Page 34 of Doozer

“Once training is over, I may not be coming back to Portland at all.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Doozer

“SO, YOU’RE KICKING my ass to the curb after all,” I said, shooting out of bed.

“No, it’s just that the team Taxi’s putting together may not be based out of Portland. It sounds like it might not be based out ofanywhere.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure, and there’s not a whole lot I can tell you, other than I’m not breaking up with you.”

“You’re moving to Virginia for two months and who the hell knows where after that, and this is the first I’m hearing of it?” I dragged my hands down my face. “Not really interested in the long-distance thing, ya know.”

“Oh, that’s great,” Trouble hissed. “My pussy won’t be at your beck and call, so now you’re dumpingme?”

“I’m not the one skulking around in the dark hours of the morning with another man.”

“There’s no fucking skulking, Marco. I have given you my schedule from the get,” she growled. “If you’ll notice, I gave you so much detail, even down to when I may or may not need to pee.”

I sighed. I was being a complete asshole, but I couldn’t seem to control the emotions swamping me.

“Train here,” I rasped.

“I can’t.”

“Why the fuck not?” I bellowed.

“Because that’s not how this works!” she bellowed back. “And now I’m wondering if you’ve always been a dick or if it’s just me who brings it out in you.”

“Goddammit!” I snapped, my fist connecting with the wall, punching a perfect circle in the drywall as permanent reminder of my blind stupid rage.

“Doozer,” she admonished, sliding off the mattress and approaching me like she might a feral cat ready to attack her. “Let’s back this up a little,” she said, placing her hands tentatively on my chest. “Take a breath.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and did just that.

“Now take another,” she directed, and I met her eyes. “I’m not leaving you.”

“Bullshit.”

She gripped my chin and squeezed. “I’m not fucking leaving you, Doozer. You are one of the most important things in my life, but I’m also well aware that if I give up a dream for a boy, then I’m a douche, and I will never,neverbe a douche, capiche?”

I pulled my face out of her vice grip and dropped my forehead to hers. “Jesus, Steph, you’re not a douche.”

“I know.” She cupped my face again, this time gently, and she ran her thumb over my lower lip. “If I could take you with me, I would. The thought of being away from your magic wand, even for a night, makes me crazy, but this is important to me. It’s a chance at a purpose, honey. One that I’d very much like to share with you.”

“And if you decide I’m not part of that purpose?” I whispered, my gut churning with every fear spoken aloud.

“How could you not be part of my purpose, Marco? You’re the reason any of this is even happening.”

“And if that reason is bigger than us? What if we drown?”

“There are lots of things that will be bigger than us, honey. And we won’t drown. We’re fucking champion swimmers.”

She grinned and I couldn’t stop a smile myself.

“You’re better at the backstroke than I am,” I retorted.

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