Page 70 of Forever Player

“Thanks, Stacey.”

“I’ll get this wrapped up for you.”

She returns a few moments later with the bill and bags of our food.

I thank her and leave the restaurant with Maylee.

When we are driving back home, Maylee wakes up and begins to cry. I hate to hear her cries because it spikes my nerves. I quickly park in the underground at my apartment building and get her upstairs. Her cries have turned into wailing now. I feel like I am failing her too.

I take her out of her car seat and place her in the bouncer set up in the main room while I warm her bottle.

I test the milk on the inside of my arm and then rush over to Maylee. I pick her up and take a seat on the couch. She sucks hard on the bottle. She was clearly hungry. I’m just relieved she calmed down.

I think back to the whole situation in the restaurant. Would it have made a difference if I told Willow Stacey and I were never together. Could I have done something more to make her listen to me? To stop her from walking out of the restaurant on us? I begin to think of my childhood, remembering the times my father left without saying goodbye. My stomach turns and I begin to feel sick. Willow is scared about what’s happening between us and my past choices are clearly bothering her. I need to confront her and we need to discuss what happened. She needs to know she is the only woman for me. She also needs to know that running away never solves a problem.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

Willow

I get in the Uber feeling my heart splitting in two, which doesn’t make sense because Brett and I aren’t together. That is why I friend zoned him, so we would have boundaries. I wouldn’t have expectations, which I knew would eventually be crushed because that is what a relationship does. It destroys your faith in love until you are a shadow of the person you once were. It’s snowing outside and I watch the small flakes falling from the sky. I love New York and it is good to be back, but I don’t think I can handle living with Brett. It was a huge mistake. My heart does its own thing around him. How could it not? He is so good with Maylee, the way he feeds her and sings to her. He’s so loving. In all my dreams I never pictured him being this way. He has a big heart. Maybe too big of a heart because he really likes the ladies too. The list of women he’s been with is daunting. It’s too much for me. I can’t compete and I don’t want to. Setting boundaries with Brett doesn’t seem to do the trick in curbing my feelings either. Not when I got off to thoughts of him and then had that crazy dream of me and him having sex on his large bed. The Uber pulls up in front of my old job and it feels good to be getting parts of my life back.

I enter the gym, which has a distinct scent, and I inhale. I loved my job. I always enjoyed working out but that wasn’t an option back in Sugar Meadow because my family was always too busy to watch Maylee, and the gym is so small it didn’t have a day care. I say hello to familiar faces and get introduced to new employees.

“Willow, it’s so good to see you,” my old boss, Silas Blay, greets me with his hand extended.

I shake his hand. “Good to see you, Silas.” He pulls me in for a hug. Oh, okay.

“You too. You’re looking great. How is your little baby?” he asks.

“She’s good. Five months old and keeping me busy,” I reply then realize that is maybe the wrong thing to say.

“Not too busy to come back to work,” he states.

“No, I’m ready for work. I spoke with Natasha in the day care and they have room for her,” I explain.

“Perfect,” he says. “Come, let’s take a seat in my office.”

I follow Silas to the management office. He’s been working at this gym for a good decade. He’s in his mid-thirties, he’s tall built and handsome. I used to think he was interested in me but I wasn’t interested in him. It’s funny how chemistry can work. That first night I met Brett I was losing my head over him.

Silas motions for me to take a seat. “What type of hours were you looking for? Truth is, we could really use you on Saturdays. I’m happy to give you hours during the week too, but I need to at least have you come in on one of the weekend days.”

“I can make that work. It’s more evenings that would be complicated for me,” I say.

“Okay, that’s great. We have a lot of new members, and I am sure some of your old clients will be happy to have you back.”

“Thanks. I’m super excited to be coming back to work.”

“Can you start this Sunday? I’ll ask Yana to get you on the schedule,” Silas says with a wide grin, showcasing white pearly teeth. His green eyes feel like they are glowing or maybe it’s because of the contrast with his spray tan.

“Thanks so much, Silas. I’ll confirm everything with Natasha.”

“Well, we are glad to have you back,” he says and, geez, does he smile a lot. I don’t remember noticing that before.

“Glad to be back.” I stand.

“You take care,” he says.

“You too, see you soon.” I leave his office and blow out a breath, feeling like it was a bit of an awkward interaction. I’m not so crazy about having to come into work on the weekend, but I can’t be picky after being gone for so long. I’m just happy they needed me. When I trained as a physical therapist, I was taught to train athletes. I also trained in clinics with injuries. The clinics are the place to make better money, but it’s hard to find a job in that kind of setting. Besides, I think the gym will be a good place for me to get back in the swing of things.

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