Page 129 of Offside Rules

Of all the things that could upset me tonight, apparently having a bath run for me is the one I can’t handle. I didn't even have to ask; he just knew to do it.

I undress and step into the tub, lowering myself beneath the bubbles. The water is warm enough to turn my skin pink, and I lean back, trying to convince myself that a few minutes in here will help.

Tomorrow, I get my kitchen back.

Friday, I have the biggest order I’ve ever done.

Soon, if everything goes well, I’ll have enough to apply for the shop.

These are good things. Things I’ve worked for and wanted for years.

I should be able to enjoy them without sitting in somebody else’s bathtub wishing the work would take longer.

I close my eyes.

A tear slips down my cheek.

I wipe it away, annoyed with myself, but another follows. Then I’m sitting forward with one hand over my mouth, trying not to make enough noise for Wolf to hear.

"Baylor?"

I look up.

He stands in the doorway with my water glass in his hand. His gaze catches on my face, and he sets it down before coming toward me.

"What’s wrong?"

I shake my head, wiping beneath my eyes.

He crouches beside the tub, keeping his bad arm close to his side.

"Are you hurting? Do you feel sick?"

"No."

His eyebrows draw together.

"I thought you said—"

"That I don't feel well… I know." I press my lips together, but that doesn’t stop another tear. "I’m not sick, Wolf."

He waits, looking at me.

"This is our last night and I know that was my call to have an expiration date on it."

His face changes, and I wish I hadn’t said it. We both knew what tomorrow meant. I didn’t need to drag him in here and make him look at it.

"I thought I could go out with everybody and have dinner and be normal about it." I let out a shaky laugh. "Apparently, I can’t."

He reaches for my hand.

I hold on.

For a moment, he looks down at our fingers without saying anything.

"I’m not particularly good at it either."

"You seemed fine."