69. Hayden

CHAPTER 69

HAYDEN

That afternoon, we walk through a stretch of the park where trees line either side of the sidewalk, bursting with petals in shades of white and pink.

The park isn't too busy—a few people taking photos under the cherry blossoms, someone throwing a ball for their dog, a couple picnicking on the grass on a big plaid blanket. Some kids playing street hockey.

A breeze sweeps blossoms off the trees and they swirl around us. She stops and tips a serene smile to the sky, watching them flutter. A few fall in her hair, and I take a mental picture. I want to remember this forever.

"You're beautiful, Darcy. I ever tell you that?"

Darcy turns her smile to me, staring up into my eyes. I've never felt so connected to someone.

"Once or twice. Let's sit," she says quietly, gesturing to an empty bench, and we take a seat against the cool metal.

You're so much more , she said this morning, and my heart does a weird thump.

I can't believe I told her all that stuff, but I'm weirdly relieved that I did. An urgent, insistent rush hits me.

"I don't want this to end, Darce." Adrenaline courses through my veins as I spill my heart to her. "I don't want to go back to being just friends after the wedding. There's no one like you, and I've never had this"—I gesture between us, swallowing thickly—"with anyone else. Have you?"

Her tongue darts out to wet her bottom lip and she shakes her head. Worry threads through her gaze.

"I'm not asking you to get married or to have kids or make any commitments you're not ready for. We'll always go at your pace. I just want you to keep living in the apartment and sleeping in my bed and letting me take you on dates." I shoot her a playful smirk, even as my heart pounds. "And I want you to keep wearing lingerie."

She chuckles.

"The choice is yours." He never gave her the choice, but I'm not him. "I will always give you the choice, Darcy. I promise."

The three words I want to say are on the tip of my tongue, but I hold them back.

And there it is, my heart placed into the palm of her hand. She could crush me. She could toss me aside and break me in half with just a few words or a facial expression. But she's worth the risk.

I'm asking her to be brave, so I need to be, too. I need to trust that my best friend and the woman I love sees me for more than a fun time, good fuck, and pretty face. That I'm not just the life of the party to Darcy; I'm the guy she wants to wake up with every day, the guy she believes when I tell her she can do anything. The guy she can't wait to talk about books with and share hockey models with.

"What if you change your mind?" She plays with her fingernails, and her voice is so small and scared that I want to scoop her up and never let her go .

The breath whooshes out of my lungs in a laugh of disbelief. "I won't. I know I won't."

She swallows, staring at her hands.

You're the one for me , I want to say, but that's too much pressure to put on her.

"Let's take the risk together," I say instead.

"Excuse me," a kid interrupts, standing in front of us with a few others, and our heads whip up. They look about nine or ten and are holding hockey sticks. "Are you Hayden Owens?"

"You bet, bud. You guys playing hockey over there?"

The kid nods and looks like he wants to say more.

"Ask him," one of the kids whispers, nudging the first boy.

"Do you maybe want to play hockey with us?" the boy asks.

My arm tightens around Darcy. Normally, I'd say yes, but with her under my arm, sitting in such a beautiful setting, I don't want to ever move.

"I don't know if I'm good enough to keep up with you guys," I tell them, glancing at Darcy.

She gives me an encouraging smile. "You should play."

One of the kids claps in excitement, unable to contain himself.

"Are you sure?"

She nods, smiling wider. "I want to watch you play. I'll be cheering for you."

I sense she wants a few minutes to process what I just told her. Darcy's like that; she needs time to figure out how she feels about something.

I press a quick kiss to her cheek. "I won't be long."

"Take your time." She settles back on the bench, getting comfortable. "I'm happy to sit here and watch."

I follow the kids to where they have a net set up.

"No hitting me, okay?" I tell them, and I hear Darcy chuckle behind me. "I'm not as tough as I look."