Luke checked his watch eventually, exhaling. “I should go. We’ve got video meetings in an hour.”
“Of course,” Cassie said. “I should actually do the pretending-to-work thing.”
He stood and said, “I’ll see you around,” before hesitating.
“Hey, actually,” he said, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out his phone, unlocked it, then turned the screen toward her. “I know you already have the team contacts, but… this is my number.”
Cassie looked at it for a beat too long. She could feel the difference immediately, the quiet weight of it.
“In case you ever have a question,” he added, voice steady, professional enough to pass if anyone were listening. “For a story. Or something you want clarified.”
She nodded, pulled her phone from her bag, and typed it in without comment. When she looked up again, his eyes held hers just a second longer than necessary.
“Thanks,” she said.
As he walked toward the door, he glanced back once. Cassie caught it and felt it settle somewhere in her chest.
She reopened her laptop, stared at the screen, and realized she wasn’t ready to think yet.
Eight
Cassie didn’t text him that night.
She went home, made a salad she barely tasted, and folded laundry while replaying the way he’d looked at her over the rim of his coffee cup. She told herself the delay mattered—that waiting a day was proof she was still in control of this, whateverthiswas becoming.
The next morning, she woke earlier than usual. She skimmed the practice schedule, scanned the league headlines, answered an email from her editor. Only after she’d done everything she could to feel anchored did she pick up her phone.
Luke Anders’ name still sat there, unchanged.
She stared at it for a moment, then typed.
Cassie:
I’m taking a break from being productive. Felt like the right moment to say hi. ??
She set the phone down immediately, like it might bite, but it buzzed less than a minute later.
Luke:
I support this decision.
Cassie:
You haven’t left the Strip District since you moved here, have you?
Luke:
Hey! I’ve been to the rink too.
Cassie:
Impressive!
Luke:
I know. I’m basically a local.
Cassie:
