Page 105 of Banter & Blushes

I shrug. “I don’t know. Maybe?” I’m practically whining at this point.

“It would be different if you two had been together for a while already, but it’s still so new. What if you did move to be close to Ethan, and then you discover you’re all wrong for each other?”

“Yeah, that’s a possibility, but Soph, I really think Ethan’s my person. It’s like he knows what I’m thinking before I even realize what’s in my head.” I laugh.

A wistful expression coats her face as she stares out the window. “I wonder what that feels like.”

I squeeze her hand. “You know, if I move, and you came to visit, you’d have a whole new pool of men to date.”

Her eyes dart to me. “True, but I’d miss you like crazy the rest of the time.”

“I know.” I stare into my empty coffee cup. “But what if he’s the one?”

She gives me a reassuring smile. “Then you follow your heart. Maybe try a long-distance relationship for a while and see if you two have a connection worth fighting for.”

“We actually discussed that idea.”

“That’s great, Mia.” She acts as if she wants to say something but stops herself.

“What? Just say it.”

She pulls her shoulders up as she tilts her head. “What is he willing to sacrifice for you?”

I blink, my mind shuffling through all our talks at lightning speed, yet finding nothing that broached that direction. “Hockey players don’t exactly have full control over where they play.”

“True, but you can’t be the only one sacrificing for this relationship, Mia.”

I fiddle with the remains of my chocolate croissant. “I know.”

Sophie rests her hand on my forearm. “I’m not saying he should stop playing hockey for you. Just like he can’t ask you to give up your dream, you can’t ask him to relinquish his. But has he really thought through the ramifications for you?”

Again, I remain silent because I can’t answer that. I’ve been so caught up in Ethan and the newness of our relationship—not to mention the kisses that muddle my brain to mush—that I hadn’t fully considered how complicated our situation is.

I groan, staring out the window once more. “Why does this have to be so hard?”

Mr. Brady’s sitting on a bench, chatting with random people who stop to admire Penny’s decorative attire and adorable upturned nose. She eats up every pat, but that little fur ball only has eyes for her owner.

Kind of like me for Ethan. I finally find a guy worth my time, and now I may not get to keep him.

Fickle Fate strikes again.

CHAPTER 17

ETHAN

It’s our last official day of practice for the season. The guys have been on edge all week, waiting to find out if we’re really moving to another state. Elias tried to ask Jack for an update yesterday, but he shut him down, reiterating that it’s still a secret. If he thinks Elias wouldn’t tell the rest of us, the guy’s a bigger idiot than I suspected.

But I need answers, and I’m tired of the suspense. I stop at Coach’s office before heading to my locker to change, rapping on the door frame.

Coach Markelson looks up from his desk and waves me in.

I close the door behind me. “Any updates about whether the team’s moving or not?”

He roughs a hand over his mouth, making a scratching sound. “Just hang tight. I think we’ll have an answer soon.”

“Any chance ‘soon’ means today?” I flop into the chair in front of his desk.

“Why? Got a better offer?” He eyes me, caution covering his face.

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