Page 46 of The No Try Zone
I nod, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth just to watch his reaction.
He curses. “We can’t do this.”
My eyes fly to his. Something has shifted in the past millisecond, because his gaze has shuttered. “Do what, exactly?”
He steps away. “This. Us. I have to stay focused. Scott was very clear: get a championship or I’m fired. This is – I can’t.” He rakes a hand through his hair, barely meeting my eyes before focusing anywhere but on me. “I can’t afford to lose this job.”
My entire body flushes again, only this time it’s in a sickening adrenaline rush of realization. He doesn’t want this. He doesn’t want me. The feeling is followed immediately by an all-encompassing anger at myself for allowing whatever this little session was to even happen.
“Get out.” I barely recognize the cold voice that comes out of me.
“Sam.”
The tone is too similar to the way he said it earlier, and it nearly breaks something crucial inside me. I shake my head and will the tears to stay down. “Get. Out.”
He studies me again, and it’s infuriating. Because I know he sees everything. The same way I see everything about him. And right now, it’s painfully clear that I’ve let myself be fooled twice.
I can’t bear it. I want to scream at him, hurl myself at him and hurt him the same way he’s hurt me. But I won’t say another word. Clenching my hands into fists, I stand my ground. I won’t speak, and more importantly, I won’t leave. I’ve spent two months running from him, avoiding him.
Not anymore. That stops now. I lift my chin, daring him to say something.
He nods, then turns to leave.
It’s not until I’ve heard the door to the workout room close that I exhale.
Chapter16
Sam
“THIS IS ONLY the second time I’ve been here,” I remind Kari as she guides me into her living room.
She looks back at me, her blunt bob skimming her cheeks, and grimaces. “I’m sorry. It’s not on purpose.”
I laugh. “It’s okay, Kari, I promise.” And it is. Besides, we’re here for some Christmas fun, and it’s the best thing I can think of to keep Colin off my mind.
Allyson and Elodie greet me with hugs while Kari disappears into the kitchen to finish the drinks she insists she doesn’t need any help with.
“It’s a beautiful house,” I say, taking everything in. The Christmas tree is real, topped with a giant, nearly translucent gold bow that flows down the length of the tree. The lights are warm and white, and the decorations are all themed red, white, and gold. Garlands trim the doors, plush blankets are draped across the white couches, and the soft sound of Christmas carols envelops me. I have no idea how she’s had time to do this. It seems like a lot for a woman who lives by herself with no time to do anything but deal with her crappy boss.
“It’s perfectly Kari,” Allyson assures me. “Close to work and classy as hell.”
“I heard that,” Kari says, reappearing with a tray of festive-looking drinks.
“You’re welcome,” Allyson replies with a smile. “Because it’s all true.”
“Coming from a professional spy, I’ll take that as a compliment.” She sets the tray down on the coffee table and begins to hand out the candy cane-stemmed martini glasses. “These are called Candy Canes. Basically, they’re martinis with a hint of peppermint instead of olive.”
They’re adorable, each with a little peppermint floating in the bottom of the drink. Once we all have our drinks in hand, Kari raises hers in a toast. We do the same.
“Here’s to found family. The best kind there is.”
“Cheers,” we chorus, raising our glasses before pulling them in for a sip. “This is delicious,” I tell her, the peppermint fresh and minty in my mouth.
“I wanted to be sure your one adult beverage was worth it,” Kari says, grinning. “But if you want another, I’m happy to make it. No marriage needed,” she jokes.
“Fuck off,” I shoot back good-naturedly, then take another sip.
She laughs. “I do have more non-alcoholic drinks ready to make for you. And they’re tasty – none of that syrupy-sweet juice bullshit that bartenders like to pass off as mixed drinks without liquor. This is actually good, I promise.”
