“I’m at The Coffee Spot. I’m meeting Auden and Lilah for lunch.”
It’s the last thing I expected her to say. “Oh?”
“I know, I know. Me, hanging with WAGs—can you believe it? But they were so nice that night at your game and when we went out, so…” I picture her shrugging. “I don’t know. We kept in touch, and they invited me out today.”
Her words ease a worry I hadn’t realized I was carrying around. I’m glad she has someone there for her. She needs it.
“That is okay, right?”
Her words snap me out of my head. “What? Yeah, of course it is. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“I don’t know…because this is your world and not mine? I don’t want to step on any toes.”
I want to tell her it’s her world too and always has been, but that’s not exactly true. Sure, she cheered me on at my games and went to a handful of stuffy events with me, but she was never reallyinmy world.
And I think that might be my fault. After what happened in college, when people would treat her like trash just because she wasn’t who theythoughtI should be dating, she took a step back. I allowed that. Yes, I reassured her that I loved her no matter what, but maybe that wasn’t enough. Maybe she needed more.
Is that the reason she left? Because she didn’t feel like she belonged? I don’t know, and I want to ask, but things are just starting to feel right with us again, and dredging up the past isn’t what I want to do right now.
“My toes are fine, thanks. Though if you had a foot kink, you could have told me.”
She lets out another loud laugh and says, “Shut up.”
It makes me grin.That’snormal.That’sright.
“So are you ladies just grabbing coffee or doing something else too?”
She doesn’t answer straightaway, and I wish it didn’t set me as on edge as it does. Will it always be like this? Will I always be waiting for that other shoe to drop? Will I always be waiting for her to run?
“Just coffee, but afterward I have…an interview.”
I stop breathing.
I wait.
“Callum?”
“Where?”
“Sorry?”
I clear my throat. “Where is your interview?”
“Here. In Seattle. It’s, uh, it’s for a paper. I’m not entirely sure it’s in my wheelhouse since they mainly focus on sports, but apparently the owner wants to expand and mix in more lifestyle articles. He thinks I’ll be a good fit to possibly run the editorial department for it, so I’m going to hear him out.”
Holy shit. Could she…could she stay in Seattle? Could she build a life here? Could she come back to me after all?
“Cool,” I say, trying to keep my composure and not let myself get too excited. I have no idea if I’m even a thought in all of this. I’m probably getting way ahead of myself.
Still…the idea of having Chloe so close again…of being able to see her before, during, and after games…having her to myself on off days… Fuck, the whole thing sends a rush of excitement through me.
When she doesn’t say anything, I worry maybe I’m beingtoochill about the whole thing.
“Are you still there?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Sorry. I was just…thinking.”
Fuck. She sounds off.
