He was disappointed to not be able to spend time with Amelia, but he hoped that there would be more opportunities to do that in the weeks ahead.
Why it was so important to him to establish a friendship with Amelia after all these years, he didn’t know. But given everything he’d learned about what had happened in her life over the past two years, he felt like she could do with a friend.
Maybe it was vain of him to think that he could be that friend, but they’d meant something to each other once upon a time. And he hated seeing Amelia struggling with her health and the change it had forced on her.
If he could offer support and friendship, it was the least he could do.
CHAPTER SIX
Amelia cut a piece of her roasted potato and chewed it, trying to enjoy it without thinking about how many calories it might contain. She hadn’t really eaten much that day, so she just wanted to enjoy the meal.
She’d somewhat gotten away from obsessing over calories and her weight, as her focus had shifted to trying to figure out how to live with her pain and lack of energy. However, since Ben had returned, reminding her so much of her past life, the insecurity about the weight she’d gained and how she looked had come back in full force.
Cole and Annie had put on quite a spread, and there was a sliver of envy inside her as she sat at the table, surrounded by the laughter and chatter of children. Not because of their wealth or even the love they shared.
No, she was envious of people who had the energy to prepare even the simplest of meals for a group of people. There were days now when she barely had the strength or desire to prepare a meal for just herself.
Layla usually came over once a month, and together they made an assortment of freezer meals that Amelia could just pull out and heat up. Those were a huge help on days when the pain in her body kept her from being able to stand for very long.
Even now, she was exhausted from the day’s activities, and if she hadn’t told Cole she’d be there, she would have just crawled into bed to give her body a chance to rest.
She glanced around and spotted Ben at a table with his bodyguard and a few other men from the clinic.
He looked relaxed, laughing at something one of the men had said. His curls caught the fading sunlight, highlighting thegolden strands among his brown hair. She quickly averted her gaze when he glanced in her direction, not wanting him to catch her staring.
"Are you feeling okay?" Annie asked quietly, leaning closer to her. "You've been pretty quiet."
"I'm fine," Amelia said automatically. "Just a little tired."
Annie nodded, though her eyes held concern. "You don't have to stay the whole evening if you're not feeling up to it. I’m just glad that you came."
Amelia managed a small smile. "Thanks.”
"I know you had a long week at work, and you've been helping with the clinic too," Annie said. "Everyone appreciates your help."
Amelia nodded, swallowing another bite of potato. She wasn't used to receiving praise these days. Compliments had once been a regular part of her life. She’d been complimented on her skating, her discipline, and her dedication. However, now compliments felt strange, almost uncomfortable.
A burst of laughter erupted from the table where Ben sat, drawing her attention once more. He was gesturing animatedly, clearly in the middle of telling a story.
He’d always been like that. So comfortable and at ease with people. Able to draw them in with a smile.
She’d been the opposite, even when she’d been at the height of her skating career. It had taken a lot of practice for her to become comfortable enough to not look stiff and uneasy when doing interviews.
During the couple of years they’d dated, she’d often wondered what he’d seen in her. What it was about her that drew him to her.
Now, watching him from a distance, she could see that Ben hadn't changed from back then. He still had that natural charisma, that ability to make everyone around him feel special.
They'd been so different, and sometimes, in the darker moments of her life, she wondered if she had been nothing but a curiosity to him. The quiet, reserved skater who'd seemed so different from him, the outgoing, popular boy who could be friends with anyone.
She pushed her fork around her plate, moving a bit of meat to the side. Her appetite had faded as thoughts of the past filled her mind. It was dangerous territory, thinking about what they'd once had, and what it had meant. Those kinds of thoughts led to nowhere good.
"Amelia?" Annie's voice pulled her back to the present. "Did you hear what I said?"
"I'm sorry, what?" Amelia shifted her focus back to Annie, embarrassed to have been caught in her thoughts.
"I was asking if you wanted some dessert. The kids are eager to have some, but I told them we needed to wait until everyone was done with dinner."
She looked down at her plate, noting that despite having a moment where she hadn’t felt like eating anything, she’d still managed to eat pretty much everything on her plate.
