Page 84 of The Coach

"I wanted to talk to you about something." She looks nervous, and I wonder what it could be. There has been so much going on, and I've spent so much time at the hospital this week that we haven't had a lot of time to check in with each other since everything happened.

"Anything, babes. Spill." I smile.

"Well, you know how Jasmine is moving back to Palm Springs and, well, you have Brad now. I'm thinking of moving out."

"You are?" I ask, surprised.

"I can't live here anymore, not after what happened last week. I'm sorry."

"Oh God, don't be sorry. I've been feeling the same but didn't want to put you out. This place is haunted now. I get it if that's how you feel as well. Where are you going to go?"

She gives me a sly smile. "A friend's place?"

"A nice-looking male friend's place? I've seen you, girlfriend, sneaking around with him. He picked you up from practice yesterday, didn't he?"

"Maybe?" She smirks. Good for her. She has been seeing this guy for a while, and it looks like it's working out. I couldn't be happier for her. Even if she won't call him her boyfriend or anything. She's happy with him, whatever their arrangement is.

"Where does he live? You're not moving too far away, are you?"

"Not too far from here. We can catch up for dinner once a week or something, and I'll still see you at practice every day."

"True, dinner once a week sounds like a nice idea."

"Are you going to move in with Brad?"

I scrunch up my face. "I don't know. Do you think it's too soon?" I ask her. Cause I really don't know what the right thing is to do. He seems all in, and I know he's ready for more commitment. He's the kind of guy that once he has made up his mind, he goes for what he wants. But this is all so new for me.

"As if you do anything just because it's normal. The Andy I know just goes and gets what she wants." She smirks.

"I don't want to fuck this up, though, Luna. What if it's too soon? Then we're over it and decide we hate each other."

"The dude got stabbed for you. I don't think he will move in with you and decide he hates you." She must notice my jaw drop, a little surprised at what she just said. We haven't talked about it at all. She wasn't really making a joke of it. She said it more matter of fact, but still, it sounded wrong. "Sorry, is it too soon to say that?"

"Feels kind of weird, you haven't talked to me about it at all."

"I know. I don't know what to say. I feel guilty because I should have seen it all happening. Because I should have stopped Darcy. Do you think we'll ever feel normal again?"

"I'm not sure, honey. I don't think I will. But Jasmine says over time it will all hurt less and we will trust other people again." I wrap my arms around her. "Don't feel guilty about any of it. None of us saw it coming."

She hugs into me, and I feel so grateful to have her. "Come on, enough of the sappy shit. We have a game to win."

Brad

We clink glasses and I take a sip of my scotch. "Congratulations, beautiful. You and the Angels did it."

"I think I'm still in shock." She grins, her entire face lighting up. The sparkle is back in her eyes tonight, and she's the most gorgeous I have ever seen her. She's glowing from her win. And she's wearing a sexy black dress, short and body-hugging, showing off her luscious, toned body. On her feet she has some sexy heeled ankle boots. Her legs are long and tanned. She looks good enough to eat.

I haven't fucked her since before I got stabbed because she has been too worried about me overdoing it. She won't let me even get close to her. It also might have to do with everything she's been through, so I haven't pushed it, but I don't think I can wait a minute longer. But there is something I need to talk to her about first, so I'm going to have to wait.

We're out on the terrace just off my bedroom, and I take a seat on one of the deck chairs. "Can I talk to you about something before we go to the after-party tonight?"

She takes a seat opposite me, crossing one long leg over the other and sipping her drink. "What do you need to talk to me about, Brad?" She is a temptress, and she knows it. The way she says each word, distracting me from my thoughts.

I look at her pretty eyes, trying to concentrate on what I want to ask her. "I know you're struggling to stay in your house. And with your sister moving to Palm Springs and now Luna moving in with her guy friend, you will be all alone in that big house."

She gives me a sassy look. "I have Nala, don't forget."

"How could I forget about her? What I was saying, though, is… you're here all the time, anyway. Why don't we make it permanent?"

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