Page 12 of Through the Five-Hole
“Emma, I don’t know how to tell you this,” he murmured.
“Just say it, silly.”I smiled, placing my hand on his chest.
He looked at me, a serious look in his eyes.“I’m going out of town.”
I looked over his shoulder, a smirk coming to my face when I saw his bicycle lying on the front lawn.“Where are you planning to go on your bike?”
He smiled down at me, not with the same smile he normally had when he looked at me.“No, not on my bike.My parents dropped a bomb on me tonight when I came home from practice.They have decided they are going their separate ways.”
“What?Colton, I’m so sorry.”I sniffed.
I knew all too well how this felt.Dad had left us when I was seven, and even though I understood little of it then, I understood it all too well now.
“Yeah, so I’m going away for a while.”
“Why?”
“My mom will have to leave the house and move into a small apartment, and on her salary, those expenses will be enough.She won’t be able to afford to put me through hockey, and you know I have my heart set on trying out for a professional team.”
“I know, but surely you could get a job to help with things,” I suggested.
“I could, but there’d still be no more hockey.There is no way a part-time job at minimum wage would pay for that.”
“So, what are you saying?”
“My dad has announced he is moving to Boston.They have a Junior A team there, and he promised me that he’d make things work.”
“I don’t understand why he can’t make things work here.”I sniffled.
“Baby girl, we don’t have a Junior A team here.So, I’d be moving eventually, probably within the next year or two.”
Tears sprang to my eyes and panic set in at the thought of Colton leaving, but I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.My throat was so tight it hurt to swallow, and the tightness I felt in my chest at the thought of not seeing him every day was almost enough to kill me.
He pulled me into him, wrapping his arms around me.I wrapped my arms around him, wishing I never had to let go, because I knew that letting go meant I’d never see him again.
“When will you be leaving?”I questioned, sniffling.
“Tomorrow.”
Alarm filled me.“Tomorrow?Before the Spring Prom?”
“I’m afraid so.What am I going to do without you?”
It was then I felt him pull away, place his finger under my chin, and lift my head.He bent down, bringing his lips to mine.
“What do you mean, without me?I’m not breaking up with you.”
“It sure feels that way.”I sniffed, stepping into him and placing my head on his chest.
“Well, I’m not.We aren’t breaking up.We are just going to do the long-distance thing for a bit.”
“When will I see you again?”
He placed his hands on my cheeks and looked deep into my eyes.“I’ll be back to visit my mom after we get settled.We will make it through this, I promise.”He brought his lips to mine again, kissing me hard.“I love you.”
“I love you too.”I sniffled.
“I have to go,” he whispered.