Why I haven’t been able to face her like a man.
But I can text her. Tell her behind a screen.
She’s not in my life anymore.
Honestly, my feelings changed for her a while ago.
Months ago.
You really don’t need to explain it to me. You don’t owe me anything.
I do.
I owe you everything.
She doesn’t reply, and with everyone finally on the bus, the driver pulls out of the stadium, and I let my head sink back against the rest, unable to put my phone away. Hoping she’ll text me back, but unable to say what I really want to.
Not with her brother laughing about some new bombshell and one of my teammates reminding me of my past. “Yo, Long. You coming out with us?”
“Nah. I’m in for the night.”
JD shouts from the back, “Somebody throw me a sweatshirt. I’m freezing.”
Someone else, “Why?”
“Hell has frozen over.”
Laughter rings out, and I roll my eyes, though I don’t take offense. If some ribbing is what it takes to prove I’m not the man I used to be, I’ll happily take it.
I shoot off one last message to Nadine.
I miss you.
CHAPTER 20
NADINE
It haunts me.Those three words.
I miss you.
I think of them when Camden arrives home from his road trip, looking a bit worse for wear after that hit and the travel.
I miss you.
I think of them as I play on Erik and Molly’s living room floor with Kai, making him giggle with funny faces during my day off.
I miss you.
I think of them as I head back to Camden’s penthouse, knots in my stomach at what I can expect to be our conversation, but he has an early appointment with his PT, so he only has enough time for a jut of his chin and quiet, “Morning, Riv” as he scoots out the door.
I miss you.
I think of them as he comes back after his day of practice, sitting down to have dinner with Paisley and me. We made a simple lasagna.
He loves it, helping himself to a second plate, complimenting us. Saying it’s better than what his chef makes.
Camden and I haven’t been openly hostile in a long while,but we also haven’t been this awkward. We can barely look at each other. Both of us aiming questions at Paisley so we don’t have to talk to the other. And she notices, frowning.
