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I was at my computer when Spencer got home, so absorbed in my task I didn’t hear him come in. He came up behind me and set his hands on my shoulders, and I jumped up so hard I sent my chair flying. Spencer caught it adroitly before it could hit the hardwood. He set it aside and took me in his arms.
“Hey, hey, you’re shaking. I scare you that bad?”
I laughed into his chest, a breathy exhale. “You kind of snuck up on me.”
“I wasn’t sneaking.” He combed his hand through my hair. “You didn’t hear me in the hallway? Stomping around? The way I was throwing my boots around, I was sure you’d have heard me.”
I shook my head, still catching my breath.
“You’re working too hard.” He peered at my laptop. “Hey, what’s all this? Don’t tell me they fired you.”
I chuckled again, and let go of Spencer. He dragged my chair back and I sat down. My browser was open and crammed full of tabs, a dozen job listings from a dozen cities. I closed it, but Spencer had already seen.
“Not fired,” I said. “Just, y’know.”
“Looking?”
“Yeah, but there’s nothing.” I leaned back and sighed. Spencer pulled a chair over and peered at my laptop. He browsed through the listings, taking the time to scroll through each one. His lips moved as he read, an endearing habit. I felt some of my tension draining away. Leon would be home soon, but he’d be exhausted. Maybe once he conked out, I could slip in with Spencer. One more sleepover. I surely deserved it.
“What’s wrong with this one?” Spencer turned my laptop. “It says they’re a small group. In need of self-starters. That should mean no, what’s the word? ‘Design by committee.’” He ran his finger down the screen. “Proven experience with residential projects… remodels, redesigns… You’ve got that, right? Oh, and medical, dental?—”
I leaned over his shoulder. “That’s in New York.”
“So, even better! It’s the Big Apple. I mean, what’s the biggest project you could get here in Albuquerque? Condos? A rec center? A new hockey rink? Think, you could do the next Chrysler Building. St. Patrick’s Cathedral.”
I snorted. “A cathedral? These guys build condos.”
“But cool condos, right? New York condos.”
I scowled, feeling suddenly tired, out of sorts. Why was Spencer so hot for me to go to New York? Was this his way of reminding me we were only a fling? We’d agreed to no strings, and I was fine with that, really, but he didn’t need to rub it in my face. It felt like some kind of preemptive rejection. Might as well go. You weren’t staying for me, were you?
“I’m tired,” I said.
“You want a back rub?” Spencer moved behind me, but I stood up abruptly.
“Not tonight. I’m exhausted. I’m going to bed.” I realized I was snapping, but I was too tired to care. Too tired, too hurt, too done with this day. I turned my back on Spencer and marched off to bed, and lay for a long time staring at the wall.
He’d really be fine with me moving out to New York? Two thousand miles and one time zone away?
That being fine with him was not fine with me.
CHAPTER 11
SPENCER
Iwas lacing my skates, getting ready for speed training, when Gates and Rodriguez sat down behind me.
I hardly noticed at first, lost in thought as I was — Izzy had been on edge these past few days, and not just her normal hate-my-job tension. Since the night I’d come home and caught her browsing the job ads, she’d been weird and distant. Up in her head. I’d wheedled it out of her about Mark and Jim, how they’d shut her down and stolen her ideas, but they always did that. What made this time different?
She’s on a losing streak. Like the Ice Bears, till now.
I ground my teeth. I knew how that felt. Not much would’ve cheered me in the depths of our free fall, but maybe things weren’t as dire for Izzy. Maybe if I took her out somewhere fun — not the squash court again; we’d been there, done that. Somewhere nice, maybe. Somewhere relaxing. The botanical gardens?
This isn’t first grade. She doesn’t need a field trip.
“How’s it going with Julie?” said Rodriguez, behind me.
“Not bad,” said Gates. “But she’s talking about a weekend in Santa Fe.”
