To Sweden With Love

Almost a month after my life changing decision, I was slowly getting my life back together.

Since Patric stopped over a couple weeks ago, I figured it was time for me to stop feeling sorry for myself and get my act back together.

I went back to work for the last couple weeks of school, excited to see my kids again.

On the last day of class, they all presented me with a card that made me cry.

I slowly went and got my things out of the storage locker and made Ellie’s house more of mine own since I didn’t think she was ever going to come back from New York.

Oh yeah, I finally got Ellie to confess that she ran away with a hockey player to New York a day after my wedding.

And since I refuse to go to any Penguin games, or even go downtown on gameday, she has been texting me and keeping me updated.

Livvy they won! We’re going for Stanley!

I smiled as I put my phone down and continued to drive downtown.

Okay, I watched the game.

And yes, I was driving towards the arena.

I took a deep breath as I drove through traffic and parked in garage as everyone was leaving.

As I stepped out of my car, I got the weirdest looks, pretty much asking if I knew I was about 2 and half hours late for the game.

I leaned against my car when I felt my phone ping.

where are you?

I rolled my eyes.

I am right where I told you I would meet you Colesy.

I ran into Ian again one night when I was out with friends, and we just hit it off.

We weren’t nothing but good friends, but he knew when I needed to talk and when he needed to listen.

I waited a couple more minutes until I saw him come running across the parking lot, still all sweaty from the game.

“We did it!” He exclaimed as he picked me up and spun me around.

I laughed and told him to put me down.

“Are you gonna come in and celebrate with us?”

I bit my lip and thought for a moment. “I don’t know if I should.”

He ran his hand through his hair. “You know you’re going to have to talk to him at some point.”

I sighed. “I don’t know if I am ready. Hell, he has probably already moved on.”

He chuckled. “Are you kidding me? He asks Patric daily if he has heard from you after you supposedly got married. Do you even realize how hard Patric works on not telling him you aren’t even married?”

I raised my hands. “Okay, fine. But not tonight.”

We stood around talking a little about the game until he heard someone call his name. I ducked beside my car when I heard someone coming.

“Hey man, you’re missing the celebration!” Carl exclaimed.

“Give me a couple Haggy, I’m in the middle of something.”

I heard Carl laugh. “Well invite her to come party! All the families are in the locker room with us.”

“Alright man, I will.”

As I heard Carl walk away, I peeked up from my car to make sure the close was clear.

“Well that was a close call.” I said as I brushed myself off.

“You think that was close?” He said. “What would have happened if he would have just walked out here and saw you?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know, but I am not staying around here for it to happen.”

We said our goodbyes as he ran back to the door and I started my car up.

Before I pulled out of my spot, I heard my phone ping. I held my breath as I looked at it, relieved that it was Patric.

next time try to be a bit sneakier if you show up after a game.

I sighed and turned my phone off and headed back home.

Thirty minutes later, I was soaking in my bath with a large glass of wine.

----------

I woke up the next day to my phone constantly ringing, I reached my hand out and grabbed my phone and put it to my ear without looking at it.

“‘Ello?”

“I’m coming back to Pittsburgh!” Ellie exclaimed.

I pulled the phone away from my ear. “It’s too early for your loudness.”

I heard her laugh. “It is one in the afternoon Liv. Are you okay?”

I opened one eye to see multiple bottles scattered around the room.

“Yeah, just drank a bit too much last night. So when are you coming home?”

She gave me the details of her trip and told me she would be in town tomorrow.

“My house better now be wrecked.” She joked.

“Actually I think it’s cleaner now than when you left it.” I said as I sat up.

We chatted a few more minutes, as she got me to agree to pick her and Derick up from the airport tomorrow afternoon.

When we finally hung up, I slammed my head back into my pillow until I heard someone pounding down the front door.

I slid my way out of bed and made my way downstairs slowly.

When I got to the door, I looked out the peephole to see who it was.

“Liv, if you’re in there, let me in.” Carl yelled as he kept pounding on the door.

I covered my mouth and slid down the door quietly.

As he kept pounding, I looked around on how to escape without him seeing me through the window.

Before I could move, I heard Patric yelling at him to stop.

“Dude, she isn’t there! No one has been in there since Ellie moved.”

“Then where is she man? No one has heard from or seen her since she got married. How does someone just up and disappear like that?”

I felt the tears start to flow as I heard Patric try to come up with some kind of explanation, maybe they moved or maybe she just decided to start her new life fresh.

I heard them start walking away from the door as I peeked out the window and saw Patric with his arm around Carl, who had his head hanging.

I grabbed my chest as it started burning.

I need to get out of this city.

As I watched them drive away, I went over to my computer and booked my long needed trip.

Hawaii here I come.