Page 49 of Pucking Fate

“I get it. And I actually have an aunt who is a nurse at a retirement home near here.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I could ask her if they’re hiring and let you know.”

“That would be so great, thank you. But no pressure. I don’t have any experience, and I might be awful at it.”

“You won’t be awful at it,” he replies with a grin. “But I can’t promise anything.”

“Understood.”

“Well, what do you think? Are you ready to call it a night?

“I think so.” Ready to get home, I check my phone before I start driving. “No calls from Christian, so things must be going well on his first time alone with Finley.”

“That’s great,” Spencer says. “I like kids, but I’m not sure if I would trust myself to be completely responsible for one.”

“Oh, I’m sure you would be fine,” I tell him with a smile.

Spencer picks up the check and we leave the restaurant. We stop by his truck for the jersey before he walks me to my car.

“Thank you for dinner and the signed jersey,” I tell him, lifting the black and red sweater. “Finley will adore it.”

“You’re welcome.” He gives me a warm smile, and for a second, I think he’s going to say something more, but he doesn’t. Instead, he leans in and gives me a gentle hug, his arms wrapping around me in a way that feels comforting without asking for anything more.

I hug him back, closing my eyes for just a moment as I let myself sink into the warmth of his embrace. It feels nice and safe, but there’s also a part of me that knows this isn’t where my heart will ever lie. Not just with Spencer, but any man who isn’t Christian Riley.

As much as it hurts, I think I still love Christian. Maybe I never stopped. I don’t think I ever will either, no matter how much time goes by. God, that’s really depressing.

When we pull apart, Spencer looks at me with a mixture of affection and uncertainty. “Don’t forget to take time to take care of yourself, Maya,” he says softly. “Let me know if you need anything now that Preston’s gone, and since Christian will be going back to Greensboro for training. I’ll check in with you soon, if that’s okay?”

“Sure, Spencer. And thanks again for tonight,” I tell him, offering him another smile before getting into my car.

As I drive home, my mind is a whirlwind of emotions. I replay the night over again in my head. It was a good evening. Nice. But only at a friendly level. There’s no spark with Spencer. No desire for anything with him but friendship.

When I finally pull into my driveway, I sit in the car for a moment, staring at the house. Finley should be asleep by now, and Christian is probably on the couch, scrolling through his phone or watching TV, wishing I would hurry up and get home so he can leave.

As soon as I finally step inside, Christian stands up from the sofa to greet me, his face blank when I walk into the living room lit with only the screen of the flickering television. “Well? How was your date?”

I force a smile, but I can tell he sees right through me. “It was… nice,” I admit, sinking down onto the couch.

He raises an eyebrow. “Just nice?”

I let out a sigh, leaning back against the cushions. “We talked and got along great. Spencer is a sweet guy, but I’m glad it’s over.”

“Me too,” Christian agrees with a smirk as he sits back on the sofa next to me.

“So, what are we watching?” I ask before slipping off my shoes and curling my legs underneath me, trying to adjust to my new normal—being next to Christian without touching him or kissing him the way I really want to.

I lie awake that night after my date, staring at the dark ceiling, feeling the weight of his voice as if Christian were standing outside my door, asking me to let him in. The desperation, the sincerity—it’s all there. I want to open that door. God, I almost did. But something held me back, something deep and familiar.

Fear.

Fear that letting him in would mean inviting all the pain from the past back into my life and Finley’s.

But then, there’s this other part of me—a quieter, softer voice that whispers maybe—maybe he really has changed. Maybe this time, things could be different.

That voice is dangerous because it’s hopeful, and hope is exactly what led me down this road before. I fell in love with Christian once, and I got hurt. Can I risk doing it again?

---