Page 54 of Just My Puck
The plane is fully assembled andis now being flown around the backyard playground by one happy pilot and his supervisor. As for my mom, she’s back in the kitchen with Gaby, preparing dessert, and Lisa and Aria are casually chatting on the couch. It’s crazy how Aria so easily adapts to every situation she’s thrown in. Like a chameleon, everywhere she goes, she makes it feel natural. Like she belongs.
“What’s up?” I ask, sitting next to Aria. “Is my sister dishing all the dirt on me? Because it’s probably all lies.”
“Oh, we’re done with that,” Aria says, swatting her hand. “We’ve moved on to a more interesting subject.”
We all chuckle, and Lisa throws me a look that says,I like her.
Yeah, me too, sis.
I settle in next to Aria, the warmth of the room escalating and my heart beating a little faster.
“Enjoying yourself?” I ask in a low voice once Lisa is out of earshot.
“Very much so. Your family is the best. You’re lucky to have them,” she replies, her smile soft. But there’s a flicker of something—nostalgia, maybe—dimming her eyes. Just as quickly, it’s gone.
I nod, my throat tightening. “I agree. They’re pretty great.”
She glances down, where her fingers are absently fidgeting with the fabric of the couch. “Thanks for bringing me,” she says in a voice barely above a whisper. “It’s weird, spending such a family-centered holiday with strangers. I wonder what my family is doing right now.”
My heart breaks, and I scoot closer, my hand brushing against hers. The contact lingers just long enough for me to feel the tremor in her skin. “Aria, I can’t imagine how hard it must be, especially today. I wish there was something I could do.”
She glances up at me, her eyes exposing her vulnerability. “You’re doing it. It’s just hard not knowing, you know? And what if I don’t even have any family? What if I’m a terrible person, and everyone hates me?”
I blow out a breath. “Come on. That’s not possible. I don’t see how anyone could hate you, ever.”
I wrap my arm around her shoulders, drawing her into a side hug and breathing in the subtle scent of her perfume. She sighs, her body relaxing slightly, molding against mine. “You’re an amazing woman, Aria. Everyone who’s met you has immediately loved you. I’m sure there are people, somewhere in the world, praying thatyou are safe and sound.”
“Thank you for saying that,” she whispers as her head falls gently to my shoulder. I’m glad I can bring her comfort in this moment, even if I know I should be safeguarding my heart. Because one day, she could wake up and remember that she has a husband and two kids up in Boston, or that she’s engaged to a Marine. Or that she likes blond guys with blue eyes and hates hockey players and beards. She’ll realize she doesn’t belong in my world and will go back to hers, leaving me completely and utterly crushed. Ishouldkeep my distance, but as she leans into me, a quiet exhale escaping her, the inevitable truth dawns on me. There’s no way that I can.
22
"Wagers are kind of our thing.”
Aria
I’m fairly certain I’ve never been to the beach before. Nothing about the salty air, the way my shoes dip in the sand, or the sound of waves crashing on the shore seem familiar.
“It’s a nice day,” I say as Caleb and I wander toward the Raptors tent set up for the Polar Plunge.
He arches an eyebrow. “Yeah? In that case, why don’t you come swim with us? It’s not just the players who’ll be taking the plunge today; some of thecrew are as well. I could snag you a spot.”
“Tempting, but unfortunately, I lost my memories,” I tease. “And I’m not sure I can swim, so . . .”
He laughs, his head dipping back. “That’s no problem. I’ll be there to help you, and I’m an excellent swimmer.”
I tap a finger on my lips. “Hmm. Heard that one before, and I ended up lying on top of you on the ice,” I joke. “Needless to say, I don’t trust your abilities anymore.”
He bumps his shoulder with mine. “Come on. It was a fun day.”
I bite my lip, but I don’t have a chance to answer since we’ve just reached the security gate.
Caleb shows his pass, and we cross into the gated area. The setup is massive—sprawling tents for participants to change and warm up, TV stations ready to report, and a team of medics on site, just in case. The public is already gathering on the beach, taking their seats and grabbing food and drinks from the food trucks. The energy is high, the air buzzing with excitement.
Caleb joins the guys in the tent, and I veer off toward the table where Marissa, Beth, Hayley, and Alice are sitting. They’re taking bets from the public, and the line is longer than I expected. People pay ten dollars to place their bets, the proceeds going to support the Brooklyn Children’s Hospital. Each bet they place entersthem for a chance to win passes for the remainder of the Raptors season. Judging by the size of the crowd, it’s a major hit.
I join the girls, helping out with the influx of bundled-up spectators. Emma arrives shortly after and pitches in as well.
“Caleb is definitely the most popular today,” Emma says, glancing at the sheet where we’re recording all the bets.
