Page 39 of The Girl He Loves

Chapter 14

Tuesday Afternoon

“You’re a fool,”Josie says as she holds the ladder still.

It’s after work and we’re in my garage, talking about how the morning ended. When Dax left, I had the feeling we wouldn't see him again. We should have left it at the one night. Because watching him ride away made me sad.

I knew if he kept coming around, this feeling would be inevitable. AndI try to convince myself that Dax not coming back is for the best.

I stare up at the garage door opener and have no clue how to fix it. I’ve watched a few YouTube videos, but still I’m clueless. I’m only up here because I need a distraction from my thoughts.

A pang of doubt comes over me. Is Josie right? Am I fool?

I shake my head. Nope. No way. She’s crazy.

I tell her as much. “Thing is, yeah, I can be friends with him. But let’s define that.”

“You never needed our friendship defined.”

“I’m not sleeping with you. No chance you can knock me up.”

She lets out a string of colorful words. “Just let things happen. Have sex. Don’t have sex. Let him share. Don’t let him share. Who cares? Unless there’s another reason you’re fighting this.”

Yeah, there’s another reason. Not one I want to say out loud anytime soon. Dax is someone I could easily become attached to. Dax not getting attached to me would be devastating. It took years for me to get over him the first time. What if I can’t get over him a second time?

I pull a lever on the opener, and nothing happens. The part of me having a pity party would see that as a metaphor for my life.

“I dunno, Jo. My gut says I should tread carefully.”

She clears her throat. “The chemistry is still there between you two. We all saw and felt it. And I think you’re letting fear dictate everything.”

I turn on the ladder, sit on one of the steps, and look down at her. “I think this entire conversation is moot. The way he said goodbye this morning makes me think I won’t see him again. And if I’m right, then I did make the right decision. But for giggles, let’s play this out. What if he did hang around a lot? And our relationship is classified as ‘just friends’. Great. No biggie. But what if it develops into more? I did an internet search on him this morning, and Bleacher Report says he’s the top candidate to fill the offensive line coach position for the Tampa team. His dad’s the head coach there. If that was what the call was about, why wouldn’t he just say that? It’s not like he could jinx getting hired by his dad.”

She shrugs. “Tampa’s not a terrible commute. It’s not like being across the country.”

I shake my head. “Football season is hectic. Even if we were in the same town, I’d only see him early in the morning or late at night. He’ll basically live at the training facility. He’d be gone a lot. I just don’t see it working out.”

She meets my gaze. “All sound arguments. I can see why you think you’ve made the right decision where he’s concerned. I remember feeling like that after the hurricane destroyed Brinn’s flight school and my apartment.”

“So, you understand.”

She nods. “Which is why I think you’re a fool.”

I chuckle. “Annnddd we’ve come full circle.”

She grins back. “And the garage door is…”

I jerk my thumb behind to gesture to the garage door opener. “Still broken. And I have no idea how to fix this thing.”

“I didn’t think you did. But I love you for trying.” She smiles.

The rumble of a motorcycle has Josie stepping out of the garage to look down the road.

“Um, how you gonna handle it if he comes back? Because here he comes, and maybe it’s the concussions, but he looks ready for round two.”

“If he’s in a leather jacket, jeans, and biker boots, that’s what he always wears when he rides.”

“I’m talking about the determined expression on his face.”

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