“Not when you feel like your stomach is turning inside out.”
The plane and ground connected with a bump and Mikey yelped. “Are we still alive?”
“Still here.”
“Good.” Mikey sighed in relief. “Are you really going through with this?”
“Flying commercial?”
Mikey gave a humorless laugh. “You know what I mean. Selling the house.”
Aidan had his answer ready. “It’s right for me.”
“Okay. I believe that.”
Aidan studied Mikey’s profile. “Will you still be my friend when I don’t live in Malibu and take private jets everywhere?”
“Uhh…” Mikey scrunched up his face, pretending to think hard. “You know I’ve only ever liked you for your hot tub. Sorry, I thought that we had an understanding about that.”
Aidan chuckled as he pulled his phone from his pocket and turned airplane mode off. Right away, a text from his dad came in.
I’m meeting you at the airport.
He stared at the text, his gut churning. “Rick’s coming to pick me up.”
Mikey made a face of terror. “Did he say anything else?”
“No.”
The airplane taxied up to the gate and Mikey undid his seat belt. “What do you think he’s going to say?”
“I don’t know, but I’m ready for it.”
“Does he know about what you’re doing?”
“Nope.”
“Wow. This is going to be…cinematic.”
Aidan snorted. “You’re welcome to stay for the show.”
“I think I’d rather have you guys drop me off at my place. I can’t take flying and a rant from Rick in the same day. But call me later, right? Fill me in?”
“Sure.” Aidan looked out the window, his anxiety climbing. He knew what he had to say to his dad, but was he ready to say it?
“Hey.”
Aidan looked back at Mikey.
“You’re in charge of your own life,” Mikey said. “Don’t forget that.”
Aidan nodded. “Thanks.”
Rick was at baggage claim, already wearing a frown. Other than a quick hello, he was mum until they dropped Mikey off at his apartment.
“I’m taking you home and we can talk there,” he announced, pulling the car back into traffic.
“About home—”
Rick didn’t answer.
“I’m selling the house,” Aidan said. “I have a meeting with a realty agency tomorrow.”
His dad looked straight ahead, his fingers tightening around the steering wheel being the only sign that his hearing still worked.
“It doesn’t do it for me,” Aidan finished. He looked out the window. He knew L.A. like the back of his hand, but he was tired of it.
He wanted to make new memories somewhere else. With someone else.
“That house has space,” Rick said. “Extra rooms that the camera crew can stage in. It’s easy to film in. And it’s paid off. There’s no reason to sell it. Call the realtor back. Tell them you changed your mind.”
Aidan’s jaw dropped. “I didn’t change my mind. I’m moving, Dad. To Florida.”
Rick’s face was red. “I get it. You went to Florida, you hung out at the beach and at some coffee shop where no one knew who you were, and now you think that’s Heaven.”
“It’s not about Florida, or any other certain spot. It’s time for me to let go of my old life, Dad. My career is over.” Aidan’s throat went lumpy.
“It’s changing. You have this opportunity, Aidan, to spin what’s happened. If you play your cards right, you can come out even stronger. You can come out on top.”
“On top of what?”
Rick shot him a look like he was crazy.
“I’m tired of the game, Dad. Of always working to get ahead and prove myself, to make more money, to be…whatever. I don’t even know anymore. I don’t know what I’ve been working toward.”
“You don’t think you’re successful? Is that what you’re saying?” Rick’s voice rose higher with each question. “I’ve worked for decades to get you where you are, Aidan. Just like you have. And now you’re planning on throwing all of that away.”
“I’m not throwing it away,” Aidan said through gritted teeth. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but I want to switch things up. Take a break.”
Rick’s heavy exhales filled the car. They turned onto Aidan’s street and the car slowed down as it passed by mansions with towering walls and video-monitored gates.
“So take a break,” Rick said. He pulled the car into the end of Aidan’s driveway, but instead of entering the code into the gate, turned in his seat to look at Aidan. “If you need some real time off, that’s understandable. You went through a lot. Take a month or two off, and then we can start over.”
Aidan’s face burned, but it was nothing compared to the aching in his heart. It didn’t seem to matter what way he presented things. His dad was set on believing whatever he wanted to. He couldn’t face the truth: Aidan was moving on with his life.
Rick entered the code into the pad and the gate opened. As the house came into view, Aidan became even more certain about what he was doing. He didn’t belong in L.A. anymore. He felt it in his bones. But how could he convince his dad of that? Or did he even need to?
Rick parked the car in the drive and climbed right out, phone already in his hand. “What’s the name of the realtor you talked to? I’ll let them know the sale is off.”
Aidan pulled his bags from the car. “It’s on.”
Rick frowned. “You’re going to give me a heart attack.”
Aidan opened his mouth to retaliate, but it was like lightning struck him. All of a sudden, he understood where he’d been going wrong. Every day, he was trying to fix his dad, trying to get him to see how wrong he was about things.
But, really, it wasn’t about his dad at all. Aidan needed to focus on himself. He needed to learn to forgive. It was what he’d told Nicole to do, but he should have been preaching to the mirror and not to her. He needed to let things be as they were and let go of his anger. And, maybe, once he did that, things would change. He wouldn’t know until he tried, though.
“I love you, Dad.”
Rick’s face softened and he put his phone back in his pocket. “I love you, too, son. What does that have to do—”
“I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me.” Aidan’s throat clogged with emotion. “You raising the three of us on your own. Waking up at five in the morning to take me to the court. Everything. I wouldn’t be who I am without you, Dad. Thank you.”
“I only wanted the best for you, son. You know that, right?”
Aidan nodded, unexpected tears filling his eyes. “I know, and I never really said thank you. Not in a real way.”
“You don’t have to. It’s my job.”
“Yeah, and you’ve been a good dad to me. A good manager.”
“I’m not planning on quitting. Ever. Not as your dad, and not as your manager.”
“But I only need you to be one of those things now.”
Rick’s brow lowered. “Why are you doing this to yourself?”
“Because I’m ready to find myself.” Aidan kept his voice even, reminding himself not to raise it. If he got angry as well, it would only make things worse. “I’m quitting the business. All of it. I’ll see my contract with Fresh Wear through, but after that, no more. I’m done, and I mean it.”
Aidan waited for the angry outburst, but instead his dad looked incredibly sad. Like someone had died.
“I’m not giving up on you,” Rick said. “We’re not done here.”
Aidan nodded. There was nothing to say. His dad saw things his own way. Now, Aidan’s only job was to accept that.
“We’ll talk tonight.” Rick didn’t look at him as he walked back to the driver’s side. “Get some rest.”
Aidan stayed where he was, watching his dad pull out of the driveway and disappear around the wall
. Left alone, he closed his eyes and absorbed the sun on his face. The freshness of the moment.
He’d done it. He’d repeated his truth and he’d done his best to forgive his father for always trying to exert too much control over his life. It didn’t matter that Rick had reacted the same way he usually did. Already, Aidan’s heart felt lighter. He felt like he could do anything. With one action, the whole world had opened up.
That sensation of freedom…it was better than winning Wimbledon a hundred times over. And he wished Nicole were there to savor the moment with him.
CHAPTER 21
NICOLE
Nicole closed her eyes and turned her face to the morning sun. Its warmth sank into her cheeks and traveled through her whole body, filling her up from the inside out, giving her energy and life.
“You really like it here,” her dad commented.
She opened her eyes and glanced at him across the back porch’s table. “Yeah. I love it. New York is too dreary. Even in the summer there’s not enough sun.”
Nicole exhaled heavily, looking at the shimmering pool. It was her third morning in Miami and she still hadn’t gotten a chance to swim in the stunning, infinity pool yet. The three of them had spent her first day there walking around downtown and her second day at museums. After they finished the second night with dinner at a rooftop restaurant, Nicole had been so exhausted she went straight to bed.
Her dad leaned back in his chair. “I wish you’d come and visited me here sooner. Or anywhere. You know, I’ve had a bedroom set aside for you since I bought this place.”
Nicole looked at her lap. “Yeah, I know. I wish I had, too.”
He glanced at the house, where Lizzie was making them all a ‘special breakfast.’ “She’s been wanting to see you, too,” he said.
“Lizzie’s nice.”
He cocked his head. “How’s your mother?”
“She’s okay.”
He nodded, saying nothing, maybe knowing it was a dangerous subject to broach.
“She misses me,” Nicole said, thinking out loud. “I feel a little bad about being here.”
“Don’t. It’s not your job to take care of her.”
Nicole sharply looked at him, and she knew they were thinking the same thing. Wasn’t it his job?
He lowered his face, not meeting her eyes. Nicole kept looking at him, dissecting him. Ted Carson. Powerful celebrity attorney. He had more money than one person could ever need. A beautiful, sweet girlfriend. But was he happy?
For years, she’d hoped he wasn’t. She’d wanted him to suffer; wanted him to feel at least a shred of the pain he had put her and her mother through.
It wasn’t until recently that Nicole understood all she’d been doing was putting herself through more and more pain. Her dad was right there, always extending a hand, always waiting for her to come his way. Yes, they’d never really talked about what happened. But had she wanted to?
“Nicole.” He rubbed his palms together, still not meeting her gaze.
The wicked part of her wanted to let him sit there with no response coming from her. She was bigger than that, though. At least now she was. Aidan had helped her realize there was no point in holding onto grudges and years of pain. They ate a person up from the inside and hid the reality of life—and the reality was that things could have been much better between Nicole and her dad all these years. And perhaps even between her parents themselves.
“I used to be so mad at you,” Nicole whispered hoarsely. “So mad.”
He looked up, and the pain in his eyes couldn’t be missed. “I know and I understand you. What I did was horrible.”
“And I don’t mean years ago. I mean, like, two weeks ago.”
“What changed?”
“Since you left us, I’ve been living in fear…in fear of pain and suffering.” She felt her chin tremble. “But I’ve recently met someone who showed me how empty and joyless my life would be if I let my heart harden. I realized that if I want to change my present and my future, there’s no point in holding onto the past. I’ll never be completely happy again if I don’t find the strength to forgive you.”
“I don’t blame you if you can’t, Nic. I don’t forgive myself.”
“What?”
Nicole could hardly believe her ears. Her dad always looked so immersed in his new life that she never even considered the possibility that he was struggling himself with the implications of his actions.
“Even when I left, pumpkin, I knew I was making the wrong move. Things hadn’t been good between your mom and me for a long time. We kept that hidden from you the best we could. But that’s no excuse. I could have faced my problems the adult way. Instead, I ran. I was afraid.”
“How come you never told me that?” Nicole asked.
“I figured you didn’t want to hear it. You wouldn’t come and visit me. I could hardly get you on the phone.” He winced.
“I was wrong, Dad. I’m sorry.”
The words took her by surprise. She hadn’t even realized she felt partially responsible for the chasm between them. She’d been way too busy blaming him for everything to ever pause to think whether there was anything she could do to contribute to recovering their relationship.
“We both messed up,” he said, “but I messed up more. I was the adult. I should have done better.”
Tears burned Nicole’s eyes. “Nobody’s perfect.”
He ruefully smirked. “You’re sure you don’t expect your old man to be?”
“I guess I used to,” she said, brushing tears away. “What happened between you and—” Her. The woman he’d left Nicole’s mother for, the woman Nicole couldn’t bring herself to mention.
Her dad sucked in a breath. “What I thought was there really wasn’t. It turned out I was seeing what I wanted to. Like I said, I needed a reason to run. I took the first excuse I could get. I’m so sorry I hurt you and your mom. I really am.”
“I’m sorry, too. For never…talking about any of this. For being so arrogant in my pain.”
“You weren’t arrogant, sweetie. There’s no life manual about how to deal with these things. You were just a kid. So much burden fell on you. I know how much you helped your mother. I should have been there for you. I failed her as a husband and you as a father. I’ve always wanted to apologize to you. To your mother, too. I didn’t think you’d want to hear it, though.”
“I didn’t.” Nicole took a deep breath. “But that’s why I came here. I forgive you, Dad. We all make mistakes and I don’t want to be mad anymore.”
The man rose from his chair and knelt in front of his daughter, taking her hand. “Thank you, baby.” His eyes shone with tears.
Nicole nodded, her voice lost and her heart buzzing. She wrapped her arms around her father’s neck. She’d done it: let the past go. She finally felt that forgiveness was not just a word. The change was in her heart.
She couldn’t wait to tell Aidan.
A knock on the kitchen window made them look at the house. Through the glass, Lizzie waved them inside.
They both stood up, and at the door, Nicole’s dad paused.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he said.
“Me, too.” Nicole smiled, the warmth from the moment sinking deep into her.
Side by side, they went down the hall and to the breakfast nook off the kitchen. A full spread waited there, the savory smells of everything from fresh biscuits to bacon to pancakes filling the air.
“Wow, Lizzie, you really went all out,” Nicole said, stopping to take it all in.
Lizzie squeezed her shoulders from behind. “It’s nothing.”
“Lizzie loves to cook,” Nicole’s dad said, taking his seat. “And she’s great at it.”
Nicole looked at her father glowing at his girlfriend, and she knew she’d truly forgiven him when she realized that the idea of him being in love again didn’t fill her with resentment any longer. She only wished with all her heart that her mother would also have a second chance to get her ow
n happily-ever-after.
The only image that came to her mind when the words ‘happily-ever-after’ resounded in her head was Aidan’s face. She took her seat, tucking her chin and smiling to herself.
“Let’s see,” Lizzie said, rushing from the table to the kitchen counter. “We need cream...orange juice. How do you like your coffee, Nicole?”
“Black. Thanks.”
On the other end of the kitchen, a muted television on the wall played the news. Nicole glanced at it, then did a double take at the sight of the name ‘Aidan Coleman’ scrolling along the bottom.
“Oh, I’ll turn that off,” Lizzie said, reaching for the remote.
“Wait!” Nicole cried. “Hold on. Will you turn it up? They’re talking about someone I know.”
“Really?” her dad asked. “Who?”
“Um, a friend.” Nicole looked back at the TV, leaving it at that. She hadn’t told her parents she was dating someone. Hopefully, soon she’d get to do more than tell them about Aidan. She’d get to have them meet him.
Lizzie took the TV off mute. A female anchor was sitting behind a desk, a picture of Aidan in the corner of the frame. At the sight of his face, Nicole’s stomach did a flip. They’d texted a lot and had a few long phone calls over the last few days, but it wasn’t until then that she missed him in an aching way.
“Aidan’s manager and father, Rick Coleman, made the announcement this morning,” the anchor was saying. “The tennis star will join a long list of celebrities moving to reality television.”
Nicole gasped. Reality television?
“You know Aidan Coleman?” her dad asked. “The tennis player?”
The anchor was going on, but Nicole couldn’t hear what she was saying. The story had ended and she was on to something else. Nicole’s ears buzzed and her hands shook.
Aidan was doing the reality show. But, no. That didn’t make sense. He’d told her he wouldn’t. When they talked about it, he made it sound like it was the last thing he wanted to do.
Lizzie turned the TV off and set a cup of coffee in front of Nicole. She stared at the black liquid, feeling her stomach sink.
“Nic? You okay?” Her father touched her shoulder.
Winning Her Heart Page 11
