Page 87 of Vital Blindside

“In love.”

A flush rolls up my body as I look down at my hands. It’s silly to feel nervous about this, but this is Adam’s best friend. The woman that, at one point, he thought he wanted to be with romantically. It’s a different feeling having her tell me this—trusting me with this.

I clear my throat and gather my confidence as I say, “Look, I’m not like Adam. I’m not someone who can find the good in every situation or smile when I’m feeling like shit. I have utterly no first-hand experience with children, and I may not have the kind of success in my career that he does, but I do love him. And I want to be with him. I want to get to know Cooper with the hope that one day he’ll grow to care for me in the way I’m beginning to care for him. I know it won’t be easy and that I’m probably too young to want all of this, but it doesn’t matter to me. All I know is that Adam is the person I want to be with, hopefully forever, if he doesn’t kick me to the curb before then.” I choke on a laugh.

Ava huffs and wipes under her eyes with her thumbs. “You and Adam are both going to kill me with the stuff you say about each other. But I need you to understand something that I fought for years to believe myself.”

She sniffles and blinks before saying, “When you find someone who loves you as much as you love them, your differences don’t matter. The person that you think is too good for you fell in love with you for who you are. If they wanted someone different, they would have gone and found that person. And your age? Fuck it. Society has engrained it in our heads that it’s wrong for people in their twenties to know what they want instead of getting drunk at parties and making mistakes, when that’s not true at all. I was planning a wedding and getting pregnant when I was in my early twenties, and I don’t regret those decisions in the slightest. You are who you are regardless of your age. Just because you’re more mature and at a further point in your life earlier than others doesn’t make it wrong. Adam doesn’t see it that way either.”

Her reassurance strikes deep. A feeling of contentment sinks over my shoulders, and I exhale a slow breath. Having her cut down insecurities I didn’t even know were there, lurking in the shadows, has me reaching over and hugging her.

She hugs me back instantly. “He’s not going to let you go now. Not as long as he’s breathing, anyway. You’re theirs, and ours, no matter what.”

“Thank you,” I whisper.

She laughs lightly and squeezes me once before releasing me. “You’re welcome. Now, let’s go find your man. I’m sure he’s losing his head not knowing where you are.”

31

SCARLETT

There have been several times in my life when I’ve wanted to find my father and shove my successes in his face. The first time my skates hit Olympic ice, the moment I had a gold medal draped over my neck, and now as I search for the man I love at a festival that he put on for the community and every athlete in the city because his heart is just that big.

I wonder what he would say if he could see how happy I am—how much I’ve accomplished in such a short time. Yet there’s also a small part of me that doesn’t want to give him that pleasure.

After growing up being showered with so much love from my mom and then getting to witness the love Cooper receives from both his parents, I know my father wouldn’t be worthy of witnessing my successes.

Beth faced an adversity that not many of us could say we would have dealt with the same way. She risked everything for Cooper, and even though it almost broke her, it didn’t stop her from doing what she knew was right.

That’s the kind of parent we all deserve. And that fact alone helps break me out of my thoughts long enough to catch said woman standing off to the side beside a corn dog stand with her phone clutched tightly in her hands.

Her eyes are wide and frantic, and I turn to Ava, saying a quick “be right back” before jogging toward Beth. A feeling of protectiveness hits me when I register the fear on her face.

“Beth! Hey,” I say when I reach her. Her head snaps up, and some of the tension on her face disappears when she spots me.

“Oh, Scarlett. Hi.”

“Are you okay? Have you seen Adam yet?”

She shakes her head. “I haven’t been able to reach him, and I’m late for my date with Cooper.”

I put a cautious hand on her forearm and try to reassure her with a smile. “I’m looking for him too. Ava thinks he’s inside with Cooper and forgot his phone in his office. We can find him together if you want.”

“That would be great, actually. Thank you.”

I shrug. “It’s not a big deal. I don’t do well with crowds either. Or people at all, really.”

“I think you’ve been doing okay so far. You came up to me and pretty much saved my ass and you barely know me.”

“You’re Cooper’s mom. That’s all I need to know.”

“That’s sweet. I don’t see why they call you Scary Spice.”

A huff escapes me before I can hold it in. “Don’t let my Prince Charming moment fool you. It probably won’t ever happen again.”

“Lucky me for getting to bear witness to such a rare occurrence, then,” she jokes.

“You’re funny. I see Cooper got that from both his parents.”

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