Page 55 of Soulmates and Slapshots
But beneath that fear is something stronger. A belief that Fiona and I are meant to be. That even if she leaves, she’ll come back. Maybe this isn’t the end for us. We don’t know what the future holds, and maybe we could get back to each other someday.
“Weston are you okay?” she asks softly, her voice pulling me out of my thoughts.
I nod, forcing a small smile. “Yeah…I was just thinking.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, her eyes filling with tears.
“Don’t be,” I say gently. “You need to make the choice that’s right for you. No matter what, I want that for you.”
She hesitates then bites her lip. “Well, there’s still one thing we haven’t talked about,” she says. “I spent eight thousand dollars for a date with you.”
I wince. That still catches me off guard. The idea that someone would do that for me hasn’t fully sunk in. I know it was for Maple Falls, but still…she could’ve let someone else win.
“I still can’t believe you actually did that,” I admit, shaking my head. “But I know your heart was in the right place. You care about this town.”
“I do,” she admits. “Helping Maple Falls was important to me…” She trails off, her gaze locking with mine. “But honestly, I couldn’t stand the thought of someone else winning that date. Especially one of the girls from Seattle.”
I smile at that. “Ah, yes. My teammates had a lot to say about them.”
She shrugs. “Anyway, I did what I had to do. For the town—and for myself.”
“I’m glad you did,” I tell her.
Neither of us says anything for a few seconds. The weight of her impending departure is heavy, and it takes everything in me not to drop to my knees and beg her to stay. But I don’t. Because I care too much to hold her back.
Instead, I lean in and press my lips to hers. The kiss begins softly, but it deepens fast, charged with everything we’re too scared to say. I won’t ask her to stay. But maybe she’ll feel it anyway by the way I hold her and kiss her, like this could be the last time.
CHAPTER 18
FIONA
Inever imagined I’d be facing the most difficult decision of my life when all I wanted was a nice, relaxing vacation. Another sleepless night has come and gone, leaving me frustrated and lost in my thoughts. I spent hours tossing and turning, replaying every possible scenario in my head, reliving my evening with Weston over and over hoping for a light bulb to go off with the answer I’m looking for.
The Halloween party at the lodge was wonderful. It made it easier not being back in New York with my friends. But it was the ending that is stuck playing on repeat in my mind. Those moments on the terrace with Weston, they were exactly what I didn’t know I needed. Even though they made everything complete and confusing all at the same time.
I was foolishly hoping he’d ask me to stay, even though I knew better. Weston’s not the type to hold someone back from their dreams, even if it means letting them go. But that kiss we shared was otherworldly. So electric, like something out of theromance novels I love so much. Maybe itwashis way of asking me to stay, without saying the words.
Now I’m in limbo. Waiting for the job offer that could take me back to New York. Back to the life I’d been working toward for years. The Ice Breakers have an away game today, which means I have time to think and try to make a decision that makes sense. If they were playing at home, I’d be in the front row without a doubt, wearing the team colors and cheering louder than anyone. Exactly where I want to be…
What makes this even harder is the fact that everyone around me seems to have their own idea of what Ishoulddo. Aunt Dee has been campaigning for me to stay in Maple Falls since I arrived. She’ll refer to the town slogan about never wanting to leave. And then she’ll remind me thatshewas the one who insisted I come here in the first place.
Then there’s Hayley. She never holds back, always giving me a dose of reality. She’ll remind me that New York is where I belong. That it’s my home. And the truth is…she’s right, too.
How is it possible to feel torn between two places that both feel like home? How do you choose between what you thought you wanted and what you never saw coming?
Weston has been amazing through all of this. He has never once tried to sway me in one direction, which only makes it harder. Because sometimes, I wish hewouldtell me what to do. It would be easier if someone would just make the decision for me.
I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling, something I seem to do more often than sleep these days. Eventually, I sit up and grab my phone. It’s four am here, which means it’s already seven on the East Coast.
I don’t hesitate and scroll until I find the number I need.
“Fiona, honey? Is everything okay—it’s early,” my mom answers. “Danny. Fiona’s on the phone!” she yells for my dad, making me pull the phone away from my ear.
“Hi, Fee,” my dad calls. Just hearing his voice brings a lump to my throat. He’s the only person who has ever called me by that nickname.
“You’re on speaker now,” my mom says. It only takes a few seconds for the tears to flow which catches me off guard. Although I’m sure the lack of sleep is contributing to my emotional state. My voice cracks as I try to put my thoughts into words explaining everything that’s been happening—from meeting Weston, the uncertainty about my job, and the big decision about going back to New York or staying in Maple Falls.
“I just…I don’t know what I’m doing,” I wail between sobs.
