Page 31 of The Love Comeback (Glaciers Hockey #3)

“And everyone knows promise rings are bad omens,” Nate adds, biting into his apple again.

“Well, I love her,” I say as I stand there, surrounded by the family I thought would be excited for me.

“I know I’m going to be really busy playing college hockey at LSU, but I don’t want El to think I’ve forgotten about her.

I want her to know, whenever she sees it, that I wish we could be right there, together… ”

“Then you two should’ve gone to the same school,” Mom cuts in, her voice plain and sharp. “She could’ve gone to LSU with you, but she chose not to.”

“She has her own scholarship,” I reason, shaking my head. “It’s not that simple.”

“I understand.” Mom nods, her features softening.

“But that’s why you shouldn’t be making big promises at this age.

In fact, I’m starting to worry that a long-distance relationship will become a distraction for you.

You need to be focused on hockey. You’ve worked too hard for this.

And you have a real shot at going pro. I don’t want you to miss out on the opportunity to join the NHL. ”

“Your mom is right,” Dad chimes. “A long-distance relationship can detract from your ability to focus on the ice, and the last thing you need is to lose out on a spot on a professional team just because you’re too busy burning up the miles between you and Ella.

She’s got her own life to live. And you have a real chance to change the trajectory of yours. ”

“But she’s my person,” I argue.

“And if it’s meant to be, it’ll be, honey,” my mom gently reasons.

“If anything, you need to consider backing off and let nature run its course,” Dad adds.

I glance down at the ring in the box, my stomach churning. “I don’t want to give her up.”

“Bro, I get that you love her. But high school relationships rarely work out in the long run.” Nate tosses his apple core into the open trash bin of our small family kitchen.

“I mean, think about it. You’re about to live eight hours apart.

You’re gonna be practicing and playing hockey, and when you’re not, you’ll be doing schoolwork.

There’s no way you’re gonna have time for Ella.

It’s not like you two will be able to sit down and study together, or go grab a quick dinner. ”

“We can call each other,” I argue, dread settling into my chest. I glance down at my watch, seeing that it’s already time to meet up with her. She’s going to be waiting for me at our spot, and the last thing I want is to be late. She leaves tomorrow for school.

“Phone calls aren’t enough to maintain a solid relationship,” Dad cuts in, continuing to hound me.

“And honestly, throwing a ring on her finger as a promise when you’re not even going to be around seems like a way to control her.

She needs to be able to live her life without worrying about what you’re doing. ”

“But I’m not like that,” I grit out. “I don’t hold her back.”

“No, but you haven’t been long distance, either. That changes things,” Mom says, folding her arms across her chest. “You need to think about what’s best for Ella. Not just yourself.”

“And you need to think about your hockey career,” Dad calls to me as I spin on my heels and head for the door.

“Your mom and I have worked hard to ensure your future turns out better than ours. If you throw hockey away, it would all be for nothing. And then you’ll be stuck trying to provide for Ella on a grocery boy’s salary.

Don’t you think she deserves better than that?

” His words hit my heart as I step out the front door, fear shattering all the confidence I had only a half hour ago.

Maybe I do need to focus on hockey before I promise anything.

What if I can’t give her what she wants ?

What if I don’t make hockey a career? And I end up poor, like my parents?

The thoughts spin around in my head as I drive to our spot by the lake.

When I make it, Ella is already there, sitting on the bench. I hurry out of my car and rush toward her, sitting down beside her, our shoulders brushing. I wrap my arm around her as she peers up at me, tears in her eyes.

“I can’t believe I have to leave tomorrow,” she murmurs, her voice shaky. “I thought this summer would last so much longer.”

I nod, a lump growing in my throat as I think about our imminent goodbye. “It went by really fast…”

Ella furrows her brow, her golden eyes focused on me. “Are you okay?”

I can’t figure out how to tell her all the things I have on my mind—and it tumbles out in the worst way. “I think I need to focus on hockey.”

She jerks backward, confusion etched in her expression.

“Um … I don’t understand what you’re saying.

Of course you have to focus on hockey, but you also need to focus on school, too.

Are you trying to…” Her voice trails off, and she connects dots that I don’t even know I’m creating.

“Oh my gosh, you’re breaking up with me. You’re breaking up with me.”

“No… Well… I… You’re going to be a long way away, and I just don’t want to be a grocery boy—”

“What?” Ella cuts me off, standing to her feet in a hurry.

“A grocery boy? Are you serious? I knew something was off with you… You’ve been acting funny since yesterday, and I bet you were listening to your dad again, weren’t you?

I don’t know why you think if you don’t go pro, you’re going to end up stuck bagging groceries!

You’ll still have a college degree, you know!

” She throws her arms out in the most dramatic way possible, and I’m just as shocked as she is.

“I just want to be able to give you the world, and I don’t know… Maybe long distance isn’t going to be the way that works.” My words are tumbling out of my mouth, and I know I’m not making any sense. What am I doing? What am I even saying?

“Okay, I get it.” Ella blows out a sigh. “I knew there was a chance this would happen. I knew it. You’ve always loved hockey more than you ever loved me.”

“No…” My voice trails off. “But I have to put my everything into hockey. That’s the only way that I can be who I want to be for you.”

“This is so twisted.” Her face contorts with hurt. “You’re breaking up with me so you can be who you need to be for me?” She shakes her head, tears streaming down her face. “I can’t believe you, Kade. I really can’t believe you.”

Ella spins on her heels and storms away, leaving me there in a puddle of shock .

I can’t even find the words until her car is peeling out of the parking lot. With blurry vision, I gaze after her. I just broke up with the woman who, hours ago, I was going to promise to be with forever…

And now, I might have to live forever without her.