Page 97 of Offside for Christmas
And he was probably in LA by now, starting his new life with a completely clean slate.
Her phone buzzed. A text from her mom:
Honey, are you okay? Really?
Ellie typed back:He's gone, Mom. I pushed him away and he left and now his whole career is back and he's going to be amazing and I'll just be... here.
Three dots appeared. Then:Do you love him?
The question was gentle, but it broke something in Ellie.
Ellie:Yes. God, yes. I love him so much it hurts.
Mom:Then why are you sitting in your apartment instead of going after him?
Ellie:Because I'm scared. Because what if I chase him and he doesn't want me anymore? What if I'm too late?
Mom:Sweetheart, you're already living with the worst case scenario. He's gone. You're miserable. How could it possibly get worse by trying?
Elliestared at the message through tears.
Ellie:What if you're wrong?
Mom:What if I'm right?
Before Ellie could respond, she heard it—the distinct rumble of a truck engine in the parking lot. Too familiar to be anyone else's.
Her heart stopped.
She moved to the window, and there it was—Cole's truck, pulling into a parking space.
"Oh my god," Ellie breathed. "He's here. Cole's here. He came back."
She didn't think. Didn't pause to change out of her pajamas or put on proper shoes. She just ran.
The cold air hit her like a slap. Ellie stood in the parking lot, wearing flannel pajamas with snowflakes on them and no coat, her breath misting in the frigid Christmas morning air.
Cole's truck door opened.
He climbed out slowly, like his entire body hurt. His clothes were wrinkled, his hair a disaster, dark circles under his eyes like bruises. He looked absolutely wrecked. He also looked like the answer to every prayer she'd been too afraid to say out loud.
They stood there in the parking lot, maybe twenty feet apart, neither moving.
"You came back," Ellie said, and her voice broke on the last word.
Cole's hands were shaking. She could see it from here. "I never should have left."
"I thought you were in LA. I thought I'd lost you."
"You didn't lose me. I lost myself." He took a step closer. "Ellie, I read Sarah's article. I know what you did. I know you helped her."
"I wanted you to have your career back. Your reputation. Everything you deserved."
"I don't want any of it." Another step. "I drove eight hours thinking about what to say. Practiced it a hundred different ways. But now that I'm here—" His voice cracked. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I left. I'm sorry I didn't fight harder."
Tears streamed down Ellie's face, freezing on her cheeks.
"I pushed you away. I was so afraid of losing you that I made it happen."
