Page 96 of Uniquely in Love

“Ugh.” I groaned out loud. “Am I an idiot?” I flopped back onto the bed. Was I trying too hard to hold on to something that I should just let go? I only had eight months leftuntil graduation. That wasn’t very long, so why was Ipanicking? Why did my world suddenly feel so small?

I was supposed to come here for college. We were going to be together. But if he was this distracted just from our long-distance relationship, how bad would it be when we spent every day together? When every weekend was like this one? Or worse, if I was here—alone—and he didn’t have time for me because he was too busy with class and practice.

But I knew Owen would put me first. He always had. And that was the problem. He was too good to me. Too noble. He’d come running whenever I asked him to. If I asked him to jump, he would ask me how high. And I couldn’t keep doing that to him.

Pulling my knees to my chest, I buried my head in my lap and held myself tight in a ball. But I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. This was too much. Everything was too much.

But I couldn’t bear to be the one to ruin it. To drag him down. Because Iwasa distraction. I knew it, but I hadn’t wanted to acknowledge it. I was always going to be a distraction, and he needed to be at the top of his game if he was going to make the NHL his career. And I knew how much he wanted this. How badly he desired a career on skates, spending his time on the ice.

My eyes filled with tears. I couldn’t breathe. I just kept thinking about their words.

What is he doing with her?

Why date a high schooler?

He’s been distracted lately.

And I couldn’t. I just couldn’t.

THIRTY

Owen

THEN

Sophomore Year

My bed was empty. It was a sight I should have been used to. I’d never come back here to find a woman in my bed before. But today, waking up next to her, finding her snuggled beside me had been everything I’d ever wanted. I’d pressed a kiss to her head before dragging my body out of bed for morning skate. I hadn’t wanted to, but I’d done it.

The t-shirt she had been wearing was folded neatly in the middle of my bed, the sheets pulled back like no one had ever slept in it. And there was a note on top.

My heart sank. I could almost delude myself into thinking she was in the shower, but her stuff was gone, too. The bag of breakfast I’d gotten us sat on my desk, forgotten. I’d set it there the moment I came back to my room and finding it empty.

Ellie had left. What had I done? Had I hurt her? Last night had been something I’d waited for. I’d waited for her. And it had been special, because it was her. Us.

I’d never even looked at another girl. Didn’t even want to,because I had her. Because I knew that smiling, sunshine girl was waiting for me back home. The only one I’d ever wanted. I thought she’d felt the same way.

Hands trembling, I picked up the note on my bed.

Owen,

I can’t do this anymore. I’m sorry.

Ellie

What did she mean, she couldn’t do this anymore? Last night, we’d sharedeverything. And now she was just…gone?

I didn’t even bother putting shoes on, rushing out of my house to the spot where she’d parked her car. But it was gone. Ellie was… gone. It was like it had all been a dream. A dream I’d never wanted to wake up from.

“Are you okay, Harper?” One of my teammates asked me. I was only vaguely aware of it, still looking at the empty spot of pavement.

I turned to him, blinking. “I… Uh… Did you happen to see my girlfriend this morning?”

He frowned. “I think she was leaving as I came back from the rink.”

“Oh. Okay.” I ran a hand through my hair. “Thanks.”

Heading back to my room—at a normal pace this time—I grabbed my phone and sat down at the edge of the bed.

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