Page 27 of The Love Comeback (Glaciers Hockey #3)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ella

“Are you having first-game jitters?” Valerie nudges me as the first whistle blows and the skaters line up in their starting positions.

I take a deep breath and nod, my heart pounding with anxiety as I pick out Colton standing front and center.

“I’m just worried he’s going to get hurt…

” I hate that I sound like a wimp, but after years of watching Kade play hockey through high school, I know good and well how common it is to take a blow—and that’s already happened to Colton once.

“It’ll be fine,” Valerie reassures me. “And besides, kids bounce back fast at this age. It’s not like it’d be if one of us were out there trying to play. I mean, my goodness, if I fell out on the ice, I might not be able to get up for a whole week.”

I can’t help but giggle, even though I feel uneasy. “I don’t think I’d make it more than five feet of skating before I fell. I didn’t get any of the athleticism my sister got. I only got the brains.”

“And the looks.” She shoots me a playful wink.

A few moments later, Valerie nudges me with her elbow. But my eyes are glued on Colton’s every move. I wince as another kid brushes against his shoulder as he skates by.

Ugh, please leave my baby alone!

“Ella,” Valerie urges, elbowing me again. “Look!”

Annoyance grows in the pit of my chest, but I swallow it, forcing my protective eyes from Colton to Valerie. “What is it?”

She points over to the entrance of the rink, and that’s when I see it. Kade and his teammate, who I recognize to be Dylan Williamston, carrying signs with Colton’s number and team colors. And to make it even worse…

Kade is wearing a mock jersey.

It’s so freaking endearing that it makes my stomach swirl.

My mind races as I stare at Kade, a bright smile on his face, fist pumping and waving at Colton. My gaze jumps to the rink where I see Colton suddenly skating with a renewed sense of energy.

“You okay?” Valerie whispers. “You look like you’re about to be sick. ”

I shake it off, clearing my throat and tossing my hair over my shoulder. “No, I’m totally fine. I just had a moment where I was starting to worry about Colton getting hurt. You know, he got that black eye at practice. It seems like it just cleared up. I don’t want him to get another one.”

“He’s not going to get another black eye, silly. Well, at least not today.” She laughs, tipping her head of red hair back.

“You’re not making me feel better,” I sulk, shaking my head.

“Oh c’mon, Ella. You’ve gotta have some faith. That was a freak accident anyway. He’s got this—look at him go!” Valerie bounces beside me, cheering on Colton as Aaron guards him and he skates across the rink with precision, headed right for the goal.

And he makes it.

“Way to go, Colton!” I find myself shouting and clapping as the rest of the crowd erupts in wild cheers. However, no one is as loud and proud as Kade, who gives a freaking caveman celebratory yell.

Colton lifts his head in Kade’s direction, and I can see his grin beneath the face guard.

He’s proud of himself, and I’m pretty sure Kade’s support means everything to him—even more so than my own.

It makes sense, though, because everything he’s learned about the game at this point has come from Kade, not me .

And for that reason, I hope Kade continues to be involved and doesn’t phase out just because I told him I needed some space.

“They’re going to win the game,” Valerie says. “I just know it. They’re really good. I think they put all the best players on our team.”

“I hope so,” I say, trying to gather my thoughts as the players huddle for a timeout. “I think I’m gonna go grab something from the concession stand. Do you want anything?”

She nods. “If you don’t mind, could you grab me a coke? I haven’t had one of those in a while, and it sounds pretty good right now.”

I give her a lame thumbs-up and make my way toward the concession stand at the back of the rink.

My eyes flicker toward Colton, who’s caught up in the game and not remotely in what I’m up to.

I smile at his focus. Hockey is a good avenue for him to build his self-confidence, and based on the way he’s playing, I have a feeling he might turn into the star of the team.

And that would make his parents so proud.

Honestly, just him playing hockey at all would do that. The bittersweet feeling takes over my chest as I find my place in the line with a sigh. There’s a solid seven to ten people in front of me, and I hope I don’t miss too much of the game.

I rock back onto my heels, my mind swirling from everything from the robotics team, to my mom’s health, to Colton, and to Kade.

I know better than to dwell on things too much.

I just need to take life one day at a time.

If I focus too much on everything, it’ll just reiterate the fact that maybe I’m … secretly drowning.

I’m snapped out of my thoughts by the voices coming from a few people behind me in line.

“He’s playing really well,” Kade’s deep voice booms. “I’m so proud of him.”

“You were the one giving him lessons,” a voice that I assume to be Dylan’s replies, letting out a chuckle. “Most kids only dream of getting lessons from someone like you.”

“Yeah, but I’m the goalie, and the fact that he’s killing it at center really says a lot about his athletic capabilities.

I think that’s something that can’t be taught.

He’s just really talented.” Kade’s tone is oozing with a pride that reaches into my chest and squeezes my heart.

It’s so endearing, and I’m not even sure he knows that I’m standing just a few feet in front of him.

“Wouldn’t it be cool if the whole team came out to support Colton? Then we could all have signs and stuff.”

“Yeah. But maybe since we’re supporting the entire team, we shouldn’t just show support for Colton.”

“That’s true,” Dylan agrees. “I guess we could split up our support and make signs for the other kids, too, to make it more fair, but still … I want to hold Colton’s sign!”

I smile to myself at the enthusiasm even Dylan has when it comes to Colton. If Colton knew what was being said about him, he’d be on cloud nine. I’ll have to tell him about this after the game.

“What can I get for you?” The teenager at the counter brings me back to reality, and I flash her a smile.

“Can I get two cokes?” I ask, trying to ignore the heated gaze I suddenly feel boring into my skull. If Kade didn’t know I was in front of him, I’m certain that he knows now.

“Of course,” the girl says. “That’ll be five dollars.”

I nod, pull out a five-dollar bill and lay it on the counter, as she returns with the drinks. “Thank you,” I say, taking one in each hand. I spin around and head back for the stands, unable to avoid walking past Kade and Dylan.

Kade is staring at me, his gaze holding mine. All the while, Dylan appears to be looking at anything but me. It makes me wonder if they’ve talked about me since I asked for space…

“I just had to grab a couple of drinks,” I say stupidly as I approach them, swallowing the nerves that are now pumping against my ribcage.

“Yeah, I see that.” Kade chuckles, eyeing the two cokes in my hands. “Colton is playing really well tonight for his first game. If he’s nervous, you can’t even tell. It’s awesome.”

“Yeah,” I choke out, keeping a smile on my face. “I agree. Brett and Katie would be so proud of him. I know it.”

He nods. “Yeah, absolutely.”

With that, he gives me another nod and ushers Dylan forward, leaving me standing there facing no one. A pang of rejection hits my chest, but I have to remind myself that I’m the one who asked for space, and Kade is simply respecting me by putting the distance there.

I asked him to do it.

No, I told him that’s what I needed.

But this is for the best.

Right?