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He laughs. “No way. You’re from the Pittsburgh area? I guess you were happy last night when the Penguins won.”
I shake my head. “Nope. Though I still like them and root for them any other time, not when they are playing us. I’m an Atlanta Thunder fan first. They’re my number one team.”
He pumps his fist in the air. “Fuck yeah! That’s what I like to hear.” Setting his plate on the end table on his side of the sofa, he wipes his mouth with his napkin and then asks, “So, tell me how you ended up working for the Blackhawks.”
This is an easy one.
Releasing a breath, I say, “Well, I had just finished an accelerated MBA from the University of Chicago, and the internship with the Blackhawks opened up. I love hockey and wanted to get into sports marketing, so it was a no-brainer.”
“Nice.”
Hayden grows quiet and appears to be lost in thought, so, after setting my plate on the end table on my side, I ask him, “What are you thinking?”
“Ah, no, it’s nothing.” He waves his hand dismissively. “I don’t think it’s something I should bring up.”
“Oh, come on.” I crumple up and throw my napkin at him. “Now you have to tell me.”
“Okay, okay.” Chuckling, he rests his arm on the back of the sofa and twists to face me. “It’s just…” He picks up the napkin I tossed at him and toys with it. “I’ve always wondered why you told on me. You know, about… Well, you know.”
Yeah, I know exactly what and who he means. I still feel rotten about the whole thing, and I need for him to know that.
Running my hand down my face, I groan. “Ugh, yes, that. I knew it’d come up eventually.” My eyes meet his. “First off, I’m sorry, Hayden. I never should have said anything. I thought you’d broken Kristi’s heart, and not that it’s even a good excuse, but I got too involved and caught up in it all.”
“She knew what she was doing,” he says quietly. “And, for the record, I never meant to hurt anyone.”
I blow out a breath. “I know that now. And I don’t want to throw anybody under the bus, but you should know the truth—she’sthe one who asked me to say something.”
His brows fly up. “You’re kidding me.”
“No.” I shake my head. “But I still own it fully. I did it, not her. But I know now that I should have refused. At the time, I felt bad for her and wanted to be a good friend. Still, it was a stupid thing to do without having all the facts or realizing what could happen. The crazy thing is, ever since I moved down here to Atlanta, I never even talk to her anymore. We talked once early on, and I’ve tried since then to text and call, but I think she’s kind of ghosted me.”
I leave out the part about her telling me she’s messing around with another player. Not that he’d care. It’s just not my story to tell, and I’ve learned my lesson to keep out of other people’s business.
Look at the harm I did to Hayden.
“Well,” he sighs, running his hands down his jean-clad thighs. “Friendships are like that sometimes. Not every relationship lasts forever.”
“No, that’s true.” I look over at him and ask softly, “So, do you forgive me?”
He smiles. “Sure, yeah, I do. I understand everything now. You were just trying to be a good friend and got caught up in something that spiraled out of control.”
“That’s for sure.” I snort. “Still, I hate how it all went down.”
“Hey.” He waves his hand in the air. “It’s water under the bridge, okay? It all worked out for the best anyway. I’m a top-line center on a team that’s playing pretty damn well.”
“Good point,” I agree, relieved he feels this way. “And you really are playing next level.”
“I’m trying,” he says.
With the Kristi issue resolved, Hayden slips back down to the floor to get back to work on the bike.
And I, feeling better than I have in a long time about what happened in Chicago, take our empty plates into the kitchen.
Now the past really is in the past, and Hayden and I can move forward with our friendship.
Hayden
After Addison explains why she busted on me about my fling with Kristi, everything makes more sense. I wasn’t really harboring any resentment toward her anymore, anyway.
