53. Darcy

CHAPTER 53

DARCY

"Hey, Darcy?" Carmelita asks at the Vancouver Women in STEM event on Thursday.

ABBA plays over the sound system, and a disco ball hangs high above the rink while members of the organization roller skate with girls from local schools and their parents, many of them wearing ridiculous seventies costumes.

"Phoebe needs help at the front," she says. "Will you be okay here for a few minutes?"

"You bet. Go do your thing."

She squeezes my arm. "Thanks, hon."

I take in the rink and smile at Georgia, who is talking to a group of teenage girls about her job. They're watching with rapt attention, and even though I can't hear what Georgia's saying, I can see how contagious her enthusiasm for her work is.

She insisted on attending the event so she had a place to wear the knee-high white boots she bought on a whim last year, but I think it's a cover. She loves her job. So does Carmelita, who designs fuel cells for hydrogen vehicles. A lot of the women here light up when talking about work. It's the whole purpose of events like these with girls in elementary and high school, to show them options and make it possible for them to pursue a career path they love. Near the end of the event, Carmelita will hand out the scholarships, which we hope will help someone on a path to doing what they love.

A weird longing feeling sits in my chest. Everyone loves their job but me, it seems.

The Storm still hasn't signed Luca Walker. I've been bugging Hayden for daily updates, but still nothing.

His plane should be arriving around now. Excitement flutters in my stomach, and even though I'm having fun here, I can't wait to get home and climb my hot, ripped hockey player like a tree.

I mean, not my hockey player. Just temporarily mine, I guess.

A box arrived yesterday—a mint-green lingerie set, so delicate, soft, and beautifully made. Love, Hayden , the card said, which I propped up on his bedside table and smiled at as I fell asleep.

I'm wearing the lingerie now. I glance at the time again. Hopefully his flight's on time and I can see him before I fall asleep.

Who am I kidding? I'll stay up until dawn to see him. That's how much I miss him.

"Hey," a familiar deep voice says behind me. "Can I get some help lacing up my skates?"

A series of sparks and pops go off throughout my body, and I wrench around, nearly falling over at the sight of Hayden Owens in a hideous silk floral shirt, bell bottoms, and oversized orange sunglasses. He's grinning big and holding a pair of rented roller skates. He's shaved a mustache. It's not fair how hot he looks, even like this.

"Christ, it's good to see you," he murmurs, stepping into my space and leaning his palms on the railing behind me, caging me in. "You look so freaking cute. Good enough to eat." He kisses the corner of my mouth, and my pulse stumbles, drunk and disoriented.

"You're here." I blink at him in disbelief.

I sink my hands into his hair, and his eyelids fall halfway before I pull his lips to mine. He groans, and I inhale him, kissing him, showing him how much I missed him as he claims my mouth. His arms are around me, and I sink against his broad, solid warmth.

Someone whistles at us, but I don't care. I just want Hayden.

"We gotta slow down, Darce," he says against me, smiling. "These pants are already too tight, and there are kids here."

I huff a laugh and pull back to look at his outfit. "You look like Austin Powers." If Austin Powers was played by a life-sized Ken doll with perfect teeth.

He winks. "Oh, behave."

"You're supposed to be on a plane." My gaze snags behind him and I burst out laughing. "Is that Rory?"

Rory's wearing a full Elvis jumpsuit with a black wig and aviators, and he's taking a photo with a group of teenage girls.

Hayden grins. "Yep."

The entire team is here, all dressed up to some degree. Even Alexei is wearing big, sparkly sunglasses someone probably forced on him.

I feel like I'm full of hot air, like I could float. "I thought your flight didn't get in until now?"

"Darcy, you should have seen this guy at the hotel this morning," Rory says as he passes, jostling Hayden. "He was a drill sergeant, knocking on doors to get people up at the crack of dawn."

Hayden rolls his eyes. "Whatever."

Rory does a fake cough, smirking at Hayden. "I think he needs a bit of extra attention tonight. He's sick." Lovesick , he mouths.

Hayden shoves him away, then smiles down at me. My face goes hot, but I can't stop beaming.

"Don't listen to him," Hayden murmurs. "He hits his head a lot."

I laugh, but my attention catches on Alexei, where he's signing a jersey with Carmelita. Hayden follows my line of sight. "We brought merch for you to auction off."

"Carmelita?" Rory calls to her, holding up his phone. "Can you send me the link for the donations? I want to post to my social media."

Hayden wraps his arms around me and I catch his scent—warm, spicy, and clean. So familiar it makes my heart ache. "Can I steal you away for a bit?"

It looks like everyone has everything handled, so I nod and take Hayden's outstretched hand. He leads me over to a bench.

"I'll do it," he says firmly when I reach for my skates. Then he kneels in front of me. He shoots me a quick wink as he tightens the laces.

On the roller rink, we skate big loops, listening to ridiculous disco music and exchanging private smiles. I'm wobbly on my skates, but he holds my hand. I know if I were to swerve or stumble, he'd be right there to catch me. A song he loves comes on, and he lights up, dancing while we skate and spreading his joyful, silly energy around the rink. Soon, everyone is dancing and goofing around, and I'm laughing at Hayden's hilarious disco dance moves.

He does a thrusting dance move and I give him a teasing look.

"Be careful with that thing," I say, glancing down at his crotch. "I know what you're working with."

"Andersen." He looks scandalized. "This is a family event. "

"So I probably shouldn't do this, right?" I nudge the collar of my dress aside an inch, and Hayden's gaze lands on the delicate mint-green strap of the bra he sent me.

His eyes flash with desire before he makes a pained face and groans. "You play dirty."

I dissolve into laughter. "I'm so happy you're here," I admit.

His eyes warm with affection. "Me, too." He presses a kiss, then takes my hand and spins me.

Kit never came to events like these. If he wasn't playing hockey, he was resting or golfing. Everything revolved around him.

Hayden's so different. I don't know why it took moving in with him and doing whatever we're doing to see it. I have more fun with him than anyone. In hindsight, I realize I looked forward to hanging out with him on our trips to Vancouver more than a woman in a relationship with someone else should.

If I let myself, I could fall harder for Hayden than anyone. Roller skating with him and talking on the phone before bed and talking about stats with him? It all feels so right.

When Jamie and Pippa's wedding is over and whatever Hayden and I are doing is done, I'm going to try to remember this feeling. This is what I missed out on for years with the wrong guy.