I handed Haley the bag. Our fingers touched, and her pupils dilated. I forced myself to step back.
“Thank you.” Her voice came out steady, but I heard the slight breathlessness underneath it.
“No problem.”
Jim moved closer, positioning himself between us without seeming to notice. “Are you working late again, honey?”
“Just finishing up the defensive zone package,” Haley said, turning toward her father. “I wanted to get it done before tomorrow’s meeting.”
“You work too hard.” Jim’s voice held affection. “You’re allowed to have a life outside this building, you know.”
“I know, Dad.”
“Well, don’t work too late.” Jim turned back to me. “Tolrek, we should grab coffee together soon. I want to pick your brain about the defensive structure. You’re seeing things on the ice I want to understand better.”
“Of course.”
“Good.” Jim smiled. “I’ll have my assistant set something up.”
He walked away, his footsteps echoing down the corridor.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
TOLREK
Haley and I remained outside her office.
The silence after Jim’s footsteps faded was different from the careful silences in hallways. Those could be prevented. This one was the aftermath of almost being caught. I felt exposed, as if we’d been balancing on the edge and hadn’t fallen, but only barely.
“That was close,” she said quietly.
“Yes.”
“He didn’t notice.”
“No.”
But he could have. If I’d been standing six inches closer or looked at her with everything I was feeling inside, he might’ve seen.
It wouldn’t take much.
“I should go,” I said.
“Yes.”
Neither of us moved.
Her office door hung open behind her. One step and she’d be inside. One step and I could follow, close the door, and be with her in a place where neither of us had to pretend.
Jim’s footsteps had faded, but they could return. Anyone could walk around the corner. The building was emptying but there were still plenty of people around.
“Thursday,” she said. “Four o’clock.”
“I’ll be there.”
Before I turned, I glanced at her once. Not the way I’d been careful not to look all day. She held my gaze for a second and didn’t pretend she hadn’t.
Then I walked.
