And it’s been less than a week.
Which is ridiculous. And stupid. Because it’s the littlest things that make my heart ache the most. Like a silver Big Red gum wrapper. Or an old song on my playlist. Even driving makes me think of him. The roads running past SeaBird. The track where we raced. Everything reminds me of Theo. And nothing is putting a dent in my feelings for the guy.
What am I supposed to do when he leaves for real? Do we try the long-distance thing? Does he even want to try the long-distance thing? He didn’t tell me, so how the hell should I know?
I didn’t bother Googling the Rockies team. I didn’t need to. I know where they’re located. I know how busy their schedule is. I know how quickly Theo will be thrown into the deep end, and how little we’ll be able to talk when we’re thousands of miles apart once the season starts.
Don’t go, Theo.
The buzzer rings, signifying the end of the first period, and the team heads through the tunnel beneath the arena seats. Theo follows slowly behind Colt toward the locker room but stops and looks up, finding me in the sea of people without a blip of hesitation. My breath hitches as our gazes connect. He takes off his helmet and balances it on his hip, mouthing olive juice.
Then, he slips out of sight, leaving me even more raw and lonely than ever.
By the time the second period is over, the score is four to one for LAU. I don’t see a single goal, though. All I see are Theo’s lips mouthing olive juice, and I’m not sure how much longer I can sit here without losing my shit.
We’re in the middle of the third period, and my knee won’t stop bouncing as anxiety sweeps over me. I need to get down there now. I need to talk to him. To apologize for being so cold this week. To tell him I love him and need him and want him.
Man, I’m a mess.
A few minutes later, Mia and Ash stand up on the opposite side of the row, motioning for the kids to follow. My brows furrow as I watch them start to round up the kids.
“What’s going on?” I ask Kate.
“I think they’re going on a big bathroom break before the game ends.”
“Oh.” I start to stand up, but Kate stops me.
“Stay. We’ve got this covered.”
“I think I can help––”
“Seriously, Blake,” Mom interjects, grabbing my hand and keeping me in my seat. “They can take care of it.”
Kate smiles back at me, ushers the last of the kids from our row, and heads up the stairs.
The alarm buzzes with another goal scored by Colt, and the audience starts cheering. Another ten minutes go by, and I look over my shoulder toward the tunnel leading to the bathrooms and snacks. It’s empty.
Not a single kid has returned.
Patting my knee, Mom says, “They’re fine, Blake.”
“They’ve been gone forever. What if they––”
“The girls can handle it. Relax. Here.” She digs into her purse and pulls out a package of Big Red gum. “Take this.”
Confused, I stare at the package in her hand, pointing out, “You hate Big Red.”
Her smile tightens, making her look guilty as hell as she shoves it into my lap. “Oh, baloney. Take some. It’ll keep you distracted.”
Convinced she’s acting like a crazy person but too overwhelmed to call her out for it, I take the gum, open it up, toss a piece into my mouth, and chew furiously. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do shit to distract me from Theo and how good he looks in his jersey.
How can I be so mad and so in love with one person at the same time?
As the final seconds tick down on the clock, I pull out my phone to text Ash, but Mom grabs it from my hand and tucks it under her thigh. “No. No phones.”
“Mom, I gotta find out where they are. It’s been forever––”
“They’ll be fine. Promise.”
Unconvinced, I take in her not-so-well-hidden mischievous look and demand, “Okay, seriously. What’s going on, Mom?”
“Watch the game, honey.” She grabs my chin and pushes it back toward the rink.
I wiggle from her grasp and turn toward her again. “Mom––”
“Watch,” she orders, barely withholding her smile.
Yeah. Something is definitely up.
I study the players on the ice, but there isn’t anything out of the ordinary. It’s like every other game I’ve ever been to. Thirty seconds later, the buzzer sounds, signifying the end of the game, and the announcer’s voice rumbles throughout the arena.
“And the final score for today’s game is LAU five points and Minnesota University three points. However, for those who would like to stay, please remain seated. There’s a bonus piece of entertainment beginning any moment.”
Minnesota University disappears through their tunnel leading to the away team’s locker room while the LAU team skates back onto the ice. Most of them are holding hands with little kids in red LAU shirts.
Shut. The front. Door.
The players skate slowly as the mini-people shuffle into place, and my jaw drops as I recognize the children.
“Did you know about this?” I breathe out, unable to tear my attention from Ash, Mia, Kate, and the rest of the kids on the ice.
Mom squeezes my knee again. “Told you they were fine.”
“What is this?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“Did Colt––”
“Honey.” She chuckles softly. “I love your brother, but do you really think he’d plan this whole thing for you?”
My attention flicks to her for a split second. I stand up to get a better view of the ice. The kids are spread out, forming a small circle around the center of the rink. Each is holding a small basket of rose petals and scattering them along the ice. The contrast between the red from the petals and the white from the ice is staggering but absolutely beautiful, especially from this distance. It’s like I’m given a bird’s-eye view, and the sight makes my knees weak. She’s right. There’s no way Colt would do this. But Theo?
I fold my arms and dig my fingers into the soft cotton of my sleeves. My heart rate picks up its pace, pitter-pattering faster and faster as every second ticks by while I search the rink for Theo.
But he isn’t here.
Where is he?
Doing my best to hide the onslaught of anticipation thrumming through my veins, I remind myself, Don’t get your hopes up, Blake.
But I can’t help it.
I’ve never been able to help it when it comes to Theo.
It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve gotten my hopes up or how much it hurts, I keep coming back for another hit of Teddy Taylor. Why would today be any different?
The main lights switch off. Only a few spotlights illuminate the ice. My skin prickles with awareness as the majority of onlookers sit back in their seats, their curiosity getting the best of them.
A few seconds later, a man appears from the tunnel and heads onto the ice, his shaggy blonde hair on full display. It’s Theo. A very dapper Theo. He touches the buttons on his navy blue suit and runs his fingers through his dirty blonde hair while balancing a bouquet of red roses in one hand and a microphone with his other one. His signature hat is missing, but he still looks sexy as hell as he faces the crowd. He searches the stands, finding me transfixed beside my seat.