Page 81 of The Chase

I didn’t want to talk about that either. I hated my job, but I tried to keep that to myself. I never knew if TJ might let it slip to his sister how unhappy I was. He knew it wasn’t my passion, and I didn’t exactly like it, but I didn’t admit to him how much I hated it. I was afraid of that getting back to his sister, and then I’d get fired.

“Or not, if you don’t want to,” she said. “We can talk about whatever you want in these sessions. I want them to be comfortable for you.”

I nodded. “Okay. I’ll see you next week.”

I waved to her on my way out, then walked down to the parking garage and got into my car.

I felt drained from talking about my issues. I wanted to go home and curl up in my bed. TJ got home from his road trip today, but I hadn’t seen him yet. Tomorrow was game day, so I wanted to see him tonight, but I was emotionally exhausted.

I looked at my phone and furrowed my brow at the text message from the man in question.

TJ: Come to Roxie’s game!

As much as I loved Rox, I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to be in my bed, preferably with TJ by my side.

ME: Babe, I’m exhausted. I want to go home.

TJ: Party Pooper! Come on! Come watch her kick ass and take names.

I smiled at that. Rox killed it on the ice in her beer league. She didn’t want to hear it, but she should play for the PHF. It was too bad they didn’t have a Philly team. If Philly got a team, I might have put more pressure on her to play for the league instead.

My phone vibrated in my hand and alerted me of another text. It wasn’t another text from TJ, though; this one was from Benny.

BENNY: Come watch my lady play! Your boy’s being all pouty because he misses you but also wants to support his sister.

ME: It really is like dating both of them, huh?

BENNY: Get used to it, girl!

I put my phone back into my purse and drove over to the rink. Finding parking was annoying, but after finding a garage, I walked over. I was hungry, and I hadn’t eaten dinner yet. I guess something at the concession stands would do.

It was already the second period when I walked inside the small rink that Rox’s beer league team played at. I spied her speeding down the ice on the breakaway almost immediately. She blew everyone else on the ice out of the water. I went up to the concessions and ordered nachos with cheese that I was eighty-five percent sure wasn’t real. Didn’t care—it was still delicious.

It didn’t take me that long to find everyone. Benny was standing up and yelling at the refs while TJ was shouting coaching tips to his sister. I spied Noah and Dinah seated next to them. Noah looked beet red with embarrassment, but Dinah looked like she was loving it.

I took my seat next to Dinah. “Hey,” I greeted around a mouthful of nachos.

She smiled at me. “Hey! We need to corral those two.”

I waved my hand away. “Let ‘em be. I want to eat in peace.”

“Oh, come on, that’s holding!” Benny yelled.

“Dudes! Sit down!” Noah chastised. “You’re gonna get us kicked out.”

“Again,” Dinah muttered.

TJ turned around and saw me. I waved as I shoved more nachos in my mouth. I didn’t want to rehash how my appointment went with him. He came over and sat beside me.

He tried to kiss me, but I gave him my cheek. “Stop, I’m eating.”

“I missed you,” he said and pouted.

I swallowed my food. “Missed you too.”

He stole a tortilla chip, and I swatted his hand away but let him take it. “How did it go?” he asked.

I shook my head.