AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She steps away from me and paces again, hands on her hips. “Stop pressuring me, okay? Like I said, we can talk about it once the season is done. See what happens.”
I blow out a breath and lean against the arm of her couch. “Aren’t you tired of sneaking around like we’re doing something wrong?”
She whips around to face me, fire in her eyes. “Of course I’m sick of it. You think I love eating takeout every night or watching movies at home because we can’t go out for dinner or to the movies? I’d love to explore the city with you or go hiking on one of the trails. You think this isn’t hard on me too?”
“And that’s why I want you to let me deal with it. So we can stop hiding and go do all those things together.”
“I said no, Lee.”
“Shayna—” I step toward her again, but she puts her hand out to stop me.
“Listen, I need to pack to catch my flight home. We can talk about this when I get back.”
My chest tightens. “Shayna—”
“No, Lee.” She shakes her head. “I just need some time to think about what I want. I’ll be back on Friday, but let’s wait and plan to talk about it after Sunday’s game.”
I do my best not to show how hurt I am by her pushing me away. I get the sense that if I push her right now, I’ll lose her for good, so I nod and make my way over to the door. “Have a good flight. Just… text me when you land so I know you got there safe, okay?”
She nods, but she’s staring at the floor and doesn’t look at me.
My stomach churns as I leave her apartment. I refuse to lose Shayna again. I have to do something to make it clear to her how serious I am about the two of us being together. I don’t care what it costs me.
Thirty-Four
Shayna
Ipush down on the potatoes with the potato masher, probably harder than necessary. I’ve been holed up in my parents’ kitchen all day under the guise of wanting to help with Thanksgiving dinner, but I’m just trying to avoid all the questions about my life back in San Francisco.
Questions that only spur thoughts of Lee.
I don’t know what to do. There’s no easy out for us. I meant everything I said to him—I don’t want to hide any longer, but I also don’t want to lose the job and opportunity I worked so hard for. And what other team would hire me after finding out I got into a relationship with the star quarterback on my previous team? Basically, my life is a mess.
Looking at my mom's and my aunt’s situations doesn’t help Lee’s argument. Two of my favorite women gave up their dreams early in life to be the support their husbands needed, and now they’re at the mercy of their husbands.
My mom looks tired and wan from being on her feet all day. Yeah, my dad has been more stable the last few years, but they have mountains of debt to get out from under after all the years when he wasn’t doing well.
Then there’s my uncle, who hasn’t made an appearance yet at my parents’ house. I have no idea if he’ll be here for dinner. No one dares ask where he is because we all know the answer is at a bar where he lost track of time or with another woman.
“Why the long face, sweetie? You haven’t seemed like yourself since you got home.” My mom comes up beside me and rubs my back.
I try to slap on a smile. “Just tired.”
“You’re working too hard. You need to make sure to take time for yourself.”
I scoff. “Like you do?”
She hip checks me and hijacks the potato masher from me. “You’re different.”
I used to think so, but now I wonder. The thought of throwing away my career so that I can be with Lee stings, but the idea of letting him go is like being swarmed by bees.
“I’m fine, I swear. Just a little run down.” I head to the fridge and remove the salad, taking off the plastic wrap, then take it into the living room.
My dad has the football game on and has barely looked away from the screen all afternoon. My aunt sits on the couch with my cousin, Trisha, and the new boyfriend that Trisha brought home to meet her parents. My other two cousins couldn’t make it home for the holiday.
Trisha is two years younger than me, and her boyfriend, Scott, seems nice enough. Though if I have to watch the two of them moon all over each other any longer, I’m going to stab myself in the eye with a fork.
Salt, meet wound.
