Page 47 of The Love Comeback
“You know, I met her son at the meet-and-greet after the Philly game.” Dylan nods. “Cute kid. Good manners.”
“He’s great,” I agree.
“So, what’s the problem? You like the woman, you like her kid. I mean, I get she’s your ex or whatever, but that was like ten years ago, right? It’s gotta be water under the bridge by now. And it seems like you’re spending a lot of time together lately. So why not make it official?”
“It’s not that simple.” I shake my head. “We’ve been spending time together because of Colton’s lessons. There’s definitely still something there between us—at least on my end. But she’s cautious. She went through a tough divorce a few years back. And she’s got Colton to think about.”
“Ahh. You’re in the friend zone.”
I cringe at the term. “I wouldn’t put it that way.”
“But am I wrong?” he challenges, eyebrow raised.
“I’m not trying to push things,” I explain, ignoring his question. “She’s got a lot on her plate. New city, new job, raising Colton on her own. The last thing she needs is me complicating things.”
“But you want more,” Dylan presses.
“I want to be there for both of them, however she’ll let me. If that means just being Colton’s skating coach and Ella’s friend, then so be it.”
“Wow,” Dylan says, leaning back in his seat. “You’ve got it bad.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” I mutter.
“So, how are the lessons going? Colton any good?”
The question brings an immediate smile to my face. “He’s incredible. Natural talent, great instincts. He picks things up so fast it’s almost scary. He’s trying out for the spring travel team.”
“No kidding? Those teams are competitive.”
“I know. But he’s got a real shot at making it,” I say, unable to keep the excitement from my voice. “We’ve been working on his edge control, his stops, his crossovers. He’s gonna nail the tryouts.”
Dylan studies me for a moment, a knowing look in his eyes. “You really care about him, don’t you?”
“I do,” I admit, my voice softening. “He’s had it rough, losing his parents so young. But he’s resilient, you know? And watching him on the ice…” I trail off, struggling to put it into words. “It’s like he comes alive out there. Like he’s found a piece of himself.”
“Sounds like someone else I know,” Dylan remarks with a smirk.
I chuckle. “Yeah, I guess so.”
We sit silently for a moment, the hum of the engines filling the space between us. When I speak again, my voice is quieter, more serious. “I’m worried about Ella, though. She’s working herself to the bone trying to afford all this.”
“Youth hockey isn’t cheap,” Dylan adds.
“It’s not. And she’s already stretched thin. She picked up coaching the school robotics team just to help pay for Colton’s hockey.”
“That’s dedication,” Dylan says, genuine respect in his voice.
“That’s Ella,” I reply simply. “She’d do anything for the people she loves. But she’s exhausted. I can see it every time I look at her. Dark circles under her eyes, always checking her phone to make sure she’s not late for something, constantly juggling schedules. And that’s before adding travel team commitments.”
“Can’t you help?” Dylan asks. “I mean, you’re not exactly hurting for cash.”
I rub my jaw, feeling the stubble rasp against my palm. “I’ve offered. She won’t take it. Says she’s not looking for charity.”
“It’s not charity if it’s coming from someone who cares about you,” Dylan argues.
“Try telling her that.” I sigh. “She’s fiercely independent. Always has been. It was one of the things I loved about her in high school, but now…”
“Now it’s frustrating as heck,” Dylan finishes for me.
