Page 23 of The Recovery Coach
Connor reached out and pulled one hand away from her face, trapping her fingers in his own.He brought her hand to his mouth, kissing it.
“You and me both.Everything is fucked.”
“Your life isn’t fucked,” Olivia said.“You’re taking a mandatory break.Aren’t you tired?You never slow down.”
“Slow isn’t part of my vocabulary.”
“You better learn it pretty damn fast.”She laughed at her own joke.“See what I did there?”
Connor rolled his eyes.“You need to work on your sense of humor.”
“Hey!I’m running on two hours of sleep in an unfamiliar bed, sludgy black coffee, and half a peanut butter sandwich I scarfed down between meetings seven hours ago.You’re lucky I’m capable of cracking a joke right now.”She stuffed a bite of her abandoned burger into her mouth, at least addressing one problem.
He squeezed her knuckles.“You should quit your job.”
“I have these things—you know—bills.They are required to keep living.I’m already mooching off you.If I quit my job, I’d have to move home and live with Jayden.”
“Mooch off me for as long as you want.My house sits empty half the time, anyway.”
“You know I can’t do that.”
She could in the short term.But being around Connor for too long was dangerous.Olivia could handle him for short periods of time.Any longer than a few weeks and she would start confusing their relationship.Distance kept her crush at bay.
Staying with Connor would be disastrous for her self-esteem and long-standing infatuation, but she didn’t have many other options.Especially while he needed her.
Chapter 8
Hazy
Afteranightinthe hospital with constant monitoring and check-ins, his care team allowed him to go home.He hadn’t managed to convince Livy to quit her job, but she at least agreed to stay with him for a while.Having her close would be such a relief.
She didn’t fit in at the hospital.Over the course of his brief stay he’d heard more than his fair share of gossip about the doctors and nurses there.It sounded like everyone was sleeping with each other.The environment was a breeding ground for toxic behavior.Her working in a place where she went unappreciated and gossip spread like wildfire rubbed him the wrong way.
Livy opened the door of Daisy’s SUV and handed him his crutches.He grunted as he stepped his good leg out.
She held out her hands, ready to steady him if needed, while Daisy went ahead with his bag and unlocked the front door.Lover and Beanie were in New York, so it was just him and his girls.
Getting into the house had him out of breath, and suddenly he could see the next several months laid out ahead of him.
“Fuck, this sucks,” he said, lowering himself onto his couch.
“Think of it as a mandatory vacation,” Daisy said, parroting Livy’s words from the previous night while heading into the kitchen to grab a box of Cheez-Its.For once, her chipper attitude did nothing to lighten Hazy’s mood.
“Easy for you to say,” Hazy replied.“Your career isn’t on indefinite hold.”The season had barely started, but they’d started strong.Hazy had a feeling this could be Seattle’s year.He wouldn’t even get to be a part of it.
Livy grabbed Hazy’s duffle from where Daisy sat it and disappeared down the hall while Daisy sat crisscross on the couch next to him.
“Quit whining,” she said.“You can still do team stuff.You still get to work with your trainers.You can still go to all the functions.If you think the boys will leave you out over a stupid injury, you’re delusional.Everyone goes through injuries.Your career will be waiting for you when you can walk again.”
Hazy crossed his arms and frowned.Usually, Daisy coddled her friends rather than gave tough love.He wanted sympathy and affection.“It’s not the same.Everyone is traveling and I’ll be here.”
Livy, having dropped his bag in his room, grabbed a snack of her own and joined them on the couch.Daisy pressed play on an episode of trash TV.
“Oh no,” Livy mocked him.“You have to eat snacks and relax for a couple of months.Whatever will you do?”
Daisy laughed at Livy’s snark, and Hazy’s frown deepened.“I’m being serious.How am I supposed to support the team when I’m cooped up all by myself and everyone else is working hard?”
Livy, recognizing his need for comfort, reached across Daisy and squeezed his arm.She said, “It’s not like you have to do any of this alone.Focusing on rehabbing your leg is how you can contribute this year, and I’ll be right here to cheer you on.”
