Page 13 of The Love Comeback (Glaciers Hockey #3)

Chapter Eleven

Kade

The rumble of the jet engines is the only sound breaking through the thick silence that’s settled over the cabin of our team’s private plane.

We lost our away game tonight, and it shows.

The cabin lights are dimmed, most of the guys are either sleeping or lost in thought, headphones blocking out the world.

Coach Wilson sits up front, already reviewing game footage on his tablet, the blue light illuminating his furrowed brow. Typical. We haven’t even made it back to Atlanta, and he’s already breaking down everything that went wrong.

A lot went wrong. Starting with me.

I twist the cap off my water bottle, then back on. Off, then on. The rhythm is mindless, but comforting. I should’ve stopped that last goal. It was savable—the kind of shot I usually anticipate.

“You’re gonna break that cap if you keep that up.”

I look up to find Cam sliding into the seat across from me, his usual post-game suit replaced with team sweats.

“Sorry,” I mutter, setting the bottle down. “Just thinking.”

“Yeah, I can see that.” He stretches his long legs into the aisle, wincing slightly. “That’s kind of the problem. You’ve been ‘just thinking’ for about two weeks now.”

I raise an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means you let in that last goal because you were somewhere else entirely.” He doesn’t sugarcoat it, but there’s no malice in his voice.

That’s Cam—brutally honest but never cruel.

“And it’s not just tonight. You’ve been off your game since—” He pauses, eyes narrowing.

“Since right around when you started giving those skating lessons to that kid.”

My jaw tightens. “Colton has nothing to do with it.”

“Maybe not Colton,” Cam says carefully. “But what about his mom?”

My shoulders tense. Am I really that obvious?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Cam snorts. “Sure you don’t. That’s why you practically sprint off the ice after every practice when it’s lesson day.

That’s why you’re constantly checking your phone.

That’s why you’ve got that look on your face right now.

What’s going on with you, Santos? And don’t you dare say nothing.

We’ve known each other too long for that. ”

I hesitate, fidgeting with the water bottle cap again. Talking about Ella right now feels like exposing a raw nerve. But if there’s anyone I can trust to open up about this with, it’s Cam.

“You remember I mentioned my high school girlfriend?” I finally ask, eyes fixed on the bottle in my hands.

Cam nods slowly. “The one that got away. Sure.”

“Well, she’s Colton’s aunt. His guardian, actually—and the woman who’s been bringing him to skating lessons. They just moved to Atlanta.”

“Wait—” Cam’s eyes widen. “ She’s your one that got away?”

“That’s her.” I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips. “Ella Smart.”

“Smart as in smart, or—”

“It’s her last name,” I clarify, rolling my eyes. “Though it fits her pretty well.”

Cam lets out a low whistle. “Dang. Talk about full circle.”

“Yeah.”

“And you’re still hung up on her.” Cam states it as a fact, not a question.

I meet his gaze. “Is it that obvious?”

“Only to someone who’s paying attention.” He shrugs. “The guys are too focused on their own stuff to notice. But yeah, it’s pretty clear something’s up with you. ”

I sigh, leaning back in my seat. Outside the window, stars pepper the endless black canvas. It’s beautiful in a lonely sort of way.

“I thought I was over her,” I admit quietly. “I mean, it’s been almost ten years. I’ve dated other people. I’ve built this whole life. But seeing her again…” I trail off, struggling to find the words.

“Brought it all back?” Cam offers.

“Yeah. But it’s more than that.” I turn the water bottle in my hands, watching the liquid swirl inside. “It’s like … all these years, I’ve been measuring everyone against her without even realizing it. And now that she’s back, I’m remembering why.”

“But?” Cam prompts, clearly sensing there’s more.

“But she’s different now. We both are.” I run a hand over my face, feeling the stubble rasp against my palm.

“She’s been through so much—losing her sister and brother-in-law, her mom’s declining health, raising Colton on her own, a divorce.

She’s built these walls around herself, and I get it. I understand why.”

“And you’re afraid to push,” Cam says, nodding slowly.

“I don’t want to be that guy,” I explain, frustration bleeding into my voice.

“The one who doesn’t respect her boundaries.

The one who tries to force his way through walls that are there for a reason.

” I twist the cap off my water bottle again, more forceful this time.

“I still have feelings for her, but now’s not the time to tell her.

She’s made it pretty clear she’s not looking for anything. ”

I go on to tell him about the circus, followed by the night at Ella’s house—building the bookshelf, looking through old photos, the moment we shared when she finally let her guard down, and then how quickly she shut down when we stumbled across that graduation picture.

How she practically pushed me out the door afterward.

“It’s like one minute we were connecting, and the next…” I sigh. “I reminded her of the guy who broke her heart.”

“Well, you did,” Cam points out.

“Yeah, thanks for the reminder,” I mutter with sarcasm.

“Just stating facts.” He shrugs unapologetically. “You broke up with her, right? Before college?”

I nod, shame washing over me. “Biggest mistake of my life. I thought I was doing the right thing—putting hockey first, not holding her back with a long-distance relationship. Everyone told me it was the right decision.”

“Everyone except Ella, I’m guessing.”

“She never even got a say.” The admission hurts, even after all these years. “I just made the decision for both of us.”

Cam is quiet for a moment. “So now you’re afraid of making the same mistake again. Pushing what you want onto her without considering what she needs.”

“Exactly.” I’m surprised by how accurately he’s read the situation. “I won’t make the same mistake twice.”

“Hmm.” Cam leans back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest. “You know what I think?”

“I have a feeling you’re gonna tell me regardless.”

He grins, unfazed by my sarcasm. “I think you’re overthinking this. It’s not about pushing through her walls or staying on your side of them. It’s about proving they’re not necessary with you.”

I tilt my head. “What do you mean?”

“Actions over words, man.” Cam taps his temple. “Don’t tell her you’re trustworthy—show her. Don’t promise you won’t bail—prove it. Be consistent. Be there. Not just for the kid’s skating lessons, but for the small stuff. The everyday things that actually matter.”

“That’s…” I pause, considering his words. “Pretty good advice.”

“Don’t sound so surprised,” he scoffs.

I laugh, feeling some of the tension drain from my shoulders. “Marriage has made you wise.”

“Be sure to tell Nila that.” Cam chuckles. “Anyway, if you really care about her—and it’s obvious you do—then patience is your best play here. Let her set the pace. Let her see that you’re not going anywhere this time.”

“And if she decides she doesn’t want me in her life that way?”

Cam shrugs. “Then at least you’ll know you did right by her. Which, from what you’ve told me, is what you’re actually worried about.”

He’s right, and we both know it. I nod slowly, letting his words sink in.

“But seriously, Kade, just give it time. She’s got a lot on her plate—new city, new job, raising a kid on her own. Maybe what she needs right now isn’t a boyfriend. Maybe she just needs a friend she can count on.”

“Yeah,” I agree. “Maybe that’s enough.”

“For now,” Cam adds with a knowing look. “I’m not saying you should give up completely on something that matters to you. Just … don’t try to rush it either. I mean, when I met Nila, I fell hard and fast, but she wasn’t ready to commit.”

“But can we blame her? She was the social media specialist hired to do damage control after you punched a fan in the face,” I joke.

“Okay, yeah,” he grunts. “But she’d also been through some things and put up some walls.”

“Okay, okay.” I hold up my hands in mock surrender. “I’ll give you that.”

“My point is, patience paid off.”

“I can be patient,” I promise, both to Cam and to myself.

Cam reaches over and claps my shoulder. “Good. Now can you please get your head back in the game? Because that last goal was embarrassing.”

I groan, but there’s a smile tugging at my lips. “Thanks for the pep talk.”

“She better be worth it.” He smirks, settling back in his seat.

I think of Ella—her strength, her kindness, the way she’s built her entire life around giving Colton stability and love. The way she still laughs with her whole body when something truly amuses her, just like she did in high school.

“She is,” I say simply. “She definitely is.”