Page 9 of The Love Comeback
By the time the next bell rings, I feel so much lighter.
My new life in Atlanta isn’t perfect, but it’s beginning to feel a little less lonely.
Chapter Four
Kade
“You’re glued to your phone today,” a voice says from behind me. “Are you reading all the hate comments after your embarrassing loss last night?”
I roll my eyes, shifting in the booth at Hidalgo’s to see my not-so-identical twin brother Nate as his palm connects with my shoulder. “You’re late.”
“Yeah, well, Mallory was practically having a breakdown over what to wear to that luncheon with the investor.” Nate slides in across from me and grabs a tortilla chip, popping it into his mouth. “She’s super stressed out over this new job.”
I pick up my water and take a sip. “It’s a pretty big deal to be working for the biggest real estate investment company inthe city. I’ll give her that. I’d probably be worried about what to wear to a luncheon, too.”
“You’re way too empathetic,” Nate snorts. “If you had to sit and listen to her debate between navy blue and black, you’d probably be feeling the same way I do.”
“Maybe, but at least you have someone,” I say, my voice coming out more bitter than I expected. I’mnotbitter about being single, but the more time I spend with Colton and Ella, the more I start to feel like I’m missing out. I’m twenty-seven years old now, and I’m ready to settle down—and have a few kids, too.
“Dude, you’re a professional hockey player. Just pick out some random chick in the crowd and go for it. You have way too many options.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want just anyone,” I mutter, shaking my head. “Besides, I’m not some sleaze trying to pick women out of the crowd. When I’m on the ice, I’m there to focus…”
“You don’t have to tell me that,” Nate grumbles, grabbing another chip. “I know what it’s like to play hockey.”
“Sorry.” I wince, reminding myself that while Nate is always supportive, he doesn’t appreciate hockey being shoved in his face—even if he runs the biggest sporting store in the area. “I’m just saying, I’m not going that route.”
“That’s probably for the best.” Nate chuckles, his smile returning. “If you were to choose someone from the crowd atrandom, you might end up getting hurt—or robbed. Probably better to get set up by someone you know.”
I lean back against the booth as the waiter approaches the table. We both order the California burrito with extra guac on the side. As soon as he leaves, I let out a sigh. “Ella just moved here.”
Nate nearly spits out his water. “Wait,EllaElla?”
I nod, shrugging and trying to play it off, but I’m sure my brother can read the look on my face. “She moved here a few weeks ago, and I’ve been giving Colton skating lessons.”
Nate’s brows furrow as he sets his glass down on the table. “Who’s Colton?”
“Katie’s son, but Ella has full custody of him.” I explain what happened to Colton’s parents, unsurprised at the sadness that clouds my brother’s expression. It’s one of the most somber looks I’ve seen on him in a long time.
“Man, she’s really been through the wringer,” Nate finally says once I’m finished explaining. “I can’t imagine getting custody of a five-year-old when you’re only twenty-two. That just sounds brutal. I wonder if that played into the reason she got divorced.”
The mention of her having been married to someone else makes my stomach sick, but I shrug it off. “I don’t know. She didn’t talk to me about any of that.”
Nate narrows his gaze. “Hmm. I wonder why.”
“Probably because we have history.”
He snorts. “You had history a decade ago.”
“She was my high school sweetheart.”
“Key words beinghigh school.” He shakes his head. “Dude, high school relationships are so small in comparison to the real thing when you get out into the world. You remember Sarah? Yeah, I don’t have any feelings for her, and while we havehistory,I don’t think I’d ever say it meant much.”
“You and Sarah dated off and on for six months your freshman year,” I counter, folding my arms across my chest. The material of my Henley scratches my arms, but I ignore it. “I was with Ella for nearly all of high school, right up until college, and we were muchdifferentthan you and Sarah.”
“Right, I get it,” he breathes out with some annoyance. “But if you’re thinking about going there with Ella again, I’d highly recommend against it. Like, do you really wanna be with someone that has a kid?”
“Okay, well—” I feel myself growing defensive as I mull it over. I really like Colton. And I’ve always wanted to be a dad…
