I Never Told You

I had been home for a week, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the last words I shared with Gabe. I closed my eyes and thought about those last hours in Colorado.

*Flashback*

I woke up in the morning, dreading the fact that I had to leave within mere hours. I didn’t want to leave Gabe, or Colorado, but I knew that I had to go back. I stayed in bed, rolling around in the sheets. I closed my eyes and inhaled the musky scent that Gabe left on his pillow.

“You know, you’re going to have to get out of bed.”

I opened my eyes and saw Gabe standing at the foot of the bed, chuckling. I slowly sat up, holding the sheet against my body.

“Is there something wrong with not wanting to leave my boyfriend and flying across the ocean?”

He walked over to the side of the bed and sat down, running a hand up and down my arm. He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my forehead.

“No, there’s no problem with that. However, it is what it is. Your education comes first. I don’t want to be responsible for you throwing away your education.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes. “Okay, okay. I’ll get out of bed. But just know, I’m not happy about it.”

Gabe smirked at me and stood up from the bed.

“Well, whenever you decide to get your ass out here, breakfast is waiting.”

*End Flashback*

A loud knock on my door brought me back to reality and I hopped of my bed, and walked over to my door. Opening it, I saw the smiling face of Bea.

“Hey, I was thinking of going shopping. You want to come with?”

I looked back over to my bed, to see the pile of textbooks just waiting to be opened so I could start studying. I looked back at Bea with a sad smile.

“I’d love to, but I’ve got---“

“I know, I know. You’ve got homework and that huge test coming up. But it’s the weekend. Can’t you just take some time to yourself and treat yourself with a little retail therapy?”

I sighed and looked at the floor. I knew that I should put my foot down and say no. However, I also knew, that If I said no, I’d never hear the end of it.

“Okay. Let’s go.”

I walked back into my room and grabbed my purse and my coat. I walked out of my room and followed Bea out of the house.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gabe’s POV

Focusing on the game had become just a little bit harder ever since Katy left. I found myself looking back to her day here in Colorado at the strangest times. I closed my eyes while sitting in the locker room after a strenuous practice, and all I could see myself with her in my apartment.

*Flashback*

Katy had finally come out of her room to get breakfast. I couldn’t help but smile at the fact that she didn’t change out of her pajamas.

“You’re leaving in just over 2 hours. Don’t you think you should change?”

She sighed and sat down at the dining table.

“Well, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to get rid of me, mister.”

I sighed and walked over to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

“Of course not. If I could keep you here, I would, you know that. I just feel like, the sooner you leave, the sooner I can get through it and look forward to seeing you again.”

She looked up at me with a light smirk.

“Nice save, Landeskog.”

*End Flashback*

“GABE!” I shook my head and opened my eyes, seeing Matt in front of me smirking. “You okay, bud? You were day dreaming a bit there.”

I nodded my head. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just thinking about Katy, that’s all.”

He gave me a small smile. “Oh yeah? How’s she doing?”

“She’s crammed with school work. She has a week off soon. I’m thinking about asking her to come back out here.”

Matt sighed and sat beside me. “You think that’s smart, bud?”

I ran a hand through my hair, looking at the ground. “I need to see her, man.”

“I know that, but think about what it’s doing to you now. If she comes later in the season, it could only make you worse. You don’t need that just before the playoffs.”

I sat there and took his words in. I understood where he was coming from, but I wanted to see my girlfriend.

“Yeah, well I’ll think about it. Who knows? She may have already made plans for her week off to do something with my sister or her friends.”

Matt patted his hand on my shoulder. “Yeah, maybe, just promise me something.”

I looked over at him, raising an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

“Just don’t let the game leave your head.”

I chuckled and nodded my head. “I hear ya. I won’t. If I did, Katy would have my head, believe me.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Katy’s POV

Walking through the mall with hands full of bags, I could sense that Bea had something on her mind. We stopped at the food court and Bea looked over at me.

“You a little hungry?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I could eat.”

We found a table to sit down at and as soon as I did, Bea walked away to get in line for food. I shook my head, knowing that if she wanted to talk to me, she would. When she came back with a tray, I noticed the large amount of food.

“Wow, you’re going to eat all of that?”

She shook her head. “No, I got you something, too.”

She separated her tray into two “meals.” I smiled, seeing that she at lease picked something she knew I liked and would eat. Bea stuck her straw in her drink and let out a long, deep sigh. I looked over at her with a raised eyebrow.

“Everything okay?”

She shrugged her shoulders.

“Honestly, I’m worried about you.”

I was a little taken aback. I was expecting her to talk about something that had only pertained to her. I grabbed a fry and stuck it in my mouth, while I thought of something to say. Finally, I decided to go the traditional route.

“What are you worried about?”

“Well, ever since you got on the plane from Colorado, you’ve been….different.”

“Different? Different how?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Well, you know, you’ve been digging yourself into your school work and you don’t really wanna go out anymore.”

I thought about what she said, and I guess she was right. But, the more time I spent keeping myself busy, the less time I spent missing Gabe. I didn’t want to sit around and constantly text him or call him every chance I could. I knew that he had to focus on hockey, and I needed to focus on school.

“Well, I guess I have been a little different, but it’s not to hurt anyone or anything. I’m just trying to keep my mind on my school work.”

“Did Gabe say something at the airport?”

The goodbye floated back into my head.

*Flashback*

I was standing in the airport with Gabe and his family. Looking up at the screen that showed the flight schedules, I saw that I had exactly 25 minutes before I had to board the plane. Gabe took hold of my hand and gave it a light squeeze. I looked up at him and he gave me a small, sad smile. He leaned down and whispered in my ear.

“Come with me.”

I looked over at his family and all three of them gave us small smiles and nodded at us. Gabe wrapped an arm around my shoulders and led me away from his family. We walked about 30 feet or so away from them and Gabe turned to me with a small smile.

“You know that this doesn’t end here, right?”

I smiled at nodded. “I know.”

He placed a hand under my chin and pulled it up so my eyes met his. “Call, text, write, I don’t care.” He pulled me into him. “Just don’t forget about me,” he whispered in my ear.

I pulled away and looked back at him with wide eyes. “Gabe, you’re talking crazy.”

He sighed and placed his forehead against mine. “I know, I just don’t want you to go back to Sweden and forget about me.”

I lifted my hand and ran it over his cheek. “Gabe, I’ll be in your family’s house. Your room is right across the hall from mine. I’ll never forget you.” I leaned up and placed a soft kiss on his lips. “I’ll call you as soon as I land, okay?”

He nodded and pulled me in for a tight hug. We stood there, just holding each other until we heard the flight to Stockholm was getting ready for boarding. We walked back over to Bea and his parents. I stepped away from Gabe to make sure everything was in order. Gabe walked to each member of his family and gave them a hug. I waited until Bea, Tony, and Cecelia walked a little ahead before I walked over to Gabe one last time.

He pulled me in for a huge, long hug. He placed a soft kiss on my temple and whispered these last words. “Jag älskar dig.”

*End Flashback*

I looked at Bea, and could see that she was waiting for an answer.

“Uhh… I’m not really sure…”