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That was when I heard the water running from the bathroom and the faint sound of someone crying. Tentatively, I moved in that direction, now seeing some steam wafting out of the tiled room as well.
“Haley?”
“Why won’t anyone ever love me?” I heard her sob. “I do everything right and I still can’t make anyone love me.”
Shit.
What kind of personal torture was this? I certainly wasn’t expecting to walk in here and be made to feel like a kid all over again.
But what could she be talking about? Had something actually gone down between her and Max?
I could see from where I stood that she was naked, and yet, nothing in me was aroused. I was concerned, afraid, and desperate to make her feel better. Almost like she was my own kid—or girlfriend.
“Haley?” I said slowly, making sure my shoes made noise as I walked so as not to startle her. “Are you okay?”
Haley seemed to jump a little, and quickly pulled her knees up to her chest to keep herself covered.
I grabbed a towel and put it over my face so she knew I wasn’t staring, especially after the other night.
“No…” she said softly. “I don’t feel like I’m ever gonna be okay again.”
The water continued to splash against the tile in its rhythmic pattering and there was a long silence between us. I hated knowing this girl I cared about was in so much pain and I was simply helpless to do anything for her.
“Max and I broke up,” she said softly. “I really thought he was gonna be the one.”
I walked over to the shower door and turned my back to the glass, sitting on the moist marble beneath it. “May I ask what happened? You two seemed like you were really close.”
“We were,” she blurted, sobbing a little. “He and I were this perfect little skiing couple and he’s been there for me all throughout my recovery. But he took a job coaching at a chalet in Switzerland. He said he didn’t think it was fair to try and put ourselves through a long - distance relationship.”
I was stunned, and kinda wanted to punch Kevin’s nephew. How in the world did he not see what a prize he had? Haley was the perfect woman—especially for someone who loved skiing the way he did. He could have had an Olympian.
In a sick, dark way, I was pleased that this stupid boy had so royally fucked up. My weird little ape brain began to whisper, “Now you have a chance.”
“That’s… fucking awful. I’m sorry. What a fucking loser to walk away from someone so magnificent.”
Unfortunately, this only seemed to have the effect of making her cry harder and I damn near beat my head against the glass for fucking up so magnificently.
“He was such a good guy,” Haley said, voice quivering. “I’ll never find anyone like him again.”
My first inclination was to refute this statement, but as fucked up as it was, the last thing I wanted was to share Haley with some dumbass slope-head who would keep her well occupied and well fucked.
“Things like this happen, Haley. Unfortunately, that is part of life.” I wasn’t sure if I was towing the line between dad, boss, and friend, or whether I had fully crossed it. But her whimpers softened. “The important thing to remember is that this isn’t about you. This is about a young man following his dreams. Just like you’re trying to do.”
Haley sniffled and I could feel her body moving behind me. Perhaps she was nodding or simply shifting the position she was sitting in. Either way, I could feel the warmth of her that was on the other side of the glass move and it was like I’d lost my connection to a phone call.
Damn it, I was falling for her.
Maybe I’d already fallen.
“You’re right,” she said, voice hoarse from crying. “If I really care about Max, I should want him to pursue his dreams, too.”
“Yeah,” I said, happy that something of my nonsensical rambling seemed to be providing some relief for her. “Exactly.”
“If you don’t mind,” she said. “I’d prefer to finish my shower now… alone.”
“Oh,” I quipped, getting to my feet. “Right. Of course. I’ll just leave you to it. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.”
I strode from the room and was just about to close the door behind me when I heard her voice again.
