Page 62 of Main Event

“That supposed to be part of the metaphor?”

“No. It’s supposed to be part of why you get out before traffic turns into a parking lot full of idiots who forgot rain is wet.”

I pick up my towel.

Mack’s voice follows me. “And Luke?”

I turn.

He points one thick finger at me. “Don’t take her somewhere safe because you’re scared. Take her somewhere good because she deserves good.”

I hold his gaze for a moment. Then I nod. It’s the only answer I have.

Andi answers on the second ring. “Everything okay?”

We both answer phones like that now. Not hello. Not hey. Damage assessment first, conversation second.

“I’m fine,” I say. “Mack kicked me out.”

There’s a pause. “He what?”

“Kicked me out. Reyes cosigned it. Whole little mutiny.”

“What did you do?” Her voice takes on that tone, the one that says she knows it’s my fault and I should confess and save her the trouble.

“Existing, apparently.”

“Luke.”

“I’m overtraining.”

She doesn’t say anything for a moment, which means she already suspected it and is deciding whether to be kind about that.

I save her the trouble. “I’m coming to get you.”

“I have a meeting at eleven.”

“Cancel it.”

“I also have a call at one.”

“Move it.”

“The sky is about to split open over Atlanta.”

“I know.”

She goes quiet again, longer this time. I can picture her exactly: phone against her ear, standing somewhere near her office window, already measuring the day against everything that could go wrong if she steps away from it.

“Where are we going?” she asks.

“Away from the storm.”

“That’s not a destination.”

“It is today.”

“Luke, I can’t just disappear.”