I left him in my office and went to start my next class, hoping like hell nothing else would happen today or this week. I wasn’t sure how much more I could take while trying to prepare for the playoffs.
Later that night, after practice, I met Jerome at the pub. He’d somehow managed to snag two stools at the bar, facing the TV. I sat next to him and ordered the local IPA along with a glass of water, and nachos.
“What a freaking week,” Jerome said as he took a drink from his pint glass. “Can it get any crazier?”
I thanked the bartender for my beer and took a sip. “Let’s see, we have one student athlete whose mom is dying and another student athlete who’s going to be a dad. I think that tops it for us.”
“All while heading into the playoffs.” He shook his head.
“Don’t remind me.”
“I heard a rumor this morning,” Jerome said. “I didn’t want to bring it up at school since the walls have ears.”
I chuckled. Rumors spread in town like wildfire, and most of them started at the school because the teachers were gossips.
“What did I do this time?”
“Had breakfast with a very pretty woman who’s been staying in town, helping her friend.”
I huffed as Antonia’s face popped into my mind. “Guilty.”
“No way!”
“What?” I asked as I looked around, scanning to see what or who had gotten Jerome’s attention.
“You like her, don’t you?”
I sighed and slumped in my seat. “‘Like’ is the understatement of the year. I’m infatuated, but she has a boyfriend, so I’m just an admirer from afar.”
“No, she doesn’t,” Jerome said.
“Yes, she does.”
He shook his head and took another sip. “Not anymore, according to Samira, and she knows everything.”
I let Jerome’s statement settle over me and thanked the bartender when he placed my plate of nachos in front of me. If Antonia didn’t have a boyfriend, that could be a game changer for me. Although I’d never come out and ask her, nor would I pursue anything with her, given the state of Miriam’s health.
It seemed I was no better off than I was when I’d sat down, before knowing that the woman of my thoughts, dreams, and desires was now single.
I picked at my nachos, determined to put her out of mind, at least until I got home and I could stare at my ceiling all night and wonder what she was up to.
Chapter 22
Antonia
Navigating work when all I wanted to do was spend all my time with Miri was the bane of my reality. Luckily, the hospital had a small conference room I could use for my virtual meetings, and thanks to all the modern technology out there, I could keep in constant contact with my admin.
The person I didn’t want to talk to was Brendan, but that was unavoidable. He hadn’t called since he’d had the nerve to ask if I was choosing the kids over him. Even replaying the conversation in my mind caused my blood pressure to rise. Who in the hell did he think he was? We weren’t married, and after being with him for four years, I sensed no advancement toward a proposal.
Still, he was my boss. Well, one of them. His father was the one I reported to and who signed my checks, and I’d made sure to email him and let him know Brendan and I were no longer a couple. I thought it was important to put that out there before Brendan said something to his parents and jeopardized my job. I didn’t trust Brendan after he’d made another bullshit comment.
I rolled my eyes as I shut my laptop. Miri snickered, and I glared at her. When I’d told her about Brendan and me breaking up, I’d said itwas a long time coming. The last thing I needed her to think was that her children were a burden to me. They weren’t.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I told her as I motioned for her to scoot over so I could lie with her. She did and tried not to wince. “What hurts?”
She shook her head and held her breath.
