Page 28 of Line Change

He stares at me for a second. “Of course I would, but …”

“But what?”

“You know I’ve had feelings for you, so yeah, maybe I’ve done more for you than I would for another friend, but like I said, I have the means to, and I wanted to, so I did. I stopped pursuing you after you made it clear how you felt. Doesn’t mean the feelings are just going away. But I’m trying. Doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy hugging you, taking care of you. It’s a fucking privilege to be able to do those things, and I wish you could see that.” He stands abruptly and grabs his empty dish. “I-I need some space,” he says before walking out of the room.

Eventually, the door to the balcony off the kitchen snicks shut as he goes out onto it. I wipe away my tears.

Why do things have to be so complicated?

I get to my feet, make my way into the guest bedroom where my furniture was moved into, and get ready for bed.

As I’m drifting off to sleep the thought hits me that I wish this room didn’t have furniture still so I had an excuse to sleep in Sebastian’s bed, with him, next to him.

But he’s my temporary roommate, my friend, and that’s all he can ever be because I’m going to be a single mom and that needs to be my main focus.

Besides, it’s not like I can tell him I changed my mind.

Can I?

Chapter eleven

Sutton

I’m sitting at my desk the following week when someone knocks on my door.

“Come in,” I call, hoping it’s Sebastian.

He’s been distant since the conversation in his living room a week and a half ago. He’s barely home. Yes, the team has traveled for a couple of days in that time, but the days they’re in town, I haven’t seen him. He’s asleep when I get up to go to work, or at least I assume he is—his bedroom door is closed—and gone when I get back. He doesn’t come home until I’m in bed. I only know he’s still around because of the dishes in the drainboard or the sink. I hate that I made him uncomfortable in his own home. I made a vow this morning that I’d try to find him at the arena today or wait up for him so we could talk. Clear the air. And if we can’t, then I plan to find somewhere else to live.

The door opens, and one of the security guards pokes his head in. “Miss. Sutton, I have an envelope for you.”

“Oh.”

He steps into my office and sets the envelope on my desk. “It came for you via messenger. The delivery driver was adamant about you getting it today.”

I glance down at it and note the return address is a law firm in New York. My stomach bottoms out. That’s where my family lives. I sure as hell hope I’m not being served. Although I’m pretty sure I have to directly accept that sort of notice.

“Thank you,” I finally manage to say.

“Of course. You have a good day, Miss. Sutton.”

“You too,” I tell him as he closes the door.

I stare at the envelope on my desk for a few beats, unsure what to do. Leave it? Open it? Ignore it? With a resigned sigh, I carefully open it up. With shaking hands, I pull out the papers and unfold them. I skim the first page, a letter from my grandmother’s attorney.

“Holy shit.” I flip through the other pages—copies of her will.

“You alright?”

I startle, dropping the papers, and when I lunge to grab them, I bang my knee into the desk. “Fuck.”

“Shit. Shit. Shit.” Sebastian is at my side before I can blink, picking up the papers and setting them on my desk while I inspect my knee. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He stands up, running a hand through his dirty-blond hair.

I meet his gaze, noticing the bags under his eyes. He must be exhausted. The All-Star break can’t get here soon enough. I feel even worse that he’s avoiding his house because of me. I’ve got to fix this between us today, or I need to move out.

“It’s ok.” I rub my knee. “What’re you doing here?”

He drops into the chair on the other side of my desk. “Came to say hi.”