns to the road. He's Mr. come on an adventure with me Jeep guy. Every time his commercial comes on, I hear Sammie sigh. She'd die if she knew where I am. Guilt hits me in the gut. Again.

"Chance talks too much," I mumble.

Lawsy's laugh fills the car. "That he does. He's like a middle school girl, but damn if I don't love that guy. We grew up in Minnesota and were high school rivals. But then we played together our rookie year in the AHL, and we've been friends ever since. You met him through the Decker Connection?"

"I've never heard it put that way, but that's a perfect way to describe it. The Decker Connection. My brother, Cole, is engaged to Ashleigh Decker."

"Yeah, the Decker Connection is like six degrees of Kevin Bacon, but with Deckers. Sometimes we make a drinking game of it." We both laugh at the comparison. "Ashleigh is Julian and Alexander's sister, the social media genius, right?. I've just contracted with her to help with my online presence. She's great."

"She is. She and Cole are perfect together."

"Cole plays baseball, right?"

"Yep, for the New York Liberties triple-A team in Nashville. I was at his spring training game when I sort of bolted. I took the first flight out, and here I am. My flight to Charleston was canceled because of the storm." Like I need it to validate my story, thunder booms around us. The wipers keep a steady beat against the windshield.

"What made you bolt?" He glances my way and gives a slight smile.

A call comes through his speakers. Saved by the bell, so to speak.

"Hey, Harps, I'm on my way home with Darcy. Should be there in twenty or so."

"Hi, Darcy." Her upbeat tone reminds me of Sammie, and the guilt slams into me. I left her with no explanation. Some friend I am. "Any food allergies or preferences? I'm cooking dinner, and it should be close to ready when you guys get home."

I drop in unexpectedly, and I get a personal chauffeur and chef. These people are incredible. "No, anything is great. But don't go to any trouble on my part."

"It's no trouble at all. I'm making chicken parm if that's okay. It's one of my favorite comfort foods."

"Sounds great," I say. Their kindness makes my eyes water.

"Okay, now you've made her cry," Lawsy says with a chuckle.

"I'll have the wine ready when you get here. Drive safe. See you soon."

The car fills with silence, except for the rain and the rhythm of the wipers.

"So, what made you bolt? Baseball is boring compared to hockey, but no need to run away from it." He gives me a quick wink, letting me know he's teasing.

"Yeah, it's complicated."

He nods, like he gets it. "Complicated. Understood. You're welcome at Casa Cartwright as long as you need. Harper's on spring break and will love the company."

"She's in school?"

"Yeah, she's working on her Master's in English Literature. She loves books and stories. So be warned, complicated will be like catnip to her. If she pushes, tell her no and squirt her with the spray bottle. She's used to it." The sound of his laughter lifts my spirits a little and I can't help but smile. A real one this time.

And then I laugh. It's the first time I've laughed in weeks. It's a foreign feeling, but I embrace it. I shake my head in disbelief. Chance did it again. He knew exactly what I needed. Their names are Lawson and Harper Cartwright.

* * *

Harper welcomes me with an enormous hug and an extra-large glass of wine. Lawson takes my bag to my room somewhere in the back of the house and joins us at the kitchen counter. The house is not what I was expecting from this superstar. It's homey and ordinary with high-end finishes. This suburban house looks like it should be the home of a married couple with two-point-five kids and a golden retriever, not a bachelor pad of a famous NHL player.

"Smells great, Harps," Lawson says. "What can I help with?"

"Finish the salad?" She pulls the chicken out of the oven, and my stomach growls loudly.

"When was the last time you ate?" she asks. The question makes me take pause. When was the last time I ate? My appetite disappeared around New Year's, but the last time I ate a full meal? I had a granola bar this morning, I think.

I give her a shrug. "It's been a while, but this smells delicious. I appreciate ya'll taking me in. Today has been a little unplanned."

"So, give me the deets. Spare nothing," Harper says.

"My flight was canceled because of the weather."

"Nah, I know that. How about the why behind you getting on a last-minute flight?"

"How do you know this wasn't planned?"

She looks at her brother, and I sigh.

"Well, okay." I blow out a breath. "My brother, Cole, plays for the Liberties triple-A team and was invited to spring training. My best friend and I went to Florida to watch him play. Everyone was there. He had a huge cheering section." A small smile escapes, thinking about how many people support Cole's baseball career.

"That's cool," Harper says.

"His fiancé is Ashleigh Decker," Lawson says for clarification.

"Oh, the Decker Connection. I get it now." She nods in understanding. "Continue."

"Yeah, the Decker Connection. Anyway, Chance FaceTimed Ashleigh at the game, and then I talked to him for a minute. When I gave Ashleigh her phone back, I saw a text. It upset me, so I took off. Got the first flight out to Charleston, with a stop in Atlanta. Bad weather, and here I am."

"So, the text?" she asks.

"It was from Matt, Cole's best friend."

"Oh, the plot thickens," she says, eyes full of curiosity.

Lawson serves the food and puts a full plate in front of me at the bar. The chicken parmesan smells delicious, and my mouth waters.

"Want to eat here or take it into the dining room? Where would you be more comfortable?" he asks.

"Whatever's normal for ya'll. Please don't make a fuss around me."

"We both have hectic schedules, so normal is nonexistent. But let's eat at the bar and keep the wine close," she says with a wink.

They both take a seat, and we all dig into dinner.

"Fantastic as always, Harps."

"Yeah, this is great," I say between bites.

She laughs, pours some more wine, and tilts the bottle to me. Why not? I nod yes, and she tops me off.

"Lawsy doesn't drink during the season," she says as she points to his lemonade. "I can't believe you're even eating the pasta on a non-game day." She may mock his diet, but her eyes are filled with love and affection.

"When you cook like this, I enjoy the treat. I'll burn it off at morning skate." Their banter reminds me of Cole and me before the mistake.

"So, back to Matt," Harper says, not letting the conversation lag. "Brother's best friend and…"

"Yeah, it's complicated."

"Ohh, I love complicated. Spill!" She rubs her hands together like an evil villain.

"Told ya," Lawson mumbles. "Spray bottle's by the sink." I look over and see an actual spray bottle and laugh.

She slaps his arm. "Hush! The girl has a story to tell." She props her chin on her hand and bats her eyes, waiting for me to continue.

I exhale loudly and smile. After a large gulp of wine, I tell the story. All of it. Well, most of it. I start with my childhood crush, the house project, Matt, the assistant, the secret relationship, New Year's party, ghosting, and the text. They both listen intently. When I'm finished, Lawson looks skeptical, and Harper looks downright giddy. Did they both hear the same story?

"Clarifying questions?" Harper asks.

"Sure. Shoot." I mean, I just spilled my guts to them after knowing them for an hour. Why not answer their questions?

Lawson surprises me by going first. "So, your brother punches him, he leaves, and ghosts everyone?"

I nod. "Yep, as far as I know, he hasn't talked to anyone. I found out weeks later he went to Mexico. Julian was keeping an eye on him."

"Except Ashleigh," Lawson points out. Why hadn't I thought about that? And maybe his parents? So maybe even Cole? So that means I'm the only one he's actually ghosted. Me. The mistake.

"Oh, I see the wheels turning," Harper says. "Stop them now." Her look is stern. She's already invested. Whether it's me or the story, I'm not sure. "Now, what did the text to Ashleigh say? Exactly. Word for word."

"It said, ‘It was a mistake.'"

Harper jumps in her seat, clapping her hands together. "Exactly! Not you were a mistake. It. It could be anything. It could be the fact that he left. It could be what he ate for dinner or a poor fashion choice. Maybe that he walked away from you. Don't you see? He didn't say you were the mistake. Just that he made one."

"Maybe," I say with hesitation. "But either way, he hasn't reached out to me. It's over."

"He broke the code," Lawson says. He casually shrugs his shoulders, communicating it is what it is. Breaking the code is taboo. "That's a lot to work through. Not impossible, but like you said, it's complicated. The only way it's an unforgivable sin is if it was careless, a fling. If it was real, and it sounds like it from your side, then it just takes a little untangling. Don't give up." Lawson returns to his dinner, scooping another bite of pasta into his mouth.

Is a spark of hope trying to find its way back into my heart? I don't know. It's pretty dark and cold there these days. Not very hospitable for growth.