Page 41 of The Love Comeback
And here I was, thinking that I’d have to let him win.
His giggles erupt as he gains multiple car lengths on me, and I’m left groaning and gasping as I race to catch up to him. “I’m gonna beat you!”
“No kidding,” I mutter, my brows now furrowed in determination. “I had no idea what I was getting into, obviously.” I laugh as I ram into the sidewall, slowing my pace and dropping back a few places in the ranks.
Colton bursts into laughter, and I can’t help but join him. It doesn’t matter that I’m terrible at video games. It doesn’t matter that Aaron, Valerie, and now Ella are watching us as we race down the straightaway.
“Go, Colton!” Aaron exclaims, practically bouncing beside him. “It’s gonna be so cool to say you beat an NHL player!”
“Hey now,” I say playfully, shooting him a funny look.
Aaron bursts into a cackle. “You gotta quit smashing the gas. You’ll just keep running into things.”
“Yeah, I don’t think I’d choose to ride with you,” Valerie quips. “I think I’d rather ride with Colton.”
“Same,” Ella agrees, resting her hand on the back of my seat. There’s something about her being so close that causes my heart to jump in my chest. In fact, I become completely distracted once I catch a whiff of her perfume. It hits my nostrils in a way that takes me all the way back to the past—back to when she and I used to do everything together.
I need to tell her that it hasn’t changed for me.
The thought bothers me. It truly does. I don’t know if it would ruin everything that I have going with her and Colton now. I don’t want to lose my relationship with either of them. But…
But especially Colton.
I know he needs me. I know that I needed my dad more than ever when I was Colton’s age. That need only grows as a boy gets older. He doesn’t really have anyone to be there in his life like that—and maybe that’s me overstepping, but I can’t help it. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to be a dad.
“Go, go, go!” Ella’s voice erupts from behind me, and I glance over at Colton’s screen long enough to see him flying across the finish line and taking first place. I’m still five places back, and I forget about my own loss as pride swells in my chest for his win.
“Nice job!” I call out, letting my car wreck…
And burst into flames.
Colton’s eyes grow wide as he points to my screen. “Dude, you’rewrecked.”
I shrug. “I was never good at video games. Besides, I was totally going easy on you.” I say it in a teasing tone, and Colton’s face flickers with competitive determination.
“Then let’s go again!”
I shake my head as I slide out of the booth. “No, I think you should play Ella. She was always so good at video games. I bet she could beat you.”
Colton makes a funny face. “No way. She never even plays video games.”
“That’s because she’s busy being a parent and teacher now,” I say, noting the blush creeping across her cheeks. “You gotta play her. I bet she’ll win.”
“I will not,” Ella gasps, looking mortified as everyone stares at her in curiosity.
“Come on,” I urge, gently grabbing her shoulders and guiding her to the seat. “You gotta show Colton where he gets his skills from.”
“No,” she protests, leaning into my hands. I feel the warmth under her thin sweater, and my mouth grows dry at the simple touch. There’s something about it that makes me feel so many things.
I clear my throat. “Nope, you’re going to play.”
She lets out a cute little groan in frustration and then huffs as she plops down in the seat. She adjusts her seat before eyeing Colton.
“I’m not going easy on you,” she says, her voice gentle yet stern. “So, you can’t get upset when you lose.”
Colton grins. “Bring it on.”
She sighs, clicking through the menu with the same intention that Colton had before her. “Okay… Well, here we go…”
