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

Chapter Three

Ella

“Kade is so cool,” Colton says from the backseat. “He’s cooler than anyone I’ve ever met in my entire life.”

“Yeah, he’s a great hockey player,” I say flatly, trying my best not to sound bitter. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really thankful that Kade is giving Colton skating lessons—and for free, at that—but also, I’m tired of hearing about how amazing my ex-boyfriend is.

Especially considering he chose hockey over me.

“Yeah, and he took us to eat pizza!” Colton beams, still reflecting on what happened two days ago. “And we get to see him again tonight!”

“I know.” I pull into the parking lot, carefully navigating my decade-old Tahoe into the staff parking spot. Thankfully, his upper elementary school is attached to the middle school, so I can walk him there in the mornings before heading to work. It allows me to skip the car line.

“Is something wrong?” Colton asks as he unbuckles his seatbelt. “You don’t sound very happy. Do you not like Kade?”

“No, no, I am happy. I’m so happy that you’re getting some skating lessons, and I’m happy that you’re getting to do something you love. Kade is a good guy, too.” He just broke my heart into a million pieces and then thought, somehow, I’d still want to be friends.

But that’s not something I care to discuss with a ten-year-old.

“Oh, okay, cool.” Colton pushes open the door, and I follow suit, slinging my bag over my shoulder. “My friend Aaron said relationships with exes can get messy.”

“Oh?” I can’t hide my surprise. “And how old is this Aaron kid, exactly?”

“He’s my age,” Colton answers as we head toward his elementary school. “His parents just got divorced. Aaron’s dad chose to stay in his life, though.”

My heart breaks at the mention. I breathe in the crisp January air. Colton had a really tough time understanding why Landon didn’t want to see him after our divorce. Sometimes, I think I was more heartbroken for him than for myself.

But before I can say anything in response, Colton adds, “Makes sense, though. Aaron is so cool! ”

I can’t help but chuckle at Colton’s innocence, grateful that he’s still shielded from some of the complexities of adult relationships. For now, at least.

“Well, you’re pretty cool, too.” I squeeze his shoulder and smile down at him. “I’m glad you’re making friends at your new school.”

“It helps when you know a famous hockey goalie.” Colton grins and wiggles his eyebrows at me as we hop up onto the curb. “I’m pretty sure everyone at the school thinks that I’m cool.”

“Well, just make sure you’re not boasting,” I say, giving him my mom look. I might not be his biological mom, but no matter what, I’m still his mother in one way or another. And I owe it to my sister to make sure he turns out alright.

“I know, I know.” Colton gives me a hug as we reach the front blue doors of the school. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” I give him a solid squeeze, planting a kiss on his head. “Have the best day, and I’ll see you as soon as you get out.”

“Roger that.” He scampers off.

I watch him until he disappears inside. It’s hard to see him growing up so fast, and while I’m only twenty-seven, it feels like I’m aging quickly, too—and so are my dreams of adding to our family of two. But that would require me to put myself out there and actually date someone.

Someone who could leave us…

My heels click on the pavement as I make my way back to Meadowlark Middle School.

I wrap my black peacoat around my body tighter, fighting off the loneliness that has hovered over my shoulders for years.

It’s a little self-inflicted, I know that.

But after the devastation of my divorce, I vowed to myself that I wouldn’t date anyone again until Colton was an adult.

He’s been through enough loss in his life, I’m not going to risk putting him through another messy breakup or divorce .

My phone buzzes in my pocket, jarring me from my thoughts, and I fish it out. My mom’s name is on the screen, and I answer the call.

“Hey,” I say. “Isn’t it a little early?”

“Ella.” The voice that greets me isn’t my mother. It’s her caretaker, Chandra.

My heart immediately jumps to my throat. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, of course,” she quickly adds. “I didn’t mean to scare you. Your mom is insisting there’s a box of pictures—the ones that have your sister’s cheerleading days—and I cannot find it. I was really hoping you could help me.”

“Oh.” I let out a sigh and press my palm to my forehead. “It’s okay. That box should be in her bedroom closet, toward the back.”

“Your mom said it was under the bed,” Chandra hums. “She swore by it. ”

I swallow the knot in my throat. “Do you think it’s getting worse?”

“No, I don’t,” Chandra comforts. “Even I forget where things like this are.”

“True.” I blow out a breath. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just…”

“You’re getting settled in this big city. You need to focus on that. Don’t worry about what’s going on here. It’s all okay, I promise.” I can hear the smile in her voice, and it brings me relief.

“Okay, well, I hope you find the pictures. If not, let me know, and I can stop by after school to help look for them.”

“Will do. Have a good day,” Chandra says before hanging up.

I shove my phone into my pocket and then finish the walk to work.

When I arrive, I pull open the front doors and head straight for the teacher’s lounge.

As the head of mathematics, I teach four classes and then spend the rest of my days working on the school programs, as well as collaborating with the gifted and talented.

And I’m starting in the middle of the school year, which adds total chaos.

“Morning, Ella,” Terry, the vice principal, greets me as soon as I step into the lounge.

Her blonde hair is pulled up in a tight bun on the top of her head, and her penetrating green eyes are something out of a magazine.

She’s in her mid-forties, and her youngest kid is in high school. “How’s Colton been settling in? ”

“He’s doing great.” I hang my jacket up after shedding it. “I’m actually really impressed at how well he’s been fitting in.” Thanks to Kade for giving him newfound confidence.

“That’s excellent!” she says, her voice genuine. “I’m so happy to hear that. It makes things much easier on us when our kids are adaptable. I remember when I first moved my three kiddos here. It was tough.”

She squeezes my shoulder and then slips past me to exit the lounge.

Most of the teachers have already found their way to their classrooms, but I don’t teach any classes for the first hour, and I’m supposed to be meeting with Valerie—she’s the head of the science department—to put together a robotics team application for students.

I pour myself a cup of coffee and wait for the tardy bell to ring before heading to Valerie’s classroom. My heels click down the hallways lined with red and blue lockers. This school is large—three times the size of the last school I taught at.

I giggle inwardly at the few stragglers in the hallway who duck from my gaze as if I’m going to do something about them being late for class.

After a five-minute walk, I arrive at Valerie’s classroom, decorated with frogs and Lily pads on the exterior door. The door is slightly ajar, but I knock anyway and then peer inside.

“Ella!” Valerie exclaims, her red hair in a mess of curls as she stands from her desk. Her face is sprinkled with freckles and framed with a pair of black-rimmed glasses. She looks to be about five years older than me—but no more than that. “It’s great to see you again.”

“Likewise.” I smile. “So, I guess we should get started on this robotics application?”

“Yeah, of course, c’mon in.” She nods toward the desk. “Also, I meant to tell you that my son Aaron is actually in Colton’s class.”

“Oh, really?” I raise a brow.

“Yes! I didn’t put it together at first, since Colton’s last name is different from yours.”

I nod, unsure of how much to explain to her about my situation. “Colton is actually my sister’s son. She and her husband passed away about five years ago. I have custody of him.” I keep the smile plastered on my face, waiting for her to say something overly sympathetic.

But she doesn’t.

“You’re a strong woman, then,” she says instead, giving me the brightest, warmest smile. “I can already tell.”

“Thank you,” I say, relief flooding my system, appreciating the way she didn’t make it the sole focus.

“I guess our boys have really bonded over their love of hockey. Aaron wouldn’t stop talking this morning about how Colton knows the goalie for the Glaciers. Is it true?” She peers up at me as she takes a seat in her desk chair, and I pull up the extra seat .

“It is true,” I admit. “Kade and I went to high school together.” And he was my first for everything. “He’s been giving Colton skating lessons.”

“Wow.” Her eyebrows disappear beneath her bangs.

“I figured Colton might’ve met him at the meet-and-greet they do after home games.

But skating lessons? I’m impressed. No wonder Aaron has latched onto Colton the way he has.

He’s been begging to try out for the spring travel team.

” She lets out a sigh. “But my goodness, it’s expensive. ”

My heart sinks. “Is it? I haven’t even looked into the cost of hockey…”

“Yes. It’s a big commitment.” She frowns. “If Aaron makes the team, of course, my ex-husband and I will need to work together to figure out a way to pay for it. I was hoping that I’d have a future scientist on my hands, but I think he’s leaning toward being a professional athlete.”

I burst into laughter at the pained, playful expression she gives me. “I mean, he could be both. Aren’t there a few big athletes who became doctors?”

“Maybe.” She giggles with me. “Who knows? Right now, the only thing he wants to be a doctor of is hockey.”

“We still have eight years to change their minds.” I shoot her a goofy wink. “But until then, I guess we have to support them in whatever they want to do.”

“Unless they’re going to do drugs. ”

“Touché.” I set my bag onto my lap and pull out the roster of students. “So, all these kids said they were interested in applying for the robotics team?” I can’t hide my surprise at the four pages of names.

“Yeah.” Valerie sighs. “Which is why we’ve now been tasked with developing an application for it. But honestly, I think most of those kids were told it would be like Transformers or something…” Valerie laughs, shaking her head.

The two of us spend the next forty-five minutes creating the application and discussing the selection criteria, while swapping stories about the difficulties of wrangling middle schoolers. Valerie’s passion for science is contagious, and I can’t help but be uplifted by her enthusiasm.

By the time the next bell rings, I feel so much lighter.

My new life in Atlanta isn’t perfect, but it’s beginning to feel a little less lonely.