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Watching them together, the way Mason protected and encouraged and guided Scottie told me enough about the guy beneath the hockey jersey.
And it was enough to steal a part of my heart.
I let out a weary sigh, trying desperately to ignore the ache in my chest. He hadn’t reached out after I fled the arena, but then, I hadn’t really expected him to. He had to drive his mom and Scottie back to Pittsburgh. For all I knew, my father had taken them out. Showing off his protégé and making a fuss of his family.
The thought made my stomach churn.
My cell vibrated, and I hoped to see his name, disappointment crashing over me when it wasn’t.
Aurora: Hey, Noah told me what happened. Are you okay?
Harper: What exactly did he tell you?
Aurora: That your dad showed up and you took off. I’m surprised you were there in the first place…
Harper: Really?
Aurora: No, but I was waiting for you to tell me.
Harper: I think I made a stupid mistake, Rory.
My cell started ringing, and I hit answer. “Hey,” I said.
“You like him, don’t you?”
“I… yeah,” I confessed. “I tried so hard not to fall for him, Rory. But I did. And now everything is a mess.”
“Oh, Harper. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I knew you’d tell me it was a bad idea. I knew you’d tell me that Mason Steele isn’t the kind of guy who gets close to anyone.”
“Babe, come on. I’m the girl who fell in love with Noah Holden. Noah freaking Holden. If you had told me two months ago that I’d be here, I would have laughed at you.
“There is always an exception to the rule, Harper. Maybe you’re Mason’s.”
“I’m not,” I said quietly, the words breaking some secret part of me.
“But Noah said there was some serious tension between the two of you.”
“There is, but it doesn’t mean he’s going to act on it.”
“So you two haven’t…”
“You know we have.” I let out a weary sigh.
“The Halloween party?”
“Yep.”
“Harper! I’m so mad you didn’t tell me. But I get it.” She hesitated. “It isn’t easy admitting you’re falling for a Laker.”
“I kept telling myself I wouldn’t do it. That I wouldn’t let myself get carried away…”
“You know, a wise girl once told me, ‘We are all fools in love.’”
I had said that because, like me, Aurora was a huge fan of Austen.
“Well Charlotte Lucas had it right. I am a huge fool.”
