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I swallow what feels like a boulder as Jaden’s nervous eyes finally find mine. He gives me a sorrowful glance, and it’s all I need to see to understand the damage I’ve done.
I’m fucked. Royally fucked.
I walk into the office where Greg is turned in his chair behind the desk, his back facing me.
“Have a seat,” he instructs, filing through some papers.
Shrugging off my sports bag, I take the seat across from him, my pulse pounding so hard I could start a fucking band.
He turns to face me, dropping a stack of papers before him. His face stretches into a huge grin.
“Well, you did it, girl,” he says proudly. “They want you.”
He pushes the stack of papers over to me and I see the logo on top of the paperwork. My eyes immediately draw up to his.
Is this some sort of sick joke?
“Dr. Shelby was a good friend of mine back in school. He was more than excited for the opportunity to bring you aboard.”
I don’t think I can breathe. Dr. Shelby? Wants me? Lake took the hit. He took the heat for me, putting all the blame for our relations on himself. He saved my name. My credibility.
“A-are you serious? They want me?”
Here I thought I was going to get a lesson on how not to suck your clients’ dicks in the backroom, but now I’m being offered a job with the National Football League?!
A piece of my shattered heart glides against the rest of the broken mess in there, and I feel the pain of his sacrifice.
“As sad as I am to see you go, I’m beyond proud of you. You’ve really grown here, and I’m excited to see you spread your wings,” he says with a glimmer of a tear in his eye.
“Better wipe that shit away, Greg. You don’t want them thinking you’ve grown soft due to your love of handheld kitchen appliances.”
“Ha! That’s my girl. Give them that same attitude and you’ll kill it out there.” He smiles. “Come on, bring it in.”
He stands, walking around the desk to pull me in for a big bear hug before dropping me back down on my feet.
“And go check on your buddy out there,” he comments. “Soft ass thought you’d be mad at him for stealing your client.”
I stare at him in confusion. He hands me the stack of employment papers from the NFL, then points in Jaden’s direction.
Walking over to where he’s still cleaning equipment, I cross my arms over my chest and lean against the stationary bike, waiting for him to turn.
“Are you his therapist now?” I ask, pulling on his wrist until he finally spins and faces me.
“Yeah, Dyl.” He sighs heavily, dropping his cleaning towel. “I wanted to tell you the minute Greg called me, but I was worried you’d kill me.”
I chuckle softly, then shake my head at him, my smile fading.
“You know I’d never. You’re one of the only friends I’ve got.” My smile returns. “Can’t go killing them all off.”
He smiles back, a weight clearly lifted off his chest. “This is true.”
“But, honestly, why would Lake still drive all this way when he could utilize one of the new therapists on the team?”
“Why do you think, Dylan?” He smirks at me. “He’ll do whatever he can to stay close to you while you’re still here. Even if it means using me.”
Another cracked piece falls off my shattered heart, dropping to the pit of my stomach.
As frustrated as I’ve been at Lake, I can’t help but see how everything he’s done has been for me. He wanted me to be the best version of myself, giving me all the opportunities I’ve ever wanted. But what he doesn’t understand is that he’s what makes me better.
