Frozen Heart

Chapter 25 ~ "You're So Good To Me"

Grace

I have a boyfriend.

I love that sentence, I love saying it out-loud or thinking it in the back of my head. I love that since Wednesday, things have been smooth sailing. I thought people were going to faint when we walked back into school a week-and-a-half ago, holding hands and him kissing my cheek.

I was bursting with joy, we were finally where I wanted to be for so long, a full relationship. We hadn't spent a night together since the night of our date which was hard, but necessary. I had a bunch of projects due this week and he had what felt like an endless list of practices and gym sessions. 

The hockey team did group warm-ups, team gym workouts, he had to plan out practice schedules and on top of it all he was still involved with his recreational league. School seemed to take priority which made me happy, but it broke my heart because we didn't get to spend as much time together. 

Over Christmas break we slept in bed together all the time and once he'd started kissing me and cuddling with me, I got attached. I wanted so much more of him and since we'd been back to school, we didn't spend as much time together as often anymore.

I had to get over it though, I knew that we were spending an insane amount of time before, more than any other high school couple. Of course I wished he could always come and fall asleep with me, but he needed rest and space.

Right now, I was content that he was my boyfriend. Anytime I got lonely, I thought about our new relationship and him holding me close. When he did come see me after he was done with his practice or a long day, he'd give me the world's strongest hug. Pick me up off the floor and hold me like I was going to disappear.

I think about that now, laying in my nest of bedsheets and pillows. It was comfortable, but lonely. I thought about him again. It had been over a week of lonely nights in bed, wishing he would come sleep with me.

I hear my phone vibrating on my nightstand and I reach my hand out for it. Nik's name was running across the screen and I smile, answering it instantly.

"Hello?" I say, pulling the blankets back over my shoulders.

"Hi." He says and I giggle. I immediately want to kick myself at my ridiculous behaviour. Get it under control, Grace.

"How's it going?" He asks and I sigh.

"I miss you." I mumble and he chuckles. 

"I know hockey has been taking over my life and I'm really sorry." He says and I smile with a shrug. "Thank you for coming to my games and everything, it means a lot to me."

"No problem, it makes me happy." I tell him. "All of this isn't exactly within your control." I remind him, knowing I needed to remind myself. 

"I know, but we just....got into this and it's no fair that I can't see you enough." He sighs. "I know we see each other at school and stuff and that you come to my games, but I know you want more of me. I miss sleeping next to you and I want to take you out, I just can't get free."

"It's alright." I assure him, if it made me sad then I couldn't even imagine how much this bothered him. "Nik, your future needs to come first. Your school and your hockey, they're important-"

"But so are you." He blurts out and I feel my body get warm. That was nice to hear.

"Not more important than those things." I say quietly. "You're so important to me too, you know that, and that's why I want you to do your work. The season is going to ease up, and when it does, we'll have so much time together."

"You're right." He mumbles, making me smile. "I'm just impatient." He says and I laugh, rolling over in bed.

"I know it's frustrating, but I'm not going anywhere." I assure him. "So what's up? Why the phone call?"