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“I agree,” I say. “Which is why we can’t do this again.”
Even though they’re the expected words, for some reason the sentence lands as unwelcome as a splash of cold water. I can see from Luke’s gaze that he feels the same.
“Mia...” he says, and opens his mouth to say something but doesn’t complete the sentence. And then he closes his mouth sighs and nods again.
“Yeah," he says. “We can’t do this again.”
* * *
The next day,I realize that I never got around to telling Luke what I came to his room for, last night.
I decide to bring it up after we dropped the boys off at school, on our way to the cupcake shop. Luke insists on following me around and ignores my protests once again.
“I'm your business manager?” he says wagging his eyebrows. "Remember?”
“I can’t believe you’re serious about this," I say.
"I am. So, get used to it."
When we arrive, I finally say, “Oh by the way, there was something I wanted to talk to you about last night. About the team.”
He nods as he opens the car for me, showing an unexpected gentlemanliness. “I’m listening.”
"I spoke to James last night,” I say, and Luke's face tightens for whatever reason. I go on, ignoring it. “Anyway, he’s my co-coach for the Mountain Goats and I wanted to run it by him first, to make sure he had no opposition before I tell you what it is.”
“What is it?”
"I think we can combine the teams.”
Luke doesn’t say anything, although one eyebrow climbs into his forehead.
“I got the idea when I called the district head yesterday. She let me know that it was possible. Half your team is aging out of Pee Wee, and so is a significant number of mine. So, it only makes sense that we combine our teams.”
“I don’t think your team parents are going to agree with that,” he says. "Especially not after that last game."
“Yes, but they have to understand that it's not the kids’ fault. And as for their children, well, kids are adaptable. They’ll get used to it as long as the adults are all on board and help them transition.”
"I don’t think anyone else will see it like that." Luke sighs. "But it’s worth a shot."
Then he shoots me a smile that has my heart clenching involuntarily. I look away instantly because I don’t want to awaken any type of new feeling. Luckily, his phone dings, taking his attention off me. The rest of the car ride, he focuses on his phone, typing out responses and answering important emails, I assume.
He's still on his phone as I open up shop, but I notice that when a customer comes in he immediately analyzes them. He watches every interaction I have, as though searching for “the stalker’ who ransacked my house.
God, the idea still gives me chills.
I try not to think about it, but the image of my home ransacked is still etched in my mind. And even though Luke's crew did a good job of cleaning it up, I know that I'm still going to have nightmares when this is all over.
But I put it out of my mind now, focusing on work. A few hours in, I take a heated muffin and an Americano to Luke, who’s still frowning at his phone.
"What the fuck is his problem?" he mutters at it when I approach.
"Whose problem?"
He looks up, his eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. "The damn old man."
I raise an eyebrow. "That doesn't narrow it down."
He sighs and explains the situation to me briefly, telling me of the charity he wants to help and how the founder refuses to meet with him.
