Game Changer by Kelly Jamieson Page 0,73

plans for the coming season.

After dinner, I wander down to the dock on my own. I sit and dip my feet into the water. My chest feels hollow and my body weary.

I can’t believe how bummed I am that Molly’s gone. It’s ridiculous. We agreed that this was going to end. We both know why. I don’t even believe in love. So I don’t get why I feel like my right arm has been hacked off?

I close my eyes. Whatever these feelings are, this is all for the best. Even if it is love, I know it’s only temporary. Marriage is for suckers. Long-term relationships don’t really exist.

I’ve seen it with my own parents, not to mention friends and teammates. Relationships are hard enough, never mind in the hockey world where you’re on the road half the season and women are always hanging around and your career has to come first.

With Molly, I kept having weird visions, though. Glimpses of being with her in the future, years down the road, being faithful to her and worshiping her and cherishing her like she deserves. Her trusting me. I can’t believe how much those images made me want that…with a deep, almost painful hunger.

Except I don’t believe I’m capable of those things.

Molly

I held it together during the drive from the lake to Winnipeg. I kept the smile in place as I hugged Mr. and Mrs. Thompson and Tori goodbye and thanked them for letting me stay at the cottage and waved to them as they pulled away from the hotel. I booked a room here because it’s close to the airport and they have a shuttle that will take me there for my flight in the morning.

I trudge through the lobby, my smile gone, my energy dissipated. Wow, that was exhausting. I just want to check in and hole up in my room alone.

Soon I am doing just that. I change into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. I lie back on the bed with the room service menu to peruse options. Not that I’m hungry.

I end up ordering a sandwich. While I wait, I turn on the TV and flick through various channels. Nothing catches my interest. I end up leaving it on a food channel and let myself slide into a crater of depression.

I already miss Jax.

My heart aches, the throb echoing in my head.

I can’t be like this. It’ll be fine. After being with him basically twenty-four seven for the past six weeks, of course I miss him. But when I get back to Chicago and back to my normal life, I’ll forget him.

Whatever my normal life is now. I still have things to do. I have to get the rest of my belongings from Steve’s condo and move them back to my apartment. Soon it will be time to get back into the classroom and prepare for the new school year. I always look forward to that, especially going shopping for supplies and cute things to decorate the classroom with.

I’ll be fine once I’m home.

21

Molly

I’ve moved back into my apartment. My parents helped out with the move and also bought me a new couch because my old one was atrocious and I trashed it when I moved in with Steve. I’ve picked up more stuff from Steve’s place and made a few trips to IKEA for things, and I’m happy with how it all looks.

I messaged Steve and told him we can talk when he gets back to town. I haven’t heard from him since the trip to Europe, so I guess he’s accepted that we’re done, after the flurry of frantic and pissed-off messages and voice mails. I’ve come across a few Instagram posts from his trip home, but he’s not on social media much.

Now he’s back and we’re going to meet for lunch.

I was so angry at him when I found out he was cheating. I was heartbroken. I was also dreading talking to him because I knew it was going to hurt. Now…eh. We have to do it, but I’m so far past it at this point, I barely care.

I do question how much I really loved him, if I got over him that quickly. Maybe it was for the best that I found out he was cheating. Especially that I found out before the wedding. I found a meme on Instagram that says not all storms come to disrupt your life; some come to clear your path. So I’m staying positive and considering