Page 68 of The Body Checker

Is it possible that he might want the same things I do? That he didn’t voice it because I’d blatantly told him I didn’t want a family, that we needed to keep our relationship a secret because I didn’t want people to get the wrong idea? Was he protecting me because he cares about me, maybe even loves me?

If so, pushing him away like that, assuming he’d let no one or nothing stand in the way of his hockey, must have made him feel pretty shallow.

Have I made a horrible mistake?

“Oh, God, Tina, what have I done?” I ask, and put my hands over my face.

“It’s not too late, you know.”

“He’s on the road. I really don’t want to run after him, tell him how I feel when he’s practicing.”

Just then, a knock comes on the door, and I push off it. I check my watch again. “Maybe one of the kids forgot something.”

I open the door—and when I see who’s standing on the other side, my knees give.

“Hey,” Jonah says, as he wraps his arms around me. “You okay?”

“I’m okay,” I say, breathless and lightheaded.

He looks past my shoulder. “Hi, Tina,” he says.

“Jonah,” Tina says and backs up. “I’ll just go tidy up.”

“What are you doing here?” I ask. “Aren’t you supposed to be at practice?”

“Yeah, I am. Coach wasn’t too happy with me either, but I had to come back. There’s something you need to see.”

I frown, perplexed. “What are you talking about?”

“Can you come with me? I need to show you something.”

I nod my head. “Yeah, okay. I guess.” I turn and find Tina picking up blocks and putting them away. “Tina, would you mind if I took off?”

“Go,” she says. “I got this.”

Jonah doesn’t touch me or even stand too close as we walk to his car. He does, however, walk me to my side, and close the door once I’m inside. My heart is racing just about as fast as my brain. What does Jonah want to show me? I’m not sure what it is, but it’s obviously more important than his hockey practice.

“How have you been?” he asks as he pulls into traffic.

I look at him, take in the rumpled state of his clothes, his hair. Has he not been sleeping? I know I sure as hell haven’t been. As I look him over, I want to tell him how I feel, but there is a part of me that holds back. Jonah is upset about something.

“Good,” I say.

“Daisy?”

“She’s adjusting well. She’s such a happy little girl. I can’t wait to get my own center open so I can have her with me all day. I’ve already hired staff and given my resignation at the daycare.” Okay, Quinn stop rambling already. “How have you been?” I ask.

“Not that great.”

“I’m sorry. Anything from Shari?” I ask, even though I now she’s gone MIA again. Zander texts me every day asking about his daughter. If he’d heard from Shari, he would have let me know.

He shakes his head no, and I sit back and fold my hands, waiting to see what it is he needs to show me. A half hour later, he pulls up to his mansion, and I frown.

“Why are we here?”

&nbs

p; “Come on.”

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