Page 19 of The Fine Line

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Who would I call, anyway?

My head drops forward, and my gaze lands on Bella across the room. She’s swaying to the music with her friends, but her eyes are locked on me. And even though I’m only half-functioning right now, my body knows this dance by heart.

My lips curl into a smirk. I lift a finger.

She comes.

Her arms go around my neck. Mine loop around her waist.

Her lips finds mine.

We stumble to the door to my parents’ room. I kick it open. We fall through the doorway.

“I like you, Sutty,” Bella whispers.

I blink. “Really?”

She frowns, like it’s strange I’d ask. “Yeah, of course.”

She kisses me again.

And like the dumbass I am—I believe her.

But when I wake up the next morning, she’s gone.

Of course she is.

Because why would she stay?

What good am I to her, anyway?

five

CAROLINE

Austin, TX, USA

I have a good feeling as I knock on the office door.

“Come in.”

I push it open gently, smiling when I see Bryan Johnston, the Texas Storm’s director of broadcasting, sitting behind his desk.

“Hey there, Bryan,” I say.

“Caroline,” he grins, waving me in. “Thanks so much for coming.”

I open the door wider, and my smile grows when I spot Amy, Storm’s head of human resources seated next to him.

“Oh, hi, Amy. I wasn’t expecting you to join us today,” I say—even though that’s kind of a lie—and grin. “It’s nice to see you.”

“You as well, Caroline,” she replies, smiling back.

“Why don’t you take a seat?” Bryan offers, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.

“I’m fine standing,” I tell him, setting my bag down on the chair and planting my feet next to it. “But thank you.”

“Suit yourself,” he says, brows pulling together slightly.

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