“What?”
I nod, leaning forward and bracing my elbows on my knees. “Her boss called. The restaurant is gonna be ready sooner than they expected. They want her back in Italy in, like, a week.”
“Ah, damn, her mother’s gonna be devastated.” He leans back in his chair, steepling his fingers under his chin. “So how are we gonna convince her to stay?”
I’m already shaking my head before he finishes speaking. “I won’t do that to her. If she wants to go, she’ll go. The best I can hope for is that she won’t break things off with me. That she’ll at least consider something long-distance until I can come up with a better solution.”
“Yami. You’ve got how many years left on your contract. Four? Five? You’re really gonna be able to handle your girlfriend living on the other side of the world for that long?”
I shrug, looking him square in the eye. “She’s worth it, Coach.”
The barest flash of a smile crosses his face and I know that was the right thing to say. He might not be her actual father, but he cares about her, and I respect that.
“Good answer. But still, let’s hope like hell it doesn’t come to that.”
“Yeah. Let’s hope.”
“Now get your shit together, son, I need my pitcher back. You’re goin’ in for the last game. That means you have thirty-six hours to get your head straight so I don’t have to bench my starting pitcher again. Got it?”
I nod. “Yes sir.”
I don’t got it, but I will. There’s no other choice.
Chapter thirty-four
Isabelle
The knock on my bedroom door is muffled by the blanket over my head.
“Belles? I’ve got coffee, can I come in?” Mom doesn’t wait for an answer, she just pushes the door open. “Oh sweetie.” I can hear the concern in those two words as she opens the drapes and sits down on the bed. “Talk to me, Belles. You’re scaring me.”
I’m honestly surprised it took her a full day of me hiding out in my room before she forced the issue. I push myself up to sit, blearily swiping my hair out of my face. Her gaze travels down, and I know she’s taking note of the oversized Tridents shirt I’m wearing.
Kai’s shirt, although she wouldn’t necessarily know it’s his.
I took it from his apartment before I left, after he told me he still loves me.
And didn’t let me say it back.
“Thanks,” I say, my voice sounding more like a croak as I take the coffee from her outstretched hand and blow on it before taking a small sip.
Mom lets me take a few more sips of coffee before she speaks again. “You need a shower. And some food. And please tell me what the heck is wrong, because this isn’t you.” She pauses, and what she says next has my stomach dropping to my feet. “Would this have anything to do with a photo that’s apparently online of you and Kai Yamaki?”
“Wh-what photo?” I stammer out.
Mom doesn’t look too freaked out, in fact, she seems weirdly calm. “Tony sent it to me. Kai has his arm around your shoulders and it looks like you’re about to kiss.” Her face falls into a frown. “Why didn’t you tell me you were seeing him?”
I lean back against the headboard and pat the space beside me. Mom moves into position at my side, the way we used to spend many weekends when I was growing up. She’d have her coffee, I’d have juice or milk, and we’d both read our books and have a lazy morning.
This time, there’s no books to read, but there is a story to tell.
“Kai and me. We were more than friends in college.” I have to clear my throat when my voice cracks. “We started as friends but it turned into more pretty quickly. We fell in love and dated for over a year and a half. Until…”
“Until you went to Italy?” Mom guesses when I can’t bring myself to say it.
I nod, moistening my lips with my tongue. “Yeah. When I first went, I truly did think I’d be back. I never planned on staying. But when I decided to move there, I knew I couldn’t stay with him.”
I brush a tear away, and take another sip of coffee, letting the bitter warmth seep down my throat.
