Page 38 of Make Your Save

I flip open the calendar to this month and grab a pen as I begin to write things down. We’ve fallen into a bit of a routine with the way my game schedule and practices go, but things are about to get a little more intense as we get closer to playoffs.

We’ve been fortunate enough that we had two weeks straight of home games followed by a few away games that didn’t require us to fly, so I’ve been able to be home more lately.

“We’re leaving next Wednesday morning,” I explain to her, writing all the dates down on the calendar. Today is Friday, so we have a home game tomorrow and Tuesday, and then we leave the next day. “We only have three games, but each one is in a different city and with the way they’re spaced out, I won’t be back home until the following Wednesday night.”

Hadley chews a bite of her eggs before washing it down with water. “Okay, what comes after that?”

I slide the calendar over to her for her to see. The next few weeks are going to be a little crazy, but thankfully we have almost two full weeks off because of the All-Stars competition, the game and then a world competition that has enlisted quite a few players from the league.

“Okay, this is perfect,” Hadley says as she bobs her head up and down and looks up at me after looking at the calendar. “Look at that nice little stretch of away games where Lucy and I will have the house to ourselves.”

I catch the mischievous look on her face and shake my head at her. “Yeah, but what about those two weeks that we have no games? We’ll still have things to do, but you’ll be stuck with me here.”

“I think we’ll manage,” she tells me with her eyes glimmering as she finishes her breakfast. “Did you find out when your mother is going to be coming?”

Ironically, she texted me this morning to give me her flight information. “She’s flying in tomorrow morning so she can be here for the game tomorrow night and then she’ll be heading home on Monday.”

Her eyes widen slightly. “Wait, like, tomorrow, tomorrow?”

“Yes,” I tell her, chuckling softly. “It will be fine. You know my mom, you know she likes you.”

“Yeah, but that was before she knew I was engaged to her son...and not the one I used to date.” She gives me a look that I can’t quite discern. She lets out a breath, slowly rising to her feet. “I should probably clean and stock the fridge before she gets in.”

She begins to move around the table, her legs moving to walk past me, when I instinctively reach out for her. My hand wraps around her delicate wrist, gaining her attention as she comes to a halt. My grip isn’t tight, but I don’t let her go as I shove my other hand into my pocket, pulling out that velvet box.

“Here,” I tell her, my voice gruff as I slip it into her palm and curl her fingers around it. “I picked it up yesterday and figured you might want it before my mom gets here.”

Her gaze drops to mine, her eyes distant as she stares at me. “Thanks,” she says quickly, ducking her chin as I release her. It’s almost as if we both forget about the fake engagement until it’s right in our faces. I know this isn’t what Hadley wants—and if I’m being honest, it’s not what I want either.

I’m encapsulated by a blanket of guilt and regret. My lips part as she walks across the kitchen, but words fail me entirely.

What the fuck can I really even say anymore?

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

HADLEY

Nervous doesn’t even begin to explain how I’m feeling right now.

Honestly, the thought of his mother being here any minute has me ready to throw up.

“Hadley, don’t hate me.”

As I open the door from the bathroom, I find Rowan standing in the middle of the hallway with a laundry basket filled with things...things that look like my belongings.

My eyebrows pull together. “What’s wrong?”

“I have to move all your stuff to my room.”

My eyes flash to his, widening as I stare at him. “Why?”

“Do you really think my mother is going to believe we’re engaged if she sees that you’re sleeping in my guest room?” His eyebrows lift, waiting for me to give him an answer that is different from the one we already know to be true. “If we are going to sell this engagement thing, it has to be believable.”

“So, I’m going to have to stay in your room, with you, while she’s here.” I let the words sink in, feeling something in my stomach and chest that I know I have to ignore. Dear God, I cannot even begin to consider giving those feelings any attention.

They will get me nowhere fast.

“Yep,” he says, popping thepwith his lips. He begins to walk past me, carrying my belongings into his room. “My bed is big enough for two.”

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