Chapter 51 Chapter 51
Chapter 51 Chapter 51
COLEEN
The morning after our date, I woke up smiling.
Which was terrifying.
Because I wasn’t the kind of girl who woke up smiling over a boy. I wasn’t the kind of girl who replayed conversations in her head while brushing her teeth, or who scrolled through her messages to see if maybe, just maybe, he’d texted “good morning” before I was even awake.
But apparently, I was now.
Mark noticed before I even finished pouring my cereal.
“You’re chipper,” he said, lounging at the table in his sweatpants like someone who hadn’t seen daylight in days. “What happened to the girl who grumbles through breakfast like a grumpy cat?”
“Nothing.” I shoved a spoonful of cereal into my mouth, trying to play it cool. “Just in a good mood.”
“Uh-huh.” He tilted his head, studying me. “And does this good mood happen to be six-foot-two with great hair?”
I choked on my cereal, coughing hard enough to make my eyes water. “Mark!”
He grinned like a cat that got into the cream. “So, I guess I can assume from your mood this morning that your date went great.”
“Can I eat in peace?”
“Not when my best friend is glowing like she just got proposed to,” he teased, nudging my elbow. “Spill. How was it?”
I kept my head down, but I could feel the smile tugging at my lips anyway. The memory of Hayden holding the door open for me, his awkward jokes, the way his eyes softened when he looked at me… that kiss. It all came rushing back.
"It was… nice," I admitted finally, setting my spoon down. "We talked. Ate good food, and it wasn't weird at all. I really had fun."
Mark raised an eyebrow. “Not weird? That’s your glowing review?”
“I mean it. He was… thoughtful. Funny. Not all ‘look at me, I’m the hot hockey guy.’”
“Translation, you like how he acted.”
I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks betrayed me by warming. “He was just… different. In a good way.”
Mark leaned back, smirking like he’d won a prize. “I’m telling you now, Coleen, don’t overthink this. Just let yourself like him.”
“I’m not overthinking,” I said automatically, then paused. “Okay, maybe a little. But it’s not like it’s serious or anything. We’re just… friends who went on a date.”
“Right. Friends.” He made air quotes so big it was a wonder he didn’t pull a muscle. “Sure. Friends who smile at their cereal like they just got handed a love letter.”
I groaned. “You’re impossible.”
“Impossibly right,” he said cheerfully. “So when’s the next one?”
“There’s no ‘next one’ yet.”
Mark pointed his spoon at me. "Keyword, yet."
The rest of the morning, I tried to focus on my assignments, but every time I looked down at my laptop, I saw Hayden’s stupid grin instead of my essay prompt.
I replayed little moments, the way he’d brushed his hand against mine as we left the restaurant, how he’d hesitated before kissing me goodnight, like he was making sure I wanted it too. That hesitation had been more romantic than any grand gesture.
By the time I left for campus, I’d convinced myself I was being ridiculous. It was just one date. No reason to spiral.
Except the universe apparently thought it’d be hilarious to test my resolve.
Because as I walked into the athletic complex later that afternoon for my shift, I saw him. Hayden Michaels was leaning against the wall near the vending machines, still in his team jacket, looking like he’d just stepped out of a sports commercial.
My heart did that embarrassing skip thing again.
“Hey, Trouble.” His voice was warm, familiar, and entirely too easy to get used to.
I adjusted my bag on my shoulder, trying not to look as flustered as I felt. “Hey, Lover Boy.”
His brow shot up, amused. “So Mark’s been talking, huh?”
“Maybe.” I tried not to laugh at the mock offense on his face. “What are you doing here?”
“Team meeting just wrapped. Thought I’d grab a drink before heading out.” He gestured at the machine. “But it ate my dollar. I think it hates me.”
I crossed my arms, fighting a smile. "You're a future pro athlete, and you're losing battles to vending machines. Impressive."
He grinned. “You offering to rescue me?”
“Not a chance. Consider it karma for keeping me out late last night.”
Hayden chuckled, running a hand through his messy hair. “Guess I deserved that. But I had fun.”
“Me too,” I admitted quietly.
His grin softened, less teasing now. “So… we’re still good?”
“Yeah.” My voice came out a little too fast, so I added more casually, “Why wouldn’t we be?”
“Just making sure I didn’t screw it up by being too charming.”
I rolled my eyes. “Wow, humility looks good on you.”
We fell into step as I headed to the equipment room to clock in.
“So,” he said casually, “You survive breakfast with Mark?”
“Barely. He interrogated me like I was on trial.”
“I bet he did. What’s the verdict?”
I shot him a look. “The verdict is that Mark likes to mind his own business about as much as you like keeping your hair neat.”
Hayden laughed, unbothered. “Fair. So… no regrets?”
I hesitated, then smiled despite myself. “None.”
His answering grin was brighter than it had any right to be. I had to look away before my heart started doing gymnastics again.
The rest of my shift dragged. Every time I passed the rink doors, I wondered if Hayden was still around, if maybe he’d drop by again. He didn’t, but somehow that didn’t dim the warmth buzzing under my skin.
After closing up, I found Mark waiting outside the complex to walk me home. Of course, he noticed my mood right away.
“You’ve got it bad,” he said, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“Do not start,” I warned.
He smirked. “I don’t need to start. It’s already happening. You’re finally letting yourself be happy. Took you long enough.”
I didn’t have a comeback for that. Mostly because he wasn’t wrong.
By the time I crawled into bed, I was still smiling.
And yeah… maybe that scared me a little. But for once, I decided to stop fighting it.