That Time We Faked It (Time On The Ice #3)

25. WADE

WADE

When the Suitcase is Gone

T he moment I woke up and saw his suitcase gone, I knew I’d failed. My stomach twisted, a lead weight settling as I realized my plan to keep Cal close had backfired. He was gone. And I couldn’t do what I’d done in the past—disappear, avoid, deflect. I had to face my family, the fallout from last night’s argument, and the suit fitting for Wylie and Benny’s wedding. No matter how much it felt like I was losing my last real chance at love, I wouldn’t ruin their celebration.

I packed my things, leaving the bag by the door, and made my way to the main house. The kitchen was alive with the murmur of voices, everyone clustered around the breakfast nook. The hum of conversation died the moment they noticed me. Wylie and Benny exchanged glances, their eyes darting behind me, clearly expecting Cal to be right there.

“He’s gone,” I said, my voice hollow, though I fought to keep it steady.

Faces turned toward me, a mix of confusion and sadness in their expressions.

Mom, predictably, was the first to speak.

“What? Why?” she asked, her tone sharp with concern.

I looked at her, my jaw tightening.

“Maybe because he thought you wouldn’t accept him after the way you spoke to him last night.”

Her face paled, and for the first time in years, I saw real vulnerability in her eyes. Her hand lifted to her mouth, trembling slightly.

“I’m… I’m sorry,” she said, her voice cracking. A tear slipped down her cheek, and she made no move to stop it.

“He was right. I… I’ve always wanted what’s best for you, baby. But I guess I forgot to ask what you think is best.”

I blinked, stunned by the words I’d never thought I’d hear her say.

She looked down, her voice soft but laden with regret.

“I never saw you truly happy. You were with Sam, and then… when he went into the military, you followed him. Not because it was your dream, but because you couldn’t imagine leaving him behind. And with Danton, I thought I was doing better, giving you something steady, but it wasn’t right either. Cal… he saw through me. Through everything. And it hurt to realize he was right. I need to do better.”

I stared at her, the apology settling into me like a foreign language I didn’t quite know how to process.

Dad cleared his throat and stood, he wasn’t a man of many words, but each word was like a patchwork over the past years of hurt.

“What your mother’s trying to say, son, is that we’ve all carried some of the blame. You’ve always been the baby, and maybe we held on too tight. We didn’t see the man you’ve become. But I see it now.” He took a step closer, resting a hand on my shoulder. “And I see what Cal brought out in you. That light—it’s what I saw in your mom when we were young. It’s rare. And it’s real.”

I laughed softly, a shaky sound that was half disbelief and half something like hope. Could Cal really be that same force in my life? The thought clenched in my chest, both thrilling and terrifying.

“But he’s gone,” I said, the words spilling out before I could stop them. A wave of desperation hit me, and the truth followed unbidden. “It was all fake. I lied to you. We weren’t… it wasn’t real.”

The room went silent, the weight of my confession sinking in. Benny was the first to break it.

“Wait, what?” he asked, his voice soft, his eyes filled with worry.

I sighed, dragging a hand through my hair.

“Look, I knew him before all this. He wasn’t a stranger. He was the guy who swept into my life and made my bar feel more like home than it ever had. That part was real. But when I blurted about him to you all, it was because… because I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

I thought if I made him my fake boyfriend, I would get you guys off my back… as well as maybe a way of stopping feeling the way I do about him. I told him it would be good for both of us, that I’d scare off any suitors for him. But really… I just wanted him close.”

My voice softened as I spoke, admiration slipping through unguarded.

“And somehow, he agreed. That’s just who he is—the guy who says yes when you need him, even if it costs him. He’s been my knight in shining armor since the day he walked into my bar.”

Wylie’s brow furrowed.

“Then why did he leave?”

I swallowed hard, looking away from their gazes.

“Because he doesn’t feel the same,” I murmured, my voice barely audible. “It’s over, and it never really started.”

Suddenly, arms wrapped around me from all sides. The tight, messy family hug broke something loose in me, and I choked on a sob, burying my face in the nearest shoulder.

“It’s not over,” William, my oldest brother, said fiercely, his grip tightening. “I saw the way he looked at you. He might not show it, but there’s a lot going on under there. Not everyone grew up with the kind of love we did. You see that, don’t you? Don’t give up. You’ve always fought when it mattered. Why stop now?”

His words sparked something deep inside me, a slow burn spreading through my chest. He was right. I’d gone to war for love before, even when it scared me, even when it felt impossible. I’d done it for Sam.

And for Cal… maybe I could do it again. Maybe he needed someone to fight for him, to show him he didn’t have to face everything alone.