Page 17 of Now That We Don't Talk

I force a smile. I guess there’s no way of avoiding the man no matter what I do. He will be around for the next few months and our paths will inevitably cross. The good news is he won’t be here forever and before I know it, he’ll go back to his glamourous life and leave us in peace.

CHAPTER SIX

MAC

Honestly, I do enjoy the attention that comes with my career, but sometimes I need space. This is supposed to be a casual barbeque catching up with family and friends. I’m not trying to take over the whole event, but every time I turn around someone wants to talk to me about the Wolves season. Well, everyone except Vivian.

The woman is as snarky and tenacious as ever. And I’ll never in a million years admit it, but it’s making me feel something I didn’t expect—intrigued.

Vivian and I have known each other a long time even though I wouldn’t call usfriends. Our lives have been naturally entwined due to our best friends being siblings. But outside of this, our paths didn’t cross in any other capacity. We rarely interact with each other except when we are with our mutual group of friends.

She’s very intelligent, and I’ve always wondered if she thinks I’m just an athlete who only cares about sports and my image. She’s alluded to me being superficial and full of myself on multiple occasions. And there’s probably a fair amount of truth in that. I’m not proud of it, but I do have abig ego, and I know it shows even when I try to tone it down a bit. I’m good at what I do, and I know it. People want to talk to me and get photos. Naturally this feels good, but I know there’s a preconceived notion that comes with it. At the same time, it’s different off the ice, and deep down I’m more insecure than people realize. I try not to show this side of myself to anyone.

“So, does it feel like you never left?” Kyle asks, interrupting my thoughts.

I sigh. “In some ways. I see the house hasn’t changed at all.”

He laughs. “Never. You know my mom will spend her last days in this place.”

“I have no doubt.”

“Anyway, what do you think of Addi?” Kyle asks.

“She’s great. Perfect for you.”

He nods. “She is. I’m glad you like her because I’m pretty sure I want to marry her.”

My jaw drops open. “Whoa, man. Give me some warning before you unload that kind of news.”

“You’re my best friend. We should be able to talk about anything.”

“We can. It’s just—marriage is a life-changing step, and as your friend it’s my job to make sure you’re prepared before you jump in.”

He holds up his hands. “I know we’ve only been together six months, but I can’t see myself with any other woman. I’ve never felt this way before and I—” he pauses and clears his throat. “I want to marry her.”

Wow. I can’t believe we’re talking about this. Sure I knew we’d grow up and get married someday but hearing him verbalize the seriousness of their relationship is startling.

“Have you discussed this with her yet?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Every time I try to bring it up, I panic and freeze. I don’t want to freak her out if she’s not ready to discuss it.”

After seeing them together, I don’t think he needs to worry about that.

“Listen, you know I’m the last person who should talk about relationships, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s feeling the same. It’s obvious how she feels about you.”

He nods slowly. “I know…”

“So, then what are you waiting for? Talk to her.”

Am I really giving relationship advice to my friend? This is a new phenomenon for me.

“You’re right. Thanks, man.”

I glance over and spot Addi chatting with Vivian and Katie. Vivian catches my attention immediately. She carries herself with a quiet yet undeniable confidence. Her long blonde hair falls effortlessly down her back, and her short denim dress hugs her figure in all the right ways without being overly tight. She's incredibly fit—and admittedly, I’ve never really paid much attention before.

Smart and fit is quite a combination. I appreciate that she owns who she is and doesn’t put on an act. This is something I’m faced with often because so many pretend to be people they aren’t. There have been many occasions where I’ve wondered if someone wanted to get to know me for who I am and not just the fame that comes with my career.

I’m not an A-list celebrity by any means, but fans or friends of fans make it feel that way at times. It can be hard to differentiate between sincerity and opportunity. This might be the underlying reason I’m overly cautious when it comes to dating.

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