“Oh, well, thank you.You guys in town for a game?”I questioned.
“Yeah, tomorrow is the last one, then we head back to Vancouver the next morning,” Dylan answered.
“Well, hopefully the last game goes well.”
The two of them grew quiet as they looked at me.
“How are you doing?”Aurora questioned.
I shrugged.“Been better,” I answered, trying to put a genuine smile on my face.
“If it makes you feel any better, the big guy hasn’t exactly been himself either since you left,” Dylan said.
I watched as Aurora glanced over at him and shook her head before turning her attention back to me.
“I’m sorry to hear that.I’m sure he’s not too happy with me.”
Neither of them said anything, which solidified exactly what I thought.
“Why don’t you come to the game tomorrow night?”Aurora questioned.“We can sit together.Lorelai is here as well.I know she misses you.”
“Thank you, but I have plans tomorrow night,” I lied.
“Well, in case you change your mind…” she said, slipping a ticket into my hand.“Just ask for one of us when you get to the arena.They will recognize the ticket.”
“Thank you.If plans change, I’ll come.”I smiled.
Dylan stepped in and gave me a hug, and then as he stepped back, Aurora wrapped her arms around me.
“Don’t give up on him.He was so much happier when you were there,” she whispered.
I could feel the tears burning in my eyes as she continued to hug me.I didn’t want to give up on him, but I also knew he’d never forgive me for that mistake.
I carrieda cup of tea upstairs with me and crawled into my king-sized bed, pulling the covers over my legs.I went to reach for my mug and stopped, picking up the ticket to the game that lay on my night table.
I’d stared at this ticket more in the last twelve hours than I’d done anything else, and here I was again.I should have gotten dressed and gone to watch the game, but instead I decided to stay home.I had to put him out of my life if I were to get over him.Going to see them play, to watch him as he skated around the ice, would only open up the same wound I’d worked so hard to try to close in the last three weeks.
I placed the ticket back on the night table and picked up my mug.I leaned back, took a sip, and closed my eyes, trying to calm my mind.Knowing he was in this city, only a twenty-minute drive from my place, was killing me.
“Fuck it,” I said.
I went over to my closet, grabbed a pair of jeans and a sweater, and quickly changed, then I ran down the stairs to the front door.Slipping my feet into my boots, I grabbed my jacket and purse and took off out the front door.I climbed into my car and started the engine.
As I pulled into the arena, I parked around back, just like I would have had I been here with them.I pulled my car into the first empty spot I came to and then made my way inside.When I got to the door, I noticed an ambulance sitting there, lights flashing.They hadn’t been there when I’d pulled in.
Frowning, I made my way to the door and pressed the buzzer.A guard opened the door and looked me over.
“Can I help you?”he questioned.
“Yes, I’m a guest of Dylan and Aurora’s,” I said, reaching into my purse, searching for the ticket.
“Do you have a ticket?”he questioned.
“I do.It’s somewhere in here,” I muttered, still digging.
As I felt around, I realized I’d left the ticket on the nightstand beside my bed.
“Oh gosh, you’re not going to believe this.I seem to have left the ticket they gave me at home.If you could kindly message Aurora, I’d really appreciate it.”
