“You can’t go on like this forever, Ty.”
“I know. I’ll look into some counseling if it doesn’t get better soon.” These days he felt like a zombie when the morning alarm went off, and he was dragging a bit through the day.
“I’ll hold you to that.”
At the crack of a bat they glanced at the screen where the Bravesrunner on third brought in the tying score. It was the bottom of the ninth.
They high-fived each other as the station broke for a commercial.
“Did you check out the management position at the visitors’ center?” His mom had mentioned the opening.
“It’s been filled. Same for the office manager position at that occupational therapy place Alex suggested. Speaking of Alex, he seemed pretty confident about that silly bet you guys have going when I spoke to him yesterday.”
Ty snorted. “Overconfident, you mean. I won’t mind taking five big ones from him on auction day.”
“Five?What happened tothree?”
“Like I said,overconfident—and I found the big-screen TV I want. It’ll take up half that wall. Be like watching the game in person.”
“You guys are ridiculous.”
“Alex is ridiculous. I’m clever.”
She chuckled.
“Something funny?” He poked the ticklish spot on her side.
“Hey.Watch it, buddy.”
He would’ve pushed his luck but decided she felt too nice curled against his side. He pulled her closer instead and ran his fingers through her silky chestnut hair as the Braves brought in another run, ending the game eight to seven.
“Good game,” she said.
“Good series. I like their chances for the playoffs this year.”
“I do too, but it’s early yet.”
It was so much easier to talk baseball than the subject at hand. But Jenna had to give an answer on the Parks and Rec position tomorrow, and the job started a week from tomorrow. How had time passed soquickly? As much as Ty hated it, the right answer seemed crystal clear. He set the laptop aside and turned to her. “Jenna, you should take the job.”
Her brown eyes dimmed as she held his gaze. “I don’t want to leave you.”
The admission made his dopey heart buck. “We’ll figure it out. We’re both committed to making this work.”
She was quiet for a long moment, seemingly considering what a long-distance relationship might look like. “It wouldn’t have to be forever.”
“Absolutely. Maybe something will open up here that would be perfect for you. Or maybe I’ll move to Alexandria after all. These aren’t decisions we have to make right now.”
With a quiet sigh she let her head fall to his shoulder.
“I really do think you’ll love that job. And Nancy seems like she’d be a great boss.”
“I know. I should be more grateful instead of focusing on the drawbacks. It’s just that...” Jenna raised her head and met his gaze. “We just found each other.”
The way she looked at him made his skin go warm. “I don’t know how it can feel that way when we’ve known each other for years, but it does. How did these romantic feelings just hit us out of nowhere?”
She bit her lip as her eyes shifted away. “I don’t know.”
He knew her well enough to know when she was holding something back. “What?”
