Page 99 of Playoff
“Move?” I repeated the word like I didn’t know what it meant.
“I don’t want to rush you, but there are financial advisors everywhere. I’m not pushing to move in with you—we can take our time and I could get my own place. It would be a chance to have my own life, separate from Justin.”
It was difficult to focus on the road in front of me. Jess would move? Just to be with me? She’d pull up her whole life?
I had to swallow before I could speak. “Are you sure about that? If I’m playing, I’m on the road often. You’d be on your own a lot.”
She looked out the window. “If you don’t think it’s a good idea, just say so.”
If Jess could be bold, so could I. “I think it’s an incredible idea. I love it. But I’d hate for you to move and then regret it.” If she came with me and then left, I wasn’t sure I’d survive.
Her lips pursed. “I wouldn’t. Not unless you decided you weren’t interested. But if that’s too much for you?—”
“No! Not at all. But seriously, if you do that, move to where I am, don’t get a place of your own. Stay with me.”
She let out a breath. “That’s a big step. You might not like living with me.”
I was pretty sure I’d love it, but maybe too much enthusiasm would scare her. “We could try it.”
She stared at me. “And if you don’t like it?”
I gripped the steering wheel, eyes focused on the highway in front of me. “I would love it. But if you’re not sure…”
“If you let me move in with you, you’re going to have to evict me with a crowbar.”
I risked a glance at her. Her jaw was set but her eyes were warm. “I don’t have a crowbar.”
The corners of her mouth were twitching. “You’ve been warned.”
The night was dark, lit by headlights and the ambient light of the cities we were passing. But I saw a future, one with Jess. Something I never thought I’d have. I wanted that future more than I wanted the damn Cup.
She gripped my hand. “This is a little nuts, you know.”
I held on to her tightly, like it was anchoring me. “I don’t care.”
We kept driving through the night, heading west, before she finally asked, “When are we turning back?”
“I’m not ready.”
Her expression softened in the glow of the dash. “Then how far are we going?”
“Tonight? Hamilton.”
“Hamilton?”
“I have very fond memories of a hotel there. And I hear it’s one of the top-rated sex cities.”
Jess covered her face with her free hand. “I’m too embarrassed to show up there a second time with no luggage only to leave after a couple of hours.”
“Why can’t we stay the night this time? You’re not working tomorrow, right?”
A slow smile spread over her face. “I’m not. I’ll let Justin know I’m safe, and then I’m all yours.”
I liked the sound of that. And not just for the night.
While I checked in, Jess went to the gift shop and picked up what we needed—toothbrushes, deodorant, a couple of T-shirts to sleep in, and condoms. I waited for her by the elevator.
“Ready?”
