Page 96 of Regards, Mia

“I should go,” I say.

“Where are you going?”

I push past him and wrench open the door to the stairwell. “Home,” I say.

But as I open the door, I realize it’s not where I’m going, but to whom. There’s only one person I want to see right now. Only one person who can make this nightmare fade away. I drive straight to Out of the Box, just in time to see Laura closing up the gym. Jay isn’t there. He’s gone on a ride and she doesn’t know when he’ll be back.

CHAPTER 39

Trying To Get Lucky

The wind on my face, the sun on my back, the smell of blooming flowers in the air. This ride through the mountains is exactly what I need to clear my head.

When I get home, it’s nearly dark, and the gym is closing for the night. I thank Laura for keeping everything smooth in my absence.

“That’s what you pay me for, Boss,” she says in her usual cheerful manner. Her optimism used to annoy me, but I’ve gotten used to it and I don’t know what I’d do without her.

After she’s gone and the gym is locked up for the night, I head upstairs for a shower. I check my phone while I unlock the door, but Mia hasn’t called or texted. She’s probably still at work, grinding out a strategy to deal with a case that might break her. With Jordan.

I don’t trust that man, and neither should Mia. But if I try to warn her, I will look like a jealous boyfriend.

Maybe that’s what I am.

Inside my apartment, I shed my jacket and throw my keys on the counter. The air is stale and all the lights are off. I open a window and check out the meager contents of my fridge.

I’m supposed to be sharing takeout with Mia, but instead, I’malone and missing her like crazy. It’s odd to be away from her. I’ve gotten so used to shadowing her, I don’t know what to do with myself.

The buzzer sounds from the back entrance, and I instantly perk up.

It must be Mia, coming over to see me. I press the intercom. “Hello?”

“Hey, Coach,” says a young male voice I don’t recognize.

My heart sinks. “Who’s this?”

“It’s George,” he says. “Can I talk to you?”

I sigh and buzz open the door. A moment later, I open the apartment door and find not only George standing there, but another kid standing slightly behind him. They look enough alike to be family, and I assume it’s his brother.

“Thanks, Coach,” George says, coming in when I open the door wide. “This is Tyler. My little brother.”

“Hi,” the kid says.

“What can I do for you?”

The kids look at each other, and then George finally speaks up. “We were hoping we could crash here tonight.”

I don’t know what I expected, but it definitely wasn’t that. “What?”

“Our dad kicked us out for the night. He’s got a date and she’ll probably stay over, so he told us to get out.”

I think of a few lessons I’d like to teach George and Tyler’s deadbeat dad. “Where does he think you are?”

George shrugs. “He doesn’t care. He just told us to scram.”

“He’s trying to get lucky,” Tyler says.

“He sounds like a great guy,” I say.

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