Page 104 of See You at the Finish Line

how are you?

I’m okay. I finally read my emails from Maxim. He basically told me to get my ass back or I’m fired

At least he didn’t outright fire her. Still, Maxim is such an asshole. And a creep. I heard he made Paige and Connor massage him, twice, to make sure they were good at their jobs. Someone should do something about him. He can’t threaten my woman’s job and get away with it.

asshole. What are you going to do?

I don’t know

My heart sinks. Though I knew she wouldn’t be sure yet, it hurts.

you know, I was looking around and there are plenty of physiotherapy jobsin Salt Lake ...

There’s a really long pause. Too long. So long I have time to make myself some breakfast of eggs, hash browns, and bacon. I sit there, stomach churning, unable to eat while I wait.

You would move here?

Give up coaching the Whales?

is that what you want?

Is that what you want?

I asked you first

I don’t want you to uproot your life for me. You love Vancouver, you love your job

I let that hang in the air. I do love Vancouver. But at the risk of sounding like Mateo’s dating profile—like a complete cliché—I love her more.

I can get used to the heat

Ican’t let you do that

why not?

Minutes go by without an answer. My question hangs there like she’s testing me. Actually, I have no idea what she’s thinking. I need to stop assuming I know what the long silences mean. She might need to think about it, and I can respect that.

Did I just do it again? Should I text her? I hate this. I want to be able to touch her and talk to her face to face.

please talk to me when you’re ready

I will

Apparently, she’s not readybecause it’s been three weeks and I still haven’t heard from her. Well, that’s not true—she’s checked in a few times with updates about Leah, but nothing about us. And as much as I’m glad Leah is on the mend and doing well, I die inside a little more each day without her.

So pathetic.

It’s a late night at the office. The team is gearing up for one of our biggest rivalry games this weekend and I’m still playing catch up on everything I missed while I was in Utah. It’s been almost three weeks of late nights, ordering dinner to the office, and turning down offers to hang out with Mateo.

I don’t want to admit that I’m drowning myself in work so I don’t have to go home to an empty house. It’s midnight before I pack up and make the thirty-minute drive home.

When I pull into my driveway, my heart lurches. A familiar Jeep is sitting outside the house. What’s Paige’s Jeep doing here? Maybe it’s Shay bringing over Q. We’ve arranged to meet up a few times so I can help take care of her.I swore Shay to secrecy.

But what would she be doing here now? It’s almost 1:00 a.m.

I peer inside the car as I pass, but it’s empty. My front door is unlocked, and I have no idea what’s going on.

Then I see her.

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