Page 53 of The Love Comeback
“They’re in the trainer’s room,” Kade explains, leading me down a short hallway, now completely out of sight of the rink. “The team keeps a supply for situations just like this.”
The trainer’s room is small and utilitarian—a padded table in the center, medical supplies organized neatly on shelves. Kade goes straight to a cabinet, retrieving a handful of ice packs.
“Here,” he says, handing them to me. “You’ll want to ice his eye twenty minutes on, twenty off, for the rest of the evening.”
I take the ice packs, suddenly overwhelmed by his competence, his calm in the face of my panic, his instinctive protection of Colton.
Sensing my emotion, Kade reaches for my hand again, giving it that familiar squeeze. “He’s okay,El. He’s a tough kid.”
I nod, gazing up at him, meeting those warm brown eyes. “I appreciate you jumping out there to go check on him… I never would’ve known what to do…” I swallow the lump in my throat at my admission. “I don’t know enough about sports to do this well.”
Kade’s expression softens. “Ella, you don’t have todoanything.” His body is suddenly closer, his cologne filling my lungs, wrapping me up in memories. “Just be there for him. He’s a good hockey player. He’s going to get hurt because he’s ambitious.”
“You’re right.” I offer a small nod, feeling the gaping pit of worry slowly close itself up. “I guess it’s just something I’ll have to get used to…”
“Yes, but you don’t have to do this alone. I’ll be here for him, too. And for you.”
I catch my breath at his last two words.
“Ella…” His voice trails off, the sultry tone rattling my insides and freezing me in place. The panic gives way to something else, something I can’t hide from. “I want to be here for you.” His words are deep and sincere, reaching into all the places I’ve locked away. “For the both of you.”
Kade’s gaze drifts to my lips, and I find myself parting them instinctively as he takes a step closer, sweeping his free hand across my cheek, a gesture so tender it makes my heart ache. Our eyes lock, and something electric passes between us—an acknowledgment of all the unspoken feelings that have beenbuilding since he came back into my life. In an impulsive surge of emotion, I close the distance between us.
At the first brush of his lips against mine, I’m struck by the familiarity in the movement—something that I thought would be foreign by now. But it’s not…
It’sKade.
And he’s kissing me.
His arms wrap around me, strong and sure, sending a jolt of electricity down my spine. I lean into him, the ice packs forgotten as they tumble to the floor.
As Kade deepens the kiss, I find myself melting into him, my mouth meshing perfectly with his. He lets out a light groan, just loud enough for me to hear, as his tongue traces the curve of my bottom lip with a tantalizing slowness. It’s something he always used to do, but now he’s doing it with intention and need.
I grab for those biceps, curling my fingers around them like an anchor as he comes for me, invading my mouth and sending a thrill of excitement through my body. Years of history and weeks of tension crystallize into this perfect moment.
I feel like I’m eighteen again, before life got complicated, before heartbreak and loss carved their permanent marks on my soul. For this suspended moment in time, there’s only Kade, me, and the rightness of us together.
His heart thunders against my palm, where it now rests on his chest, matching the rapid cadence of my own. The scent of him surrounds me—that cologne mixing with something uniquelyKade, a smell that I’ve never been able to forget no matter how many years passed.
We break apart for air, his forehead resting against mine, our breathing ragged. His amber eyes are dark with desire, and I know mine must mirror the same intensity.
“Ella,” he whispers, my name like a prayer on his lips.
Before he can say more, the crackle of the PA system breaks the spell. “Attention all players and parents,” the coach’s voice echoes through the building. “Please gather around for a special announcement.”
We step apart, breathless and disoriented by the sudden intrusion of reality.
“We should…” I gesture vaguely toward the door, my voice unsteady.
“Yeah,” Kade agrees, though the look in his eyes suggests he’d rather stay right here, in this room, reliving what just happened between us. “You go, I’ll be right behind you.” He bends down to retrieve the scattered ice packs.
I step into the hallway and hurry back out to the rink, leaving Kade behind as I try to compose myself. My lips tingle, my cheeks burn, and my mind spins with what I just did.
I spot Colton standing with the rest of the team, looking completely unbothered by the fact his eye is now sporting an impressive purple bruise. The director is standing in the center of the ice, wearing a Glaciers jersey.
“As you all know, we’ve been running this youth hockey team for over a decade.” The director pauses as the gathered people clap in support. I join in, but mostly in a robotic, unthinking motion, because I still can’t get over the way my lips are tingling. “This year,” he continues once the applause dies down, “is a little different. For the first time, we’re able to operate without any fees to the players. Even the equipment costs have been covered in full.”
Everyone around starts muttering, and I’m left in the same confusing state. Who in the world would pay for theentireteam’s fees?
