Page 95 of Second Down Fake

I shrugged. “Benefits and retirement. So, that’s good, I guess. A career path. Norwalk Hospital System, even, so I’d stick around town.”

I slanted my eyes to gauge Diego’s reaction, but his face remained impassive. “What would you be doing?”

“Front desk at an orthopedic clinic. Becca must have blasted my resume around town before she left.”

I braced myself for his reaction, some mixture of encouragement and excitement that I’d have a reason to stay in Norwalk.

His eyebrows furrowed. “Oh?”

“What’s ‘oh’ about that?”

He shook his head. “Nothing. I’m just surprised.”

I narrowed my eyes, taken off-guard. “And I could afford my own apartment, so that’s nice. Not this one, obviously. But there are some places in the North end of the city that I could afford.”

“That’s awesome. And what about the job? You like it? Like the people?”

My chest spasmed. “It’s a good opportunity. And the first job that’s actually wanted me full time in years.”

“Right.” He turned off the faucet, dried his hands and faced me. “But what would you be doing?”

“Receptionist stuff? Check in people, call people, talk to doctors.”

“That’ll be a big change.”

“I’d have to quit the bar. And the repairs. Probably cut back on the ghost tours,” I said, setting a rinsed plate in the dish rack. Diego’s gaze burned the side of my face. Heat rose in my chest. “And I probably couldn’t come to any more away games.”

“But you want the job, right? You think it’ll make you happy?”

I spluttered. “I mean, no, not really, but I’d have a reason to stay in Norwalk.”

He winced. “That’s the only reason you’d want to stay in Norwalk?”

“No. I didn’t mean it like that. But this is what people do, right? They get jobs they hate so they can have nice things like permanent addresses and dental insurance.” I inhaled shakily, pressing wet, pruny fingertips against the counter. Diego was my soft launch. “But the job, it’s what everyone wants. This is what adults do. You’re supposed to be happy for me.”

“I’m happy if you’re happy.” His gaze traveled back to me, a wry smile on his lips. “And you don’t seem happy. Becca and your parents are a thousand miles away, and you have me. You do whatever you want. And if that’s work every odd job in existence, great. If that’s work at a doctor’s office, fantastic. If that’s taking over the world, amazing. But only if it’s what you want.”

The weight on my chest lifted, even as I found myself completely baffled by his reaction. I didn’t have to take the job. I wanted to believe him, too. Wanted to fall into those brown eyes and curl up in his arms. Then reality seeped in. “It’s nearly December.”

The edge of his lips hitched up in a sad smile. “Yeah. I’ve looked at a calendar.”

“So, just don’t take it?” I edged around the question, unsure I’d even heard him correctly.

“Not if you don’t love it.” He rubbed his palms down my bare arms, goosebumps pebbling in the wake of his fingertips. I tipped my head against his chest, inhaling his scent as my eyes fluttered closed.

THIRTY-TWO

DIEGO

I chucked my grass-stained jersey into the laundry basket with a grunt.

“You did all you could out there,” Frankie said. “Their offense was just too stout.”

The game was a nail-biter, and a last-minute field goal gave the opposing team the edge and gave us our first defeat in five games. Still in line for a championship run, but a frustrating loss.

“Salazar, Vigil, Cooper, post-game conference,” Coach Henson barked at us as she sailed through the locker room.

“You don’t want Rob?” Isiah Cooper laughed, nearly missing a swing by our star center.

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