Love Rivalry (A Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Fanfiction)

Chapter 27 - Forgotten

Ashley's POV

February 12th

I woke up to a bright burst of sun coming through the window of Gabe's guest room.

Tonight, Gabe was taking me me to see the Avalanche play at the Pepsi Center against the St. Louis Blues.

I had finally worked all the nerves out of my system over coming here, just to have them come back when I checked my phone.

A voicemail.

From Ryan.

Most of me didn't even want to play it, for fear that he had somehow found out where I was and who I was here with.

But a tiny portion of me wanted to listen to his voice again. Just because I was here, didn't mean I didn't miss him.

I unlocked my phone with shaking hands and held the phone to my ear.

"Ash, it's Ryan. I know that what happened the other night was something that I should have avoided. I'm sorry. I'm worried about you. I don't know where you are or anything, so... just please... call me when you get this... I just want to know that you're okay. I don't want to lose you, Ashley. I love you." I brought the phone down from ear, tearing up.

Did I call him back?

Or do I wait until we I get back to talk to him in person?

All of me wanted to call him and tell him how sorry I was for everything with Gabe, and how much I loved him. How I wish I could take all of this back.

But I couldn't.

I couldn't bring myself to speak to him right now.

I wasn't prepared mentally for the questions he would ask.

Where are you?

Has Gabe tried anything on you?

Can we talk about this in person?

I wasn't ready to face him yet.

Whether it be over the phone or in person, I couldn't face him.

I've wronged him so much, yet I've done very little wrong.

I mean, I shouldn't be hanging out with Gabe.

In another city.

At Gabe's house.

And keeping it all a secret from Ryan.

It sounds like I'm cheating on Ryan.

Ryan wouldn't understand.

He didn't like Gabe to begin with, and now I've only made it worse for him.

He has a reason to hate Gabe now, outside of a rivalry in their sport.

I began going though all the pictures of Ryan and I again.

I've been doing this a lot recently.

I wondered if there was still something there.

Something that could be salvaged from all of this chaos.

Looking at the memories of us, it seemed like there was nothing to salvage.

Nothing was broken.

Ryan still loved me.

I still loved him.

We needed each other.

We each needed the other as someone to turn to when there's no one else left.