Page 61 of Uniquely in Love

“You have to wear a suit, right?” Her eyes brightened.

“Yes,” I laughed. “Just like I have to for every home game.”

Humming, she took a sip of her coffee, walking back towards her room. “Say bye before you go.”

“You just want to see me in my suit, don’t you?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Maybe.” Ellie smirked, walking backwards. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that ass in tweed. Who knows, it might look completely different now?”

“Ellie,” I warned, my voice low.What were we doing right now?“Careful, or I’ll think you’re flirting with me.”

“And if I am?” She winked. “See ya later, Hockey Boy.” Ellie blew me a kiss. “You’re gonna kill it in Toronto, I just know it.” I liked her faith in the team. In me.

Chuckling, I headed back to my room, hopping in the shower and getting ready for the day. My overnight bag was already packed—though I didn’t need much, since it was a quick trip.

When I came out, Ellie was dressed in a pair of slacks, a brightly colored cardigan, and a white blouse. She had pulled her hair back into a low bun, and was humming to herself as she rummaged through the cabinets while eating a cup of blueberry yogurt. I knew it was her favorite, so I’d stocked up when I ordered groceries earlier this week.

I ran my hands through my hair as I watched her dance around the kitchen, clearly unaware I was watching her. She had a pair of earphones in, and was quietly singing along to her music as she packed a lunch.

This was why I didn’t want her to move out. In these moments, it felt like I could see the rest of our lives. The life we would have had together if she hadn’t walked out on us five years ago. If we hadn’t broken up then, would we have made it? Would our lives be completely different now? Sure, we were still so young, but I’d known back then that I wanted to marry her one day.

She was my friend again—though she’d always been that. My best friend, my first girlfriend, the only woman I’d ever loved. But she was also my roommate. My ex-girlfriend. The woman who’d broken my heart.

It had taken a long time for me to put the pieces back together. And considering how hard it had been to move on, how it had taken promises of one last night together for me to realize I needed to get over her, I’d never be able to repair my heart if it got broken again.

So, as much as I could see our life together, a part of me knew it wasn’t meant to be.

Not anymore.

Not if there was a chance she’d leave again.

Not when she could shatter my heart in a million pieces and leave me all over again.

TWENTY-ONE

Ellie

NOW

So, how’s it been?” My teacher friend, Maggie, asked me. She was sitting on the edge of my desk during our lunch period, munching on an apple as I picked at my lunch.

“How’swhatbeen?”

“You know. Living with your super hot, childhood ex-boyfriend turned NHL hockey superstar.”

I grimaced. “Oh, that.” I’d confessed to her about my living situation earlier in the week, something I was trying not to regret now. “It’s…” Living with Owen was a lot of things. Confusing, mostly.

Because some nights, like when he tenderly picked me up and carried me into bed, it was so easy to pretend that nothing had changed. And this morning, flirting in the kitchen over coffee felt so…normaland domestic that it made my heart ache.

Because I wanted that. And even though there were a few moments where it felt like Owen wanted that too, I knew the truth. He’d moved on. We were just friends.

Reasons I should try to find a new place and planning tomove out. But how could I, when he’d begged me to stay with those big, brown puppy dog eyes of his? He’d always known exactly what to say to get me to cave. It was how he’d dragged me on so many hikes when we were younger.

I sighed. “It’s great. I don’t know.” I traced circles on my desk, not making eye contact with her. “It’s his first away game of the season tonight.” My first night alone in his apartment.

“And how are you feeling about that?”

Biting my lip, I tried to assess my feelings. “Fine.” I think. “It’s not like I’m so used to his presence after barely a week that I can’t function alone anymore. Besides, after I work on lesson plans and class stuff each night, it’s all I can do to crawl into bed and pass out.” Tomorrow was Friday, so I still had one more day of school before the weekend.

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