Oh, but she felt like she did.She didn’t want to live in regrets, but was choosing to spend time with him only going to lead to more?
Geraldine’s death had left her with a lot of new ones.Had she spoken to Goran unprofessionally?That was what he’d accused her of, according to Dr.Singh.That, and not being a team player.
“Which we all know is sour grapes, but you need to tread carefully.He’s got connections to the board and is the kind of person to hold a grudge.So we’ll consider this a warning, even though you know I’m only saying that because admin is making me.”
So yes.While it was nice to have Dr.Singh’s support, she couldn’t help but feel wary.About her workplace.And about whatever…thiswas with Kyle.
“Come on.I thought you said we could be friends,” Kyle teased.
“I don’t recall actually saying that,” she countered.
“Well, if you didn’t, you should have.You do want to be friends again, don’t you?”His eyes had lost all tease, fixed on her intensely.
Her throat was tight.She could only bob her head.
He exhaled.“Finally.”He reached across and grasped her hands.
“Um, what are you doing?”Holding hands wasn’t what “friends” did, was it?
He gently squeezed, then let go.“Sorry.I forgot you had someone else.”
Someone else?Oh, that’s right.Guilt ramped up inside.
“Put it down to excitement or something,” he continued.“I’m just so relieved to finally be talking to you again.”
“I am too,” she said shyly.Even if it still felt foolish, like she was one step away from plunging headfirst off a cliff.Blame that evil angel perched on her shoulder.
“I’ve been praying for this moment,” he admitted.
“Praying?”
He nodded.“I’m a Christian.”
“What?”She slid her hands back, put them in her lap.“Since when?”
“Since last year sometime.I can’t remember when.”
He sipped his chai latte, clearly waiting for her to ask.But she didn’t want to.That felt like opening up to a conversation that was too big.And this already felt hard enough.
“I just knew that something was missing, and I needed more purpose in my life.”
Wait.Wasn’t she here because he’d missed her?That was the impression she’d received, anyway.She frowned.She’d been replaced byGod?
“You don’t think you do enough good things with your charity work?”
He eyed her.“What do you know about my charity work?”
Okay, admit that since bumping into him she’d Googled him?That she wouldn’t do.She shrugged.“That’s what pro athletes do, right?‘Give back’,” she rolled her eyes.
A frown appeared in his eyes.“I try to, yes.But I didn’t think you’d mock me about it.”
She ducked her head.“Sorry.I don’t know why I did that.”
“Hmm.”Doubt loaded his expression.
“Okay, yes, fine, you’re right.”She knew exactly why she did it.She shrugged.“It just seems incongruous for athletes who earn millions of dollars every year to be paying forward something that likely only cost them a few hours of their time.That isn’t giving back.Mentoring poor students in a public school for hours every week, that involves real sacrifice, and commitment.Now that’s giving back.”
“Wow.Tell me what you really think.”
