Shaking my head, I tell her, “No, I can stay.”
Ellie smiles, kisses my cheek, and disappears into her bedroom. I didn’t even have to tell her to go try on the dress. I wait in the living room on the couch, checking my phone for any messages or missed calls. There’s a voicemail from my mother, so I listen to it real quick.
“Hey, Hudsy. It’s Mom. I hadn’t heard from you yet. Give-”
I pull my phone away from my ear when Ellie steps into the living room, the rest of the message still playing.
“Wow,” I manage to say as I stand.
“Do you like it?” She turns in a circle, so I can see her from every angle. That dress was made for her, fitting her body perfectly, the purple bringing out her brown eyes.
Swallowing hard, I stare at her for a second longer. “I love it. You look spectacular, Ellie.”
Her smile widens, and she twirls again. “Thank you,” she repeats, walking over to hug me.
“You are so, so welcome,” I tell her. Pulling away so I can look at her again, all I can manage to say once more is, “Wow.”
Ellie’s cheeks flush. “I should go take it off before I mess it up or something.”
She turns and goes back into her bedroom with me so close to asking if she needs any help. Instead, I sit down on the couch and listen to the rest of my mother’s message before Ellie returns. This time, when we go to sleep, Ellie snuggles up to me. Smiling as I fall asleep, I know that she’s beginning to feel more comfortable and relaxed around me and less nervous.
~
It’s early afternoon when I get enough free time to return my mother’s call. I’m alone, grabbing a bite to eat at a local restaurant. She answers quickly as if she was waiting by the phone for my call.
“Hudsy, I was starting to worry,” she says.
“I’ve been busy, sorry.” We go through the formalities before I sigh.
“What is it?” She asks, concerned.
I begin to tell her about Ellie, how we met, what she does, and such. “But there’s a problem that I basically created. Mom, I was tired of girls wanting me because of my job, the money, the stereotypes, everything.”
“I don’t like where this is going,” she interrupts quietly.
“Ellie doesn’t follow sports at all, so she doesn’t know who I am. Our relationship has been completely normal and balanced. I knew that if I told her, everything would change. Not to mention that she thinks we’re overpaid and misuse the spotlight we are given. So, I let her assume that I’m an architect and I know I have to tell her, but I don’t know how.”
“Hudson,” my mother sighs. “If you’re waiting for the perfect moment, it’s never going to come. You shouldn’t have let her think that about your job. The longer you wait the worst it will be. Hockey is a part of you, Hudson. You shouldn’t hide that. I’m not going to tell you what you should have done because that part has already happened and there’s nothing we can do to change it. I think you need to remember what you love most about hockey, introduce it to her, and share that part of you with her. If she cares for you, she will eventually be able to forgive you. However, you need to tell Ellie and soon before she finds out from someone other than you.”
I run my hand through my hair. “She’s going to hate me.”
“Probably for a little while, yes. If it’s meant to be, it will be. I love you, Hudsy, and if I can help in anyway, just call me.”
“Thanks, Mom. I love you too.”
Chapter Fourteen
Ellie
We decide to have lunch together, and she hasn’t said anything since I told her that Hudson bought my dress. Lacey just sips on her glass of water.
“What’s wrong, Lace?” I ask her.
She dramatically huffs, sitting her glass of water down. “I have to sleep with a guy just to get dinner. But this guy buys you a designer dress and hasn’t even copped a feel from you yet. I mean, he’s like Prince-Freakin-Charming.” She picks up her fork and pokes at her food.
I’m not sure what to say. Is Lacey upset because Hudson got the dress for me? I don’t want her to be upset. She’s my best friend. “I didn’t tell you to have you mad at me.” I look down at the food on my plate.
“What? I’m not mad, Els. Why would you think that?”