His shoulders deflate. “No, that’s not it at all, My.”
“Because despite how fucking hurt I am”—I brush at a tear that’s escaped down my cheek—“I’m stillbeyond happy for you. You’re turning your dream into a reality. How can I not be happy for you?”
His face softens and he stops mid-stride. “I wasn’t trying to keep this from you. I just didn’t know how to tell you. I promise.”
“It’s been a matter of days since you promised you’d never lie to me, yet you were actively keeping this from me. So why should I believe you? I gave something to you that I haven’t given anyone in a really long time.” My heart is already in pieces, but forcing this truth out shreds it even further. “I gave you my trust. And you broke that. And what’s worse? You clearly didn’t trust me, either.”
“I didn’t lie,” he says, his eyes imploring. “I just hadn’t told you yet. There’s a difference.”
I break into a sardonic smile. “Do you know how often I heard that growing up? Do you know how many times my mom avoided telling me something so she could sidestep responsibility? It may not be the same as outright lying, but it sure as fuck feels the same in here.” I splay a hand over my heart.
“I’m sorry, Maya.” Cole moves toward me again, but this time I can’t back up, my limbs too heavy to move. He wraps me in an all-encompassing hug. “Don’t run away from this. Fromus. Please.”
“There’s no need for me to run.” I blink in an effort to hold back more tears. “You’re already gone.”
“Berrett!” one of the assistant coaches yells. “Save the lovey-dovey shit for later. We’re in the middle of practice.”
A few of his teammates whistle catcalls and make kissing noises, completely oblivious to the true nature of our conversation.
He heaves out a sigh. “I’ll come over later and we can finish talking, okay?”
I shake my head and back away from his embrace. “I need some time.”
And by time, I mean a bottle of wine, a shoulder to cry on, and a fuck ton of Kennedy’s homemade cinnamon rolls.
Cole opens his mouth to argue, but the shrill sound of his coach’s whistle stops him. “Fine. I’ll call you. I love you, Maya. Nothing will change that.”
I wait until my back’s turned before letting the tears clouding my vision fall down my cheeks.
CHAPTER THIRTY
cole
Hi! You’ve reached Maya’s voicemail. I’m sorry I can’t come to the phone right now, but if you leave your name, number, and a short message, I’ll get back to you as soon as I’m done reading my book. Thanks! Bye.
I didn’t expectMaya to answer what feels like my hundredth call anyway, but a guy can dream. I can recite every word of her voicemail greeting backward at this point. I get it. I fucked up. Rather than trusting her with news about the trade—trusting inus, believing that we could figure it out—I kept her in the dark.
Every time it was on the tip of my tongue, something would happen that would make me want to keep things as they were for a moment longer. Because I’m not just leaving her, but a city I’ve grown to love, a team that was there for me and kept me going when my brother passed, and a new role as their captain.
Goose cuts into the silence, barking sharply. Though he doesn’t leave his spot by the window, he looks over his shoulder to ensure I’ve heard him. I’m sure the whole neighborhood has. My dog’s got a set of pipes on him. He throws his head back and yowls again, then finally runs to the front door.
“Goose.” With a sigh, I heave myself off the couch. “C’mon, buddy. It’s just a squirrel.”
It’s a miracle I hear the doorbell over his howling. Hunched forward, I check the peephole, and when I see my baby sister standing there with a suitcase, I stumble back a step.
“Darby?” I mutter as I yank the door open. “What the fuck?”
Goose runs in tight circles around her until she squats to pet him. “A simple hello would’ve sufficed, but a ‘what the fuck?’ works, too, I suppose.”
“Hello,” I chuckle, looping my arms around her. “Did you just get in? What are you doing here?”
“Seriously?” She drags her suitcase over the threshold, smacking my hand away when I attempt to help. “I texted you a reminder two days ago.”
I rack my brain for a minute before I recall the memory.Darby. Annual Northeast Dental Conference. Staying with me for a night.“Shit. It’s been a week from hell, and it completely slipped my mind. I’m sorry. The guest room’s clean, though, so you’re good to sleep in there.”
She gives me an exasperated laugh. “Isn’t it the middle child who’s usually forgotten about, not the youngest? Such bullshit.”
I tug Goose to my side so he stops head-butting Darby’s thighs. “Want me to order dinner?”
