Page 65 of The Love Comeback
I’m digging through my suitcase for a clean pair of sweats when my phone starts buzzing in my back pocket. Probably Cam asking if I want to grab food with the guys. My stomach growls, but exhaustion wins. I’ll just order room service and crash.
When I pull out my phone, Ella’s name and picture flashes across the screen, and my heart jumps in my chest at the sight. I stare at it for a moment, almost afraid to answer.
But I do before I can overthink it.
“Ella?”
“Kade.” There’s a pause, and I can envision her biting her lip the way she does when she’s nervous. “I’m sorry to call so late. You’re probably busy—”
“No, I’m not busy,” I cut in, maybe too quickly. I sit on the edge of the bed, suddenly less tired. “Just got to the hotel. What’s up?”
“I…” Her voice wavers slightly. “Something happened with Colton after the game, and I needed someone to talk to. Someone who would understand.”
“Is he okay?” Concern floods through me.
“He’s fine. Physically, at least.” She sighs.
I wait, giving her the space to continue at her own pace, as the silence stretches between us for a few seconds.
“Aaron let out that the other kids on the team think you’re Colton’s dad.” The words tumble out ina rush. “Apparently, after you came to his first game with the signs and everything, they just assumed, and Colton didn’t correct them.”
I grip the phone tighter, unsure how to respond. “Oh.”
“When I asked him about it, he broke down crying. He said—” Her voice catches, and I hear her gulp. “He said he just wants to have a dad, too.”
My chest tightens. “El, I’m so sorry.”
“No, don’t apologize. It’s not your fault.” She lets out a shaky breath. “It just … itbrokemy heart, you know? He doesn’t deserve this. And I really wish I could help, but I—I can’t bring Brett and Katie back. And I just feel soinadequateright now.”
“It doesn’t mean you’re not enough,” I say gently. “It’s natural for kids to want what other kids have.”
“I know. Logically, I know that.” There’s a rustling sound, like she’s running her hand through her hair or shifting positions. “But it hit me hard. And then I called my mom afterward, hoping to talk it through with her, but she’s having a bad day. She thought I was still in college.”
I close my eyes, hating that she has to deal with so much grief. “That’s rough. I’m really sorry.”
“Chandra was there—that’s her caregiver—but still. It was just one more thing, you know? I feel like I’m barely keeping my head above water most days between teaching, coaching robotics, hockey, my mom, trying to be both parents to Colton…” She lets out a shuddering breath. “I didn’t know who else to call.”
The confessiontugs at something deep inside me. Despite everything that’s happened between us, she still turned to me when she needed someone.
I clear my throat, trying to push past the emotion building there.
“I’m glad you called me.” I mean it more than she could possibly know.
“I don’t want to burden you with this,” she whispers. “I know you’ve got your own stuff going on, especially with the game tomorrow—”
“It’s not a burden. Not at all.”
“Colton really looks up to you, and I thought maybe you’d have some insight on how to handle this.”
“Well, I understand why Colton may have done it. Hockey is his new world, and he wants to fit in. Plus, it’s probably easier to go along with their assumption than try to explain the whole situation to kids he barely knows.”
“That’s what I thought as well,” she admits.
“What did you tell him when he said he wanted a dad?”
She’s quiet for a moment. “I told him that Brett would be proud of him. That both his parents would cheer for him louder than anyone else in the world if they were here.”
Something warm spreads through my chest at her words. Even in her emotional turmoil, she made sure to honor his parents’ memory.
