7. Darcy

CHAPTER 7

DARCY

"We could have it at the Filthy Flamingo." Hayden holds the front door open for me when we get home later.

I walk inside the apartment and my shoulder brushes his chest; he takes a sudden step back away from me, and I frown.

The first couple of times, I thought I was imagining things. Hayden's a touchy-feely guy. Countless times over the years, he's thrown his arm around me. He gives piggyback rides and ruffles my hair and never hesitates to wrap me in a big, warm bear hug.

But since I moved in, he doesn't touch me. No more hugs, no throwing his arm around me. Tonight at the bar, he moved his arm before I could accidentally brush against him. And now, he's backing away to give me space.

"Darce?"

He acts like my skin is made of spiders or something.

"Hmm?" I kick my shoes off.

"Your birthday, which I haven't forgotten about, even though you changed the subject earlier."

I sigh, but I'm smiling.

"What's the hesitation?" He takes my jacket and hangs it for me. "The league is giving us a week off between the season and the playoffs this year. It's a new thing Ward pushed for."

My lips part in surprise. "Wow. That's awesome." Players are usually exhausted by the time the season is over, and they head into playoffs tired and injured, not playing their best.

"We could do the party then, a few days after your birthday, once the regular season is over. And I don't know about you," Hayden says over his shoulder, striding into the open kitchen, "but I love any excuse for a party."

"I'm well aware." I twist my mouth into a grin.

"I've been called a party animal." He pulls his water bottle out of the fridge and drains half, the strong line of his throat bobbing.

Maybe a big birthday party is exactly what I need. It'll be like a deadline. I'll have everything figured out by then.

Urgency and excitement spark inside me.

"Fine, what the hell?" I shoot him an indulgent smile. "Let's do it."

My eyes flick to the patio door and a laugh threatens to bubble up. I hid something out there earlier and I've been waiting all day for Hayden to get home and stumble upon it.

"Is the patio door locked?" I ask, feigning innocence. "I always get nervous about that kind of stuff."

He snorts. "We're on the twentieth floor. You think someone's going to scale the building?" He makes a sympathetic teasing noise. "I'll keep you safe from intruders, Darce."

I bite down on my grin and pretend to look worried. "Can you check anyway? Please?"

His expression softens. "Of course."

Hayden walks through the living room to the patio doors, sees the garden gnome peering in the window, and nearly jumps out of his skin.

"Jesus fuck! No!" He shudders .

I'm doubled over laughing.

"Where did that come from?"

"Oh my god, it's Daniel!" I put on a huge, welcoming smile and wave at the creepy porcelain gnome I bought earlier today. Tears sting my eyes, I'm laughing so hard. "He finally found where you live. He said he's been searching for you."

"Darcy." Hayden rubs a hand down his face, staring at the garden ornament with disgust and disdain.

Daniel the Garden Gnome has been following Hayden since his grandmother gifted him to me back when we visited her for lunch one day during our third year at university. The biggest mistake Hayden ever made was telling me how much he hates garden gnomes and how creepy he finds them.

"And he got a new hat." I walk over to the glass and wave at the gnome. "Nice to see you again, Daniel. What's that?" I bend down and cup my hand to my ear, pretending to listen. "You want to sleep in Hayden's bed?"

Hayden cringes. "Keep that fucking creepy thing outside where it belongs. Or better yet, get rid of it."

"You said I could make any change I wanted."

"Not that change. Anything but that."

He backtracks through the living room, grabs his water bottle, and heads toward the hallway that leads to our bedrooms. "Maybe we'll get lucky and a bird will carry it away and drop it in the ocean."

My chest shakes with laughter. "Good night, Hayden."

At the entrance to the hallway, he pauses, smiling back at me. "Good night, Darce."

Maybe he refuses to touch me for some reason, but I'm starting to see how fun living with Hayden will be.