Page 147 of The Penalty

Tori: Tell her I said hello

Me: Will do

When she didn’t respond straight away I figured this was the end of our polite discourse. Trepidation and misery strangled me from the inside out. I missed her with a vengeance. The skin she’d kissed beneath my ear tingled and burned. The sensation spread until every cell in my body threatened to detonate.

Tori: I miss you

Those three words stole the breath right out of my fucking lungs. The phone landed with a thud on the bar. I glanced up to see if Dawn or my new friend noticed. They were far too engrossed in conversation.

Me: I miss you too, love

Tori: I know you’re in Birmingham next week for training but can we try to make time for a video call?

Me: Just tell me when and I’ll be ready

Tori: Will do :P

“Look at that smile,” Dawn exclaimed, grabbing my hand. “Did you just hear from your lovely girlfriend?”

“I did. She says to say hello.”

“You better bring her here next time she visits.” She turned to Trevor. “Have a good flight tomorrow. Don’t be a stranger.” Dawn excused herself to tend to other customers.

“I should be going,” Trevor said, standing up. He regarded me with interest before saying, “Dawn is right about that smile. You haven’t stopped since getting that text. I remember always having a silly grin on my face when I met my wife.” He laughed at a memory only he could see. “Quite the spitfire, she was. My daughter takes after her.”

“Sounds like you had your hands full.”

Heartache passed briefly in his eyes. Again, I had the weird sensation of there being something oddly familiar about him.

“I did.” Placing a hand on my shoulder, he squeezed it gently. “Your girlfriend is lucky to have you. Nice meeting you, Xavier. I’m sure we’ll run into one another again.”

Victoria

Late Wednesday afternoon, I sat in my office, exhausted in all ways possible.

Life has been hazy since returning from London. If sleepwalking through my existence was a professional sport, I’d be the best in the world at this point. I don’t know how I made it through the home opener, let alone Seattle. My body operated on autopilot.

It had to.

Waking up each day missing Xavier poked fresh needles of pain in my chest. If I let it consume me, I’d never get anything done.

“Victoria.” Hannah’s stern tone sliced through my reverie. “Don’t forget we have our weekly presser with Coach at nine tomorrow morning. And then Noah is scheduled to appear on Jake Kellerman’s nationally televised radio program at ten-thirty.”

“Got it.” I glanced at my calendar. “Is that collaboration with the Knights still happening? The social media thing with the players?”

“Yeah. Tre and Jax are taking center stage on that with Tyler and Matt.”

I laughed. “Kaylee will have her hands full.”

Hannah’s half-hearted smile gave me pause. She hasn’t been herself in weeks. Not that I’ve been much of a shoulder for her to lean on. She looked as miserable as I felt.

“I have a meeting in ten minutes,” I said, “but when I’m done, you and I need to plan a spa day.”

Questioning brown eyes studied me. I leaned forward, resting my chin in my hand.

“Massages. Cucumber water. Fluffy robes. How can you resist?”

“Tempting.”

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