Page 33 of Soulmates and Slapshots
“I just…I’ve never seen him like this,” she says finally. “The strong, confident Joshua? He’s gone. He’s a mess, Fiona. Completely lost without you.”
I close my eyes and lean back on the couch, torn between the flicker of sympathy and the anger that’s still swirling inside me.
“Well, that’s the decisionhemade.”
I might sound a little harsh, but I don’t care.
“So, does that mean you’ve moved on with this small-town mystery man?”
Ha. Weston isn’t exactly a small-town guy. He’s as new to Maple Falls as I am.
“He’s not from here,” I reply.
“Ah. I’m finally getting some details. Where is he from? And did you say you were celebrating something? Is he really a hockey player?”
I sigh. “Truthfully, we just went out for pizza the other night. That’s the extent of our date.”
“Do you like him? He looked hot, but it was hard to tell. What’s his name?”
She continues firing off questions in typical Hayley fashion.
“His name is Weston.”
That’s the only bit of information I’m giving her at this point because—well, I’m not dating Weston.
“And…”
“And…I have to go,” I say. “I’m meeting up with my aunt at the town’s fall festival.”
“Oh, now that sounds like a regular Saturday in a small town.”
“Supposedly it’s the biggest event of the year here,” I reply.
“Is Weston going to be there?”
I think about Weston signing autographs and shaking hands with fans.
“I believe he is.”
“Fiona—”
I sigh. “What?”
“Never mind. Just please think about what I said. Don’t let a quick vacation fling cloud your judgment. Especially with a hockey player.”
“What does that mean?” I ask.
“You know how it is. Dating a professional athlete can bring a whole new set of problems.”
I roll my eyes. Hayley doesn’t have the best track record in relationships either, so I’m not taking anything she says to heart.
“Anyway, I’ll talk to you later.”
After I disconnect the call, I pull on my boots and throw on a long trench coat.
Maybe Joshua is having regrets now, but that doesn’t mean I need to run back to him. Being away from New York has caused a shift in me. I’m starting to think there is more out there for me. It’s a lot to process, but right now all I want to do is enjoy myself. And hopefully that includes spending moretime with Weston.
Maple Fest is everything I imagined—and so much more. The air practically hums with energy as I arrive, the crisp leaves flowing through the breeze. Just beyond the entrance, I spot Aunt Dee waving excitedly. She's impossible to miss, dressed head to toe in what she proudly calls her very own "cowgirl glam." Her outfit includes a denim dress, a bedazzled belt, a pair of bright pink cowboy boots, and a matching hat adorned with rhinestones and glitter.
