Page 21 of The Love Comeback (Glaciers Hockey #3)

Chapter Seventeen

Kade

Cam’s phone rings as he plops down in a seat across the aisle, breaking through the post-game chatter. His expression immediately softens as he answers. “Hey, babe.” His voice drops to that tone he reserves for Nila alone. “Yeah, we just boarded. Should be home in about an hour.”

I spot Blaze pulling out his phone as well, his face lighting up as Addy presumably answers.

Something twists in my chest as I watch him laugh at whatever she’s saying, his whole demeanor changing from exhausted athlete to besotted husband.

He and Addy have been inseparable for as long as I’ve known them, but it took them ten years —and apparently being forced to share a room at her little sister’s wedding in Hawaii—to realize they had feelings for each other.

The guys and I knew it long before that, though.

I’m just glad they finally got their happily ever after.

Now if only I could get mine…

I fish my phone from my pocket and stare at the lock screen. It’s nearly eleven at night. Ella’s most likely in bed by now, making sure she gets enough sleep before waking up to pack Colton’s lunch and start another day of teaching math to hormonal middle schoolers.

I scroll to her contact, my thumb hovering over the call button.

But what would I even say?

“Hey, sorry to wake you, I just wanted to hear your voice”?

Yeah, that wouldn’t be weird at all.

I put my phone away just as Dylan slides into the empty seat beside me. He shoots me a lopsided grin, the kind that’s pure trouble, and elbows me in the ribs. “Wanna hit the town with me tonight, Kade? Celebrate our big win?”

“Nah. Think I’ll pass. I just want to get home.”

“To what? Your empty house?” Dylan scoffs. “Come on. Live a little. I’ll even let you pick the music in the Uber. ”

I roll my eyes, but there’s no real irritation behind it. Dylan’s just being … Dylan.

“I’m good, man.”

“Dang it, Kade,” he huffs. “When did you become so boring ?”

“Maybe he’s just not into having a different girl in every city,” Cam pipes up from across the aisle, having finished his call. “Some of us actually grow up.”

“Speak for yourself, old man. Variety is the spice of life,” Dylan shoots back with a wink.

Cam shakes his head. “You’ll never change, will you?”

“Why mess with perfection?” Dylan smirks.

I lean back in my seat as the charter plane lifts off into the night, the Nashville skyline fading into the distance.

I eventually notice Dylan studying me in my peripheral. “Wait … this is about Ella , isn’t it?” he says. “You don’t want to go out with me because you’re hung up on her, huh?”

I snap my head up in surprise.

“What? I pay attention sometimes.” Dylan shrugs.

“That’s surprising, considering you’re obsessed with yourself,” I joke.

He chuckles. “Regardless, I know I’m right.”

“Yeah…” I relent.

“You know, I met her son at the meet-and-greet after the Philly game.” Dylan nods. “Cute kid. Good manners.”

“He’s great,” I agree .

“So, what’s the problem? You like the woman, you like her kid. I mean, I get she’s your ex or whatever, but that was like ten years ago, right? It’s gotta be water under the bridge by now. And it seems like you’re spending a lot of time together lately. So why not make it official?”

“It’s not that simple.” I shake my head. “We’ve been spending time together because of Colton’s lessons. There’s definitely still something there between us—at least on my end. But she’s cautious. She went through a tough divorce a few years back. And she’s got Colton to think about.”

“Ahh. You’re in the friend zone.”

I cringe at the term. “I wouldn’t put it that way.”

“But am I wrong?” he challenges, eyebrow raised.

“I’m not trying to push things,” I explain, ignoring his question. “She’s got a lot on her plate. New city, new job, raising Colton on her own. The last thing she needs is me complicating things.”

“But you want more,” Dylan presses.

“I want to be there for both of them, however she’ll let me. If that means just being Colton’s skating coach and Ella’s friend, then so be it.”

“Wow,” Dylan says, leaning back in his seat. “You’ve got it bad.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” I mutter.

“So, how are the lessons going? Colton any good? ”

The question brings an immediate smile to my face. “He’s incredible. Natural talent, great instincts. He picks things up so fast it’s almost scary. He’s trying out for the spring travel team.”

“No kidding? Those teams are competitive.”

“I know. But he’s got a real shot at making it,” I say, unable to keep the excitement from my voice. “We’ve been working on his edge control, his stops, his crossovers. He’s gonna nail the tryouts.”

Dylan studies me for a moment, a knowing look in his eyes. “You really care about him, don’t you?”

“I do,” I admit, my voice softening. “He’s had it rough, losing his parents so young. But he’s resilient, you know? And watching him on the ice…” I trail off, struggling to put it into words. “It’s like he comes alive out there. Like he’s found a piece of himself.”

“Sounds like someone else I know,” Dylan remarks with a smirk.

I chuckle. “Yeah, I guess so.”

We sit silently for a moment, the hum of the engines filling the space between us. When I speak again, my voice is quieter, more serious. “I’m worried about Ella, though. She’s working herself to the bone trying to afford all this.”

“Youth hockey isn’t cheap,” Dylan adds.

“It’s not. And she’s already stretched thin. She picked up coaching the school robotics team just to help pay for Colton’s hockey. ”

“That’s dedication,” Dylan says, genuine respect in his voice.

“That’s Ella,” I reply simply. “She’d do anything for the people she loves.

But she’s exhausted. I can see it every time I look at her.

Dark circles under her eyes, always checking her phone to make sure she’s not late for something, constantly juggling schedules.

And that’s before adding travel team commitments. ”

“Can’t you help?” Dylan asks. “I mean, you’re not exactly hurting for cash.”

I rub my jaw, feeling the stubble rasp against my palm. “I’ve offered. She won’t take it. Says she’s not looking for charity.”

“It’s not charity if it’s coming from someone who cares about you,” Dylan argues.

“Try telling her that.” I sigh. “She’s fiercely independent. Always has been. It was one of the things I loved about her in high school, but now…”

“Now it’s frustrating as heck,” Dylan finishes for me.

“Exactly. I have the means to make this easier for her—for both of them. But I also have to respect her boundaries.” I shake my head. “I don’t want to be another guy who lets her down or makes her feel like she can’t handle things on her own.”

“So how much money are we talking about here?” Dylan asks, leaning forward with undivided interest. “I mean, I know youth hockey was expensive when I was a kid, but how much is it running these days?”

I go on to explain the tournament and equipment fees. “And that’s before you factor in travel expenses,” I continue. “Hotels, gas, meals on the road. Figure another two to three hundred per tournament weekend, minimum.”

“Dang,” Dylan mutters, shaking his head. “No wonder she’s stressed.”

Cam leans across the aisle. “The cost of youth hockey has gotten out of hand.”

I nod, unsurprised that Cam’s been eavesdropping. The team plane doesn’t exactly offer much privacy, and Cam’s always had a sixth sense for important conversations.

Blaze appears, dropping into the seat next to Cam. “What are we talking about?” he asks, stifling a yawn.

“Youth hockey costs,” Dylan clarifies. “Kade’s giving us the breakdown for his girlfriend’s kid.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” I correct, though the words sting a little.

“Right, right.” Dylan waves dismissively. “The woman he’s desperately in love with but is too noble to make a move on. Better?”

I roll my eyes. “Anyway, we’re talking serious money here. Five to six grand for a season of youth travel hockey.”

Blaze lets out a low whistle. “That’s rough. Especially for a teacher, right? What does she teach again?”

“Middle school math,” I reply.

“Man, those teachers are saints. They make next to nothing considering what they put up with.”

A brief silence falls over our group, each of us lost in thought .

“You know,” Dylan says slowly, breaking the silence, “the team could sponsor him.”

I blink. “What?”

“The Glaciers could sponsor Colton.” Dylan shrugs. “Cover his fees, equipment, travel expenses—the whole package. We do individual sponsorships all the time for underprivileged kids. Why not him?”

I’m already shaking my head before he finishes. “No. That won’t work.”

Dylan looks genuinely perplexed. “Why not? It’s perfect.”

“Because Ella would see right through it,” I explain, trying not to sound as frustrated as I feel. “She already turned down my offer to help her with the costs. If the team suddenly decides to sponsor Colton, she’ll know it was my doing.”

“So?” Dylan challenges. “The kid gets to play hockey, she doesn’t have to work herself to death—it’s a win-win. Do you really think she’d see our help as a bad thing?”

“I think she’d see it as me going behind her back,” I correct him. “As me thinking she can’t handle it on her own. As me not respecting her enough to accept her decision when she said no.”

The explanation hangs in the air for a moment as the other guys absorb it. I can see them processing, trying to understand the delicate balance I’m struggling to maintain with Ella.

“What if…” Blaze begins, then pauses, choosing his words carefully. “What if it wasn’t about Colton specifically?”

All three of us turn to look at him .

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“What if the Glaciers sponsored the entire team?” Blaze suggests, leaning forward in his seat. “Not just Colton—all the kids. Reduced fees across the board, equipment assistance, travel subsidies, the works.”

I blink, considering the idea. “A team sponsorship?”

“Exactly.” Blaze nods. “The PR department’s been looking for more community outreach opportunities anyway. This could be perfect—investing in the next generation of players, making the sport more accessible to families of all income levels.”

“That … could actually work,” Cam says. “Ella wouldn’t be singled out for special treatment. Colton would benefit, but so would every other kid on the team, including his friend. The one who came to the game with them, right? Aaron? His mom would get the same deal.”

I turn the idea over in my mind, searching for flaws. “It would have to be genuine, though. Not just a PR stunt. A real investment in the program, a long-term commitment.”

“Of course,” Cam agrees. “Nila’s always saying that the key to good PR is doing something you actually believe in. This definitely qualifies.”

“The kid’s got real talent, right?” Blaze asks. “You weren’t just saying that? ”

I nod firmly. “Colton’s the real deal. Natural instincts, great work ethic. With proper coaching and development, he could go far.”

“Then it’s even more worthwhile,” Cam points out. “We could be helping launch the career of a future NHLer.”

“But even if he wasn’t,” I add quickly, “even if he was just average, he deserves the chance to play. All kids do.”

Dylan claps his hands together decisively. “It’s settled, then. We’ll propose a team sponsorship to management ASAP. With all of us behind it, they’re bound to go for it.”

As they continue discussing logistics, I find myself staring out the window, conflicting emotions swirling in my chest. I’m grateful for my teammates’ willingness to help. But also…

Will Ella still see this as overstepping? I rub my jaw thoughtfully, feeling the stubble rasp against my palm. Maybe the key is transparency—not springing it on her as a done deal, but involving her in the process somehow. Acknowledging her expertise as a parent and educator, valuing her input.

But also … this is just an idea . What if management says no? I don’t want to bring it up to her—potentially getting her hopes up—and then have it not happen…

My thoughts are interrupted as the captain’s voice comes over the intercom, announcing our final descent. The plane begins to tilt downward, the city lights growing larger beneath us as the familiar skyline of Atlanta welcomes us home .

I peer out the window, knowing somewhere out there, in a modest house that she’s made a home, Ella and Colton are fast asleep, blissfully unaware of the conversation that’s just taken place in the sky above them.

Regardless of what happens, one thing’s for certain—having those two in my life feels like a victory more important than anything we could achieve on the ice.