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“Definitely.” I nod. “For sure.”
Nils smiles. “Hey, I’m happy for you. I hope it all works out.”
“Yeah, me too,” Arden adds.
I can see they’re both sincere and their sentiments are genuine. It makes me feel good that I have these two guys as friends.
Feeling like I can talk straightforward with them, I reveal that we’re going to take it slowly and see how things go.
“We want to keep our relationship on the down-low for now,” I further explain. “You guys are the only two I’m saying anything to. That’s the plan, for now.”
“I hear ya,” Arden says. “I think that’s smart. And don’t worry. We won’t say a word to anyone.”
“Yeah,” Nils agrees. “It’s your and her prerogative to let the world know when the time is right.”
“Thanks, guys,” I say. “Still, keeping it quiet is going to suck a little, seeing as I’d like to take Addison out on some proper dates. I don’t want us to be seen and photographed, though. Then the whole hockey world will know immediately.”
Nils, leaning back in his chair, says, “What about going to a local park, maybe just taking a nice walk? I hear Sunday’s going to be mild and sunny back up in Atlanta.”
I nod, thinking it over. “That’s not a bad idea. But the public parks always get so crowded on good weather days, especially this time of year.”
Arden seems to consider something, and then he says, “You can always take a hike up at my place. I own about half the woods, making it all private property. There are a bunch of cool nature trails back behind my house that are perfect for walking or hiking. Best part is I guarantee you’ll have those trails all to yourselves.”
Arden is a good guy, and now that he knows Addison and I are seeing each other and she’s off-limits, I don’t have to worry about him making any moves on her.
Nodding, I say, “That sounds perfect. I have to run it by Addison, but I’m sure she’ll love the idea.”
“Just come up on Sunday anytime,” Arden tells me. “I’ll leave the front gate to my property open. If I’m not around, park in the driveway and head to the back of the house. You can’t miss the trailheads.”
“Thanks, man.”
“No problem. In fact, take a look around the whole area. The property adjacent to mine is for sale. You may want to think about building a house up there. It’s not as close to the arena as where you’re living right now, but like we talked about once before, the longer commute isn’t a bad trade-off for all that solitude and beauty. I gripe about it now and then, but I truly wouldn’t change a thing.”
“Hey, I hear you,” I reply. “Solitude and beauty are what I’m looking for these days.”
It’s true. There was a time I once craved being where the action was. But as I’ve grown as a person, I see things differently.
If Addison and I do take that hike behind Arden’s property, I want to hear her thoughts on the idea of building a house out there.
Her input and opinions are really important to me.
Why is that, Hayden?
I know the answer, though I’m not ready to say it out loud.
I can keep it quiet all I want, but the fact is I’ve fallen in love with Addison Knight.
Addison
The Thunder win their away game against the Panthers on Friday night and also the one against the Lightning on Saturday. Hayden actually scores the game-winning goal in that one.
The game is over by about six, but he doesn’t get back to Atlanta till late. He walks in his door around midnight, and, since I heard his car driving up, I’m waiting for him in the entry hall.
“Babe…” He wraps me in a warm hug. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” I murmur.
Stepping back and looking down at me, he cups my face, so gently, so sweetly.
