Overtime with my Ex's Best Friend

I didn't sleep that night. I just lay in bed staring at the ceiling, replaying everything Cole said. Every word. Every look. Every moment.

He said Lucas never deserved me. He said he would never have let me go.

What was I supposed to do with that?

I showed up at the rink the next morning at 5 AM. I didn't know why. I should have stayed home. I should have taken a break. But I couldn't stay away.

Cole was already there when I walked in. He was stretching on the ice. He looked up when he heard the door open.

"You came," he said.

"You asked."

"I didn't think you'd actually show up."

I shrugged. "I have practice."

"At 5 AM?"

"Coach said I need extra work."

"Sure." He smiled. That small, crooked smile that made my stomach flip. "Whatever you say."

I stepped onto the ice. The cold hit my face. I welcomed it. It helped me think.

Cole skated over to me. "You okay?"

"I don't know."

"That's honest."

"I'm trying to be more honest."

He nodded. "Good. That's good."

We stood there for a moment. Just breathing. Just existing in the same space.

Then he looked at me differently. His face got serious. "I need to tell you something. About Lucas."

My stomach tightened. "What about him?"

"You should sit down. What I'm about to tell you... it's not easy to hear."

I didn't sit. I leaned against the boards instead. "Just say it."

Cole took a breath. Then he started talking.

"Lucas didn't break up with you because of long distance."

I blinked. "What?"

"He lied. He told you it wouldn't work. That you were too far apart. That hockey was too demanding."

"Yeah. I remember."

"That wasn't the truth."

My heart started pounding. "Then what was?"

Cole looked at me. His grey eyes were soft but serious. "His dad made him do it."

I felt like the air got knocked out of me. "What?"

"His dad. Mr. Kingston. He sat Lucas down before graduation and told him you were a distraction. He said if Lucas wanted to make it to the NHL, he needed to focus. No girl. No relationship. Just hockey."

"That's insane."

"I know."

"And Lucas just... listened?"

Cole nodded. "He was scared. His dad controls everything. Money. Connections. The college scouts. Lucas didn't have a choice."

I shook my head. "Everyone has a choice."

"He was eighteen. His dad threatened to pull his funding. No college. No hockey. Nothing."

"So he chose hockey."

"He chose his dream."

"Same thing."

Cole didn't argue. He just watched me. Waiting.

I felt something crack inside me. Something I thought I had buried a year ago. The anger. The hurt. The confusion. It all came rushing back.

"He didn't even tell me the truth," I said. My voice was shaking. "He let me think I wasn't enough."

"Because he was ashamed."

"Good. He should be."

Cole didn't say anything to that.

I pressed my palms against my eyes. I didn't want to cry. Not here. Not in front of him.

But the tears came anyway.

"I spent a year thinking I did something wrong," I said. "A year wondering why I wasn't good enough. Why he didn't fight for me."

"He wanted to."

"Then why didn't he?"

Cole stepped closer. "Because he's weak. That's the truth. He's weak, and he's selfish, and he doesn't deserve you."

I looked up at him. "Why do you care so much? Why does any of this matter to you?"

He didn't answer right away.

I pushed. "You keep showing up. You keep saying things. You paid for my skating fees, and you didn't even tell me. Why?"

Cole looked away. His jaw tightened. His hands curled into fists at his sides.

"Because I've been watching you for years, Mia. I've been watching you skate and laugh and work so hard you collapse at the end of the day. I've been watching Lucas take you for granted. I've been watching him break your heart. And I've been wanting to punch him in the face the whole time."

I stared at him.

"I couldn't say anything," he continued. "He was my brother. My best friend. You were his girl. I had no right."

"But now?"

"Now he's gone. Now he's made his choice. And I'm tired of being quiet."

The air between us was thick. Heavy. I could feel my heartbeat in my throat.

"Cole," I said. "I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything." He stepped back. Gave me space. "I just needed you to know the truth. The whole truth. What you do with it is up to you."

I nodded slowly. My brain was spinning. Too many thoughts. Too many feelings.

"I should go," I said.

"Same time tomorrow?"

I almost laughed. "You're asking me that now?"

"Just checking."

I shook my head. But there was a small smile on my face. I couldn't help it.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I said.

And I walked out of the rink with my heart in my throat.

The next morning I showed up at 5 AM again. I didn't know why. I should have stayed home. I should have taken a break.

But I couldn't stay away.

Cole was already there when I walked in. He was stretching on the ice. He looked up when he heard the door open.

"You came," he said.

"You asked."

"I didn't think you'd actually show up."

I shrugged. "I have practice."

"At 5 AM?"

"Coach said I need extra work."

"Sure." He smiled. That small, crooked smile that made my stomach flip. "Whatever you say."

I stepped onto the ice. The cold hit my face. I welcomed it. It helped me think.

Cole skated over to me. "You okay?"

"I don't know."

"That's honest."

"I'm trying to be more honest."

He nodded. "Good. That's good."

We stood there for a moment. Just breathing. Just existing in the same space.

Then the doors slammed open.

I turned around.

Lucas walked onto the ice. His face was cold. His eyes were fixed on Cole.

"I see you couldn't wait to move in on my girl, Cole."

Cole straightened. "She's not yours. She hasn't been yours for a year."

"She's always been mine."

"That's not how it works."

Lucas took a step closer. "Stay away from her."

"Or what?"

Lucas's jaw tightened. "Don't test me."

"I'm not testing anything. I'm telling you the truth. You lost her. You gave her up. You don't get to come back and act like nothing happened."

"You don't know anything about what happened."

"I know everything." Cole's voice was calm. Steady. "I know about Dad. I know about the threats. I know you chose hockey over her. And you know what? That's fine. That's your choice. But don't come back here acting like you deserve a second chance."

Lucas's face went pale. "You told her."

"Someone had to."

"You had no right."

"She deserved to know the truth."

"I'm her ex."

"And I'm the one who actually cares about her."

The words hung in the air like a slap.

I stood there frozen. Watching them. Two brothers. Fighting over me like I was a trophy.

"I can't do this," I said.

They both turned to look at me.

"Not here. Not now." I started skating toward the exit. "I can't be in the middle of this."

"Mia, wait." Cole reached for me.

I pulled away. "Please. Just... give me some space. Both of you."

I walked off the ice. Grabbed my bag. Left the rink without looking back.

The cold air hit me outside. I took a deep breath. And then another.

My phone buzzed. A text.

Sophie: "You okay? Heard what happened at the rink."

I stared at the screen. Then I typed back.

"No. But I will be."

I didn't know if that was true.

But I had to believe it was.