Page 52 of The Love Comeback
“His first practice.” Kade beams as he holds up his phone and takes a video beside me. “I can’t believe it happened so fast.”
I look up and cock a brow at him, feeling tiny beside his big frame. “You sound like one of those dads behind every home video.” I make the joke light, shaking my head as I catch sight of Colton playing a mock scrimmage.
“He’s doing so well,” Kade continues as he films the entire thing—which as funny as I think it is, it’s also incredibly endearing.
But I try not to focus on that.
“So where’s Valerie tonight?” Kade asks.
“Oh, she got caught up at a parent-teacher conference. Aaron’s dad brought him to practice tonight.” I glance over toValerie’s ex-husband who’s sitting a few rows away. I haven’t formally met him yet, but I saw him walk in with Aaron. And right now, he looks about as enthusiastic as a man attending jury duty.
Kade nods before becoming engrossed in filming the hockey scrimmage once more. Colton blends in effortlessly with his new teammates—as if he’s been playing hockey for much longer than two months.
“So, what should we do about skating lessons?” I ask, folding my arms across my chest. My thin sweater is no match for the air conditioner blasting in the rink, and I’m suddenly wishing I would’ve brought a parka. “Now that he’ll have practice two times a week, I don’t want him to get too overloaded.”
“Well, I was thinking I could probably make most of his practices. I mean, they do fall on skate lesson days, so there’s no reason why I can’t still be here.”
“I see…” I purse my lips together, realizing that he misinterpreted my question. He thinks I was asking when we’d see him rather than when Colton would have his skate lessons. I take it that means that Colton doesn’tneedto take any more lessons, but I don’t ask the question. I let Kade think that it was just about Colton seeing him.
After all, itisa relationship that I want to continue to foster. Colton could really use a positive male influence in his life…
However, all my thoughts come to a sudden, startling halt at the sound of a collision between two players. My eyes widen as Iwatch Colton tumble violently onto the ice. His stick launches out of his hand, flying in the opposite direction, and the crash leaves him lying there, motionless. Panic seizes me as the coach blows his whistle and shouts at the kids to back up, clearing the scene around him.
“Colton!” I call out his name in horror, but Kade is much faster to jump into action than I am. My hands shoot up to cover my mouth as the NHL player is already leaping over the railing and racing across the rink.
My heart constricts as Kade drops to the ground beside Colton, helping him remove his helmet. I gasp when I see the beginnings of a black eye forming, the bluish hue creeping across his skin. My mouth grows dry with worry, and I feel helpless as my pulse echoes in my ears.
Kade helps him up, looking him over with cautious determination alongside the coach, who pulls out an instant ice pack from the first aid kit and hands it to him. Colton squints in my direction as Kade directs him toward me, both of them slowly making their way to the edge of the rink.
“Are you okay?” I ask, the words spilling out in a rush as soon as they’re close. “Do we need to take him to the doctor? Maybe this whole hockey thing was a bad idea. I know that—”
“Easy, Ella,” Kade gently interrupts, his voice low and soft. His steady calm cuts through the worry raging inside of me. “It’s just the beginning of a black eye. Otherwise, he’s fine. It’s justpart of hockey.” He reaches out and squeezes my hand, instantly leaving my skin tingling with warmth. “It’s okay.”
I blink back tears as I look at Colton’s face. “That’s going to be so gnarly…” I lean over to get a better look, my hand still in Kade’s. “But it will heal.” I say the words more for myself than anyone else. Colton and Kade don’t look all that concerned about it.
“Yeah, and it doesn’t hurt that bad,” Colton reassures me, and I breathe a sigh of relief. If he can handle the injury with such nonchalance, then I can deal with being a hockey mom.
“You took the hit like a champ,” Kade declares, his voice full of pride as he pats his shoulder. “Now you can really say that you’re a hockey player. If you haven’t had a black eye, then you can’t be a part of the club.”
“What club?” Colton looks confused.
“Therealhockey player club.” Kade winks at him before hopping over the railing. His hand drops from mine, and I suddenly feel the absence more than ever. Or maybe it’s the protective way that he ran out to Colton, never thinking once about anything other than his safety, that has me feeling … different.
Ten minutes later, Colton’s feeling ready to get back on the ice. “Go get ’em, kid.” Kade pats him on the back.
“Got it.” Colton gives Kade a wicked grin and then nods to me. “I’ll be okay, Mom. I’m arealhockey player now.”
I blow out a sigh. “Good to know…”
I watch Colton skate back out to play, joining the kids who are now laughing and shouting on the ice. I can hardly believe that he bounced back so quickly from the injury.
Kade hops up from his seat beside me.
“Where are you going?” I ask, my heart hitting my ribcage with an uneven beat.
“Practice is almost over.” Kade looks back at me. “I’m gonna grab a couple instant ice packs from the locker room so Colton can ice his eye on the ride home.”
“Oh…” I stand up and follow along mindlessly, still reeling from the adrenaline. I follow Kade through the double doors leading to the locker room area. The rink is quiet back here, the sounds of skates and whistles muffled behind us.
