Chapter Eighteen
AUSTIN
Well, it's official. After some extensive negotiation, I'm being traded to the Golden State Seals.
In two days, I'll be leaving North Carolina and heading to the west coast to begin the next phase of my career.
That means I have exactly forty-eight hours left with Isabella.
Forty-eight hours that also include contract discussions, media obligations, phone calls, meetings, and packing up my entire life for a cross-country move.
Nothing like a little chaos to keep things interesting.
This whole thing happened faster than I expected.
One minute, a trade was just a possibility.
And then after a few days it was done. That's the reality of professional sports, things are constantly changing.
Teams make decisions, and suddenly your entire life changes before you've had time to process it.
One conversation can determine where you'll live, who you'll play for, and what your future looks like.
Even with all the craziness, I've been trying to focus on the positives because there are plenty of them.
The Seals are one of the best organizations in the league, and I can't help but feel grateful for the opportunity.
The fact that they specifically wanted me on their roster means a lot.
I'll also be much closer to my family, which is a huge bonus, especially with my brother's upcoming wedding.
Being able to see them more often is something I haven't had in years.
And in a few months, Isabella will be back in Los Angeles.
Looking at the big picture, everything about this trade makes sense. But I’m still struggling with leaving now.
For most of my career, I thought I'd welcome a change likes this. I figured I'd embrace the challenge, experience a new city, and keep moving forward. But my life isn't just about hockey anymore.
Now it includes Isabella.
In a very short amount of time, she became more than someone I enjoy spending time with. She's become the person I look forward to talking to every day. The first person I want to share good news with, and who somehow makes even the worst days feel manageable.
She's the woman I'm falling in love with. And maybe this is what scares me the most.
For the first time in a while, I can picture a future with someone. But the problem is the future I'm imagining is a lot more complicated than I’d imagined.
Even when Isabella returns to Los Angeles, we'll still be hundreds of miles apart. We'll have to figure out how to make long distance work while pursuing careers that already demand most of our time and energy.
I know long-distance relationships can succeed because I've seen it happen.
I've played with guys whose wives and girlfriends lived in different cities and sometimes different states.
They found ways to make it work because they wanted it to work.
At the end of the day, I believe if two people are committed enough, they'll find a way. I just wish we had more time.
Instead of looking forward to spending the next few months together, we'll need to figure out when we'll be able to visit each other. And we won’t be able to spend the holidays together, starting with Halloween.
Leaving Isabella is the hardest part, but she's not the only thing I'm leaving behind.
I'm leaving teammates who have become like brothers. Coaches and staff who believed in me and fans who've supported me through some of the biggest moments of my career.
For the first time, I think I understand how Nick felt when he got traded here last season. He was miserable for weeks after arriving. The difference is that everything eventually worked out for him because he found Abby here, whereas I'm leaving Isabella.
After a long day of meetings and conversations, I pull out my phone and send her a text.
Hi. I'm done for the day. Are you free?
Her response comes only seconds later.
The trade is happening, isn't it?
I stare at the screen. I hadn't planned on telling her through a text message, but she's good at reading through the lines.
Yes. I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you in person.
Three dots appear almost immediately.
It's okay. I've been preparing myself.
I groan and lean back in my chair. Maybe telling her over text is easier because I don't have to see the expression on her face. Telling her the trade was a possibility had been hard enough, and now it’s real.
She sends another message.
I'll see you soon.
I set my phone down and let out a long breath.
For the first time since the news became official, the reality finally settles in that I'm getting everything I've worked for.
The chance to play for one of the league's best teams is an extraordinary honor, and yet it feels like I'm losing something at the same time.
"How's it going?" Nick asks sitting on the bench beside me.
"I'm not sure," I admit. "But now I understand what you went through last season."
He nods.
"Man, I get it. It’s rough, but Golden State is a great team. You'll fit their style perfectly."
"I know." I stare down at the floor. "And I'm grateful for the opportunity." I pause. "The Bears are a great team too. I think you know that now."
A small smile crosses his face. "Yes. I do."
Then he nudges my shoulder. “If I can give you one piece of advice, don’t show up there with a bad attitude.”
I laugh. “You mean don’t act like you did when you got traded here?”
“Exactly.”
“Thanks for the tip,” I mutter.
Nick gives me a curious look, studying me for a moment.
“In all the years I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you like this. This is about more than just the trade, isn’t it?”
I let out a breath and nod. “Is it that obvious?”
He shakes his head. “No. I just happen to have the inside scoop. Abby’s been talking about you and Isabella. She keeps trying to get information out of me, but that’s not really my thing.”
A small smile spreads across my lips. “Good to know.”
“Still,” he says, leaning back in his chair, “I can tell something’s going on.”
I stare down at the floor for a second before answering. “Admittedly, I’m having a hard time with all of this.”
His eyebrows rise. “It’s that serious, huh?”
“Yeah.” I nod slowly. “The crazy part is it happened so fast. A few months ago, I didn’t even know Isabella, and now I can’t stop thinking about her. Every decision I make seems connected to her somehow.”
Nick lets out a knowing sigh. “Trust me, I get it. When Abby came into my life, I was done. I didn’t stand a chance once I met her.”
“At least you two live in the same city,” I point out.
“That’s true.” He pats my shoulder. “But if the two of you are supposed to be together, you’ll figure it out. The distance won’t matter.”
I glance at him. “Wow. I never thought I’d be getting relationship advice from Nick Ellis.”
“And I never thought I’d be giving it,” he shoots back. “So let’s keep this between us. I have a reputation I want to uphold.”
I laugh. “Don’t worry. I’ll be discreet.”
“Good.”
I stand and grab my bag. “Try not to miss me too much,” I tell him.
“I’ll do my best.”
I give him a wave, and there’s only one thing I want to do now—see Isabella.