Page 10 of The Love Comeback
“Exes are exes for a reason,” Nate continues when I don’t complete my thought. “That’s the thing. You can easily run back to the person because the old spark is there, but guess what? So are the same old problems.”
“People change,” I say carefully, mostly thinking about myself.
“Yeah, okay.” Nate huffs as our food is set before us. “I just think it’s a bad idea. Nothing against Ella. I honestly liked youtwo together, but dude, you broke up with her because ofcollege. So, clearly your feelings weren’t as strong as you’re thinking they were…”
I was an idiot.
I shrug it off as Nate digs out his phone from his blazer pocket and starts to text someone back. I take the moment to eat my lunch, my mind running back to the past. I did break up with Ella for a stupid reason, but everyone was putting so much pressure on me…
‘You won’t be able to focus on college hockey if you’re worried about your long-distance girlfriend. Don’t you want to go pro?’I frown as my parents’ words swirl around my head.‘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?’
I know I shouldn’t have caved to the pressure, but I was just a kid—and I was pretty lost about it all. I broke things off with Ella the day before she left for college. I thought I was doing what was best for both of us.
It was a huge mistake.
Which didn’t take long to realize. In fact, I tried to make up with her a few weeks later. But it was too late. She wouldn’t answer my calls.
Then she found someone new … and married him.
“You’ll find someone.” Nate’s voice breaks my thoughts, and I look up mid-bite, my brother giving me one of his famous ‘I’m a little worried about you’faces. “You’ve just got to put yourself out there more.”
“Yeah, I know,” I grumble, adjusting my focus back on my burrito. I mean, I’ve dated since Ella, but the relationships with those girls never lasted. “Ella just sparked something in me, I guess.” She reminds me of everything I’ve ever wanted wrapped up in one person.
“That’s the thing with exes—they can get under our skin faster than anyone because they’ve already been there.”
“You just said that Sarah wouldn’t get to you.” I tear into the burrito filled with chicken, rice, beans, and spices.
“Just becauseSarahdoesn’t get under my skin doesn’t mean that I don’t have an ex that would. Do you remember that girl I met when I was in London a few years ago?” He looks up at me, a frown pulling at his lips.
“Yeah, what’s her name? Erin? Something like that?”
He nods and sets his fork down. “I only knew her for a month, while I was there on business, but she left the kind of impression that I’ll never forget. I thought I’d never feel something like that again—until I met Mallory.”
“So, you wouldn’t pick her over Mallory?”
“Oh, heck no,” Nate immediately says. “Mallory is by far the best thing to ever happen to me, and not to mention, she outdoes any woman in the room every time. Not that I’ve looked,” he adds. “She’s just the kind of woman that is high caliber and challenges me. You need to find your Mallory.”
“Hmm.” I drum my fingers on the table, my eyes drifting around the restaurant. I understand, I do. However, no one I’ve ever been with has come close to the way Ella made me feel. She’s the best I’ve ever had.
“I know you think Ella is it,” Nate says, basically reading my mind. “But it’s only because she’s fresh in your mind right now. You’re giving Colton skating lessons, so you’re seeing her all the time. That’s all this is. She’s stuck in your head.”
“And she’s amazing as ever.”
“You mean she’s hot, right?”
“No,” I scoff, shaking my head. “I mean, sheis. But it’s so much more than looks. You can throw a rock into a crowd and hit a pretty woman anywhere, but that doesn’t make them right for me.”
“Okay, well, no one should be throwing rocks into crowds.”
“You know what I mean,” I shoot back at my grinning brother.
He ignores me and digs into his lunch. His phone vibrates on the table. I focus on finishing my meal, giving up on the conversation. It’s not like I’ll sway Nate’s opinion about me pursuing Ella. Besides, she’s not even interested in me anymore. That’s been very clear, given that she does the same thing every time I give Colton a skating lesson:
Avoid me.
Well, maybe she doesn’tcompletelyavoid me—she’s cordial, but that’s it. Even at pizza. Ellalovespizza, which is why I offeredto take her and Colton to The Wedge. And yet, she still barely told me a thing about what’s going on in her life. She just let Colton talk away—and I’m good with that…
But I want to hear from her, too.
