Page 18 of We Finished Here

“He does ask about you from time to time,” Cindy says thoughtfully out of nowhere.

My heart stutters suddenly in my chest. “What? Wait… he does?”

She nods, topping us all up with another glass of wine. “Yeah, he just asks how you're doing and stuff.”

I blink rapidly several times. I don’t know why hearing that causes my chest to tighten.

“He still cares about you, Em. It’s obvious. Otherwise, he wouldn’t say anything.”

“She has a point,” Susie agrees.

I take another sip of wine. “Well, it’s fine, we were best friends at one point. Taylor and I were on a whole other level, but then we had to go and grow up.” It sounds sad, even to me, and I don’t mean it to.

“So, you want to go?” Susie asks.

I shrug. “I think it would be good to see a game… have a night out with you girls in the arena like old times.” I’m not as brave as I sound, but I go with it anyway.

“There’s another reason Cindy is so inclined to drag us all along to the game…” Susie chortles as we tuck into our meals.

Cindy gives her a little side elbow and laughs shaking her head, suddenly a little nervous herself. “Hey, that’s a secret, remember!”

Mads and I look at each other and back at the pair of them interestedly.

“What secret?” I probe.

“Are you holding out on us Cindy?” Mads giggles over her wine glass.

Cindy’s hands cover her face and she shakes her head, running them through her hair, and smoothing it back down again. She lets her breath out before she says anything. “Okay… maybe I have some news,” she whispers over the table in a conspiratorial manner.

I look at her quizzically. “News? Like what… are you seeing someone?” I prompt.

Susie is looking decidedly giddy next to her.

“What?!” Maddie urges. “Tell us, for God’s sake!”

Cindy let’s out another breath… “Okay… so you all have heard of Tyler Peterson, right?”

I stare at Cindy. I know the whole team, it’s not like I don’t follow the NHL… Maddison, on the other hand, wouldn’t know the hockey stick from the goal post.

“I haven’t… but do go on…” Mads laughs, proving my point instantaneously.

“Well… it all started a couple of weeks ago…” Cindy sighs, and I’ve no idea what she’s about to say, or what started a couple of weeks ago.

But from the big smile spreading across her face, and the rosy glow her cheeks are suddenly sporting, I can just about guess.

She’s fallen for one of the Hawks.

As she proceeds to tell us about her secret coffee date with Ty Peterson, star defender, I can already see that she’s hooked.

I smile. It’s great to see her smiling and looking so elated.I’m happy to be in town, and maybe it’s just the wine, but I’m freaking pumped to be seeing the Hawks on the ice in just a couple of days.And knowing that includes Taylor, just about sends me into a tailspin.

I don’t know how it’s going to feel seeing him again, but there’s only one way to find out.

* * *

I climb into bed later than I expected tonight, but I don’t care because I’m on vacation and us girls had a great night out.

Mom and dad are glad we had a great time catching up with the girls, and mom promises to cook me my favorite breakfast in the morning, just like old times.

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