16. Ian

Chapter 16

Ian

“ W hat happened here?” Stacey asked as she walked out of the kitchen. She took one look at the man scurrying out of the bakery with a camera in his hands and she immediately understood. “Oh, Ian. I’m so sorry.”

I shrugged. I was used to a lack of privacy, used to people invading my space and not caring how it might affect me. After all, I should have known what I signed up for when I started my hockey career. That was what people told me. Somehow, they were entitled to my private moments simply because I played hockey.

Stacey dashed back into the kitchen and returned with a small white box. “Have some cinnamon rolls on the house. I’m really sorry about what just happened.”

It wasn’t her fault in any way, but she was still going out of her way to placate me. “Thank you. You don’t have to do that.”

“Just take the cinnamon rolls, Ian.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the change in her tone. So much for placating. I took the box from her. “Thank you.”

Hazel and I walked out of the restaurant. “Does that happen a lot?” she asked. I didn’t need her to clarify what she was asking me.

“A lot more than I’d like.”

“It must be difficult.”

She seemed sincere, so I chose not to point out that she had a hand in making this my reality. The paparazzi had always been a problem for me but at least they didn’t stalk me in my hometown. Hazel’s first article changed that.

“It is,” I said instead.

“I guess we’ll have to finish our discussion some other time. I’ll keep digging to see if I find anything else that might help us save Emily.”

“That’s a good idea.”

We turned and walked towards our respective cars. I waited for Hazel to leave before I pulled out and drove home. I placed the box of cinnamon rolls on the kitchen counter. My day had been a shit show but at least I had something sweet to wash away the bitter parts of it.

I placed one of the cinnamon rolls on a plate and moved to the sitting room. I was about to take a bite out of it when my phone rang. It was George.

“Hey coach,” I greeted when I picked up the phone.

“Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it!”

My brows bunched together in confusion. “I’m eating a cinnamon roll.”

“What? No, not that. I mean this thing you have going with Hazel Jones. Pictures of the two of you are making rounds and people are loving it. They simply can't get enough of your love story with Hazel. Who doesn’t love to see two childhood sweethearts get back together?”

It took me a while to understand what he was saying. And even when I did, it still didn’t make sense. I never thought I’d see the day that I and Hazel were referred to as childhood sweethearts.

We could barely stand each other but George was talking about us having a love story. It sounded crazy.

“Hazel and I are not childhood sweethearts, and we certainly don’t have a love story. I’m helping her find Emily as you requested. That is as far as our relationship goes,” I said.

“Wait, so you two are not in a relationship?”

“Hell, no.” The day Hazel and I started dating would be the day pigs began to fly. “I would never date her.”

“Well, you have to.”

“I don’t have to do anything.”

George sighed. “Here me out first. Everyone has seen the pictures of you two together. It’s the first time people are seeing you out with a woman in years. It’s natural for it to spark dating rumors. And the fact that you guys have known each other for so long is only adding fuel to the fire.”

“Then I will be happy to douse the flames of that fire.”

“I actually called to tell you to fan those flames, not put them out,” he said.

“Why would I do that?”

“Look, being seen with Hazel is helping your brand. I’ve already received a few calls from companies that are interested in partnering with you. Clearly, they like to see this side of you. It makes you more relatable. The hockey player who never stopped loving his childhood sweetheart. ”

“My life isn't a soap opera and please stop calling Hazel my childhood sweetheart. It’s weird.” The cinnamon rolls that had looked delicious just a moment ago now disgusted me. “I’m not in a relationship with Hazel and I will never be in a relationship with Hazel.”

“Can’t you just fake it?”

I was tempted to wash my ears with soap. I certainly couldn’t be hearing right. He wasn’t actually asking me to pretend to be in a relationship with Hazel. “That’s not going to happen. I don’t need a relationship to help my brand, and I am not interested in any company that needs me to be in a relationship before they can work with me. I’m a hockey player, not an influencer.”

“Oh, come on, Ian. At least consider it. This could be huge for you. I’m talking about a brand deal with one of the biggest sneaker manufacturers in the world. And another one with a sportswear brand. Heck, there are household appliance companies calling in to work with you. You can't pass this up.”

“I just did.” I wasn’t in the least bit moved by the companies that wanted to work with me. If they were truly interested in a partnership, then my relationship status shouldn’t matter. There isn't a world where it should matter, to begin with. “I’m not going to date Hazel and I’m certainly not going to fake date her.”

“You’re making a mistake, kid.” George sighed. “But fine, if that’s what you want. It’s up to you. Just… think about it, okay?”

“There’s nothing to think about.”

“You’re just as stubborn as I was when I was your age. We’ll talk again soon. Bye.”

I could tell George wasn’t pleased with how our conversation had but he had no choice but to accept my decision. I placed the cinnamon roll back in the box and put it in the microwave. I wasn’t in the mood to eat anything anymore.

The phone call with George was incredibly unsettling. I still couldn’t believe people thought Hazel and I were dating. Why on earth would anyone think that?

It had to be the most absurd thing I’d heard in a while. Hazel and I wouldn’t date if we were the last two people on the planet and the continuity of the human race depended on us. It still would never happen.

Never.

***

I pulled into the familiar driveway with a smile on my face. I could tell my mom was taking lots of advice from Mrs. Jones. The front yard already had several beautiful flowers. I turned off the car engine and got out.

The front door opened before I even reached it. My mom smiled at me and I smiled back. “I’ve missed you,” she said.

“I was here two days ago.”

“Can't a mother miss her child?”

I laughed and kissed her head. “Of course she can.” We walked inside together, and I noticed the place was strangely quiet. None of the oceanic meditation music Jade liked to play was on. “Yoga studio?”

“That girl spends all of her time there. It’s her second home at this point.”

“I guess I can't blame her. The place looks really nice.”

“It really does. Bob did a wonderful job,” my mom said as we walked into the kitchen. She rounded the counter and stopped in front of a tray of meatloaf.

“Who is Bob?”

“The man who handled the renovation. Lovely young man. I thought he and your sister would hit it off but sadly, nothing came out of that.” She plated a slice of meatloaf and handed it to me. “I still see him at the supermarket sometimes though and he always helps me carry my things to the car.”

“He sounds nice,” I said, grabbing a fork and moving to the dining table. My mother followed. We sat at the table and talked about the most random things.

“I almost forgot to tell you. I’m so happy that you and Hazel are working together,” she said, changing the subject abruptly.

“You are?”

“Of course, I am. I was surprised when Jade told me and also slightly terrified. I was worried it wouldn’t work out and one of you might rip the other’s head off.”

I laughed. “Well, so far both our heads are still in place.” Hazel and I had argued a few times since we started working together but that was expected. I think it came as a surprise to everyone that we’d made it this far without any bodily harm.

“You two have been at each other’s throats for so long that I was scared that you would end up killing each other one day.”

“That day might come sooner than you think,” I said.

She swatted my arm. “Don’t make jokes like that, Ian. Hazel is family. I always hated seeing you two fight.”

“Fine, I won't make jokes like that again. Happy?”

“Yes, I am. I’m glad you both have finally reconciled. I mean it’s been years. You’ve been fighting since Hazel had that crush on you.”

My mother’s eyes widened just as mine did. She seemed to be shocked she’d said the words, and I was shocked to hear them. Even as children, Hazel and I couldn’t stand each other. There was no way she had a crush on me. Not in this lifetime or the next.

I couldn’t believe that any version of Hazel would ever like me. Still, there was no denying what my mother just said. “Hazel had a crush on me?”

“N-No! Of course not. That’s not…”

“Mom.”

“Okay, fine. She did. But you’re not supposed to know. I wasn’t supposed to tell you. It was such a long time ago. She had this crush on you but next thing you two are fighting like crazy. I thought that meant she was over it which was why I never said anything.”

My mom was still talking but I could barely hear a word she said. Everything faded away as I started to analyze several years of memories.

When did Hazel have a crush on me? How did I never notice? Why did no one ever tell me? How did my mom find out about it? Did Jade know?

The questions were pouring in but I didn’t voice any of them. Mostly because I couldn’t. At that moment I couldn’t speak. All I could think about was what my mom just revealed. Was it really true? Did Hazel really like me?

My mother’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Please, Ian. Don’t tell her I told you. She’ll be so embarrassed. It was my fault. You weren't supposed to find out and certainly not from me. Please don’t tell her. I beg you.”

I knew she wouldn’t stop until I promised her. I placed a hand on her own. “I won't tell her you told me.”

My mother sighed in relief, and I could see her shoulders visibly deflate. I wish I could feel that relaxed, but I couldn’t. Not when I’d just found out about something so unexpected. Never, in my life, would I have thought that Hazel had feelings for me. And from what my mom said, she’d had them for a long time.

The woman I constantly fought with had been harboring a secret crush on me all this time. I didn’t know how to feel about this. I was definitely freaked out by it because it was the last thing I would ever expect. But there was something else there. Another feeling that I couldn’t quite put a name to.

And maybe it was because I didn’t want to.