"I've been fine," she said, her standard response to that question from anyone but those closest to her. "How about you? I hear you've been living in New York."
"Yeah, I've been there ever since college. I have an apartment in Manhattan."
Amelia wondered what his life was like there. It was no doubt very different from life in small-town Serenity Point.
When they’d been dating, they’d talked about the future and where they’d thought they’d end up. Back then, Ben hadn’t expressed any interest in leaving the area permanently. He’dfigured he’d need to leave to go to college, but his plan had always been to return.
But then she’d pushed him away, and that had clearly changed his plans.
"So, you're working at the church now?" Ben asked as he removed the last of the drinks from the cooler.
"Yes. I've been here about a year and a half.” She sorted the snacks by type, trying to keep her eyes on the task at hand rather than on Ben’s face. Her heart fluttered in an annoying way each time she looked at him.
"It's not what I expected to do when I… retired from skating," she added, arranging the snack packs in a neat row. "But it works for me. Miss Marian and I split the hours, which works well for both of us."
"You know, I never expected to end up in New York permanently either," Ben said, leaning against the table. "But somehow life takes these unexpected turns."
Amelia nodded, not quite trusting herself to speak. She had never considered that she would ever have a life that wouldn’t involve skating. The weight of all those lost dreams pressed against her chest, making it hard to breathe.
The sound of a whistle pierced the air, followed by the sound of Cole's voice calling out to the teens. "Alright, everyone, take a ten-minute break! Drinks and snacks are out in the hallway!"
The teens began streaming out of the gym, their faces flushed with exertion. Amelia took a step back from the table, giving them space to grab refreshments. Several called out thanks as they took drinks and snack packs.
Jessi, the teen who had arrived late, was among the last to approach the table. She picked up a bottle of water, then carefully looked over the snack packs before choosing one.
Amelia watched her walk back to the gym, reminded of the challenge of being a teen who didn’t quite fit in with her peers. She had been fortunate to have Layla, and then Ben, to help her feel like she belonged.
Ben stayed at the table with her, and for a moment, it felt like they were in the past when they’d volunteered for things at the church.
"How are your parents doing?" Ben asked, keeping his voice low as the teens filtered back to the gym.
The question caught Amelia off guard. She hadn't expected Ben to care much about her family after all this time. "They're good. Dad's still working at the garage, and Mom started teaching here when the school opened.”
"That's nice. I always liked your parents."
And surprisingly, her parents had liked him too. Amelia hadn’t been sure her dad would like anyone she dated because he’d given Layla grief over the boys she’d gone out with.
Of course, her older sister had seemed to be attracted to the edgy guys. The ones who liked getting into a little bit of trouble.
Thankfully, the man Layla had ended up with had gotten their mom and dad’s approval. All they’d ever wanted was for their girls to marry Christian men who treated them well.
Unsure of what else to say, Amelia focused on straightening up the few remaining drinks on the table. The easy flow of conversation they'd once had was absent. Too many years had passed. Too many things had changed between them.
"So, how long are you in town for?" she asked, needing to break the silence that grew heavier by the second.
"Probably most of the summer," Ben replied. "I'm helping Cole with all the clinics, and I'm also spending time with my dad. He's had some health issues."
"I heard about that," Amelia admitted. "I'm sorry. Your dad was always very kind to me. Your mom, too."
Ben nodded, his expression softening. "He's doing better now. But it was a few rough weeks after the heart attack. Mom insisted that he needed to retire, and after some intense discussions, he agreed. That’s when they decided to return to the estate permanently.”
She’d never spent a lot of time at the estate. When they’d first started dating, she hadn’t realizedwhoBen really was or just how wealthy his family was. She’d never gone to the estate, but it hadn’t really been a big deal since she was training intensely and didn’t have a lot of free time to spend hanging out anywhere but at the rink or school.
"Are you skating much these days?" Ben asked, his tone casual.
The question hit Amelia like a physical blow. She swallowed hard, her hands tightening around a snack bag, making it crackle.
Of course he would ask about skating. In his mind, that was still who she was—the dedicated athlete who'd chosen her sport over their relationship.
