Page 168 of Offside Rules

I stop. "How did you know I was here?"

"Ellie."

"She’s a traitor."

"She said you had an appointment with the property manager."

"I did. He just left."

His eyes move to the keys in my hand. "You got it?"

I nod. Talking doesn’t interest me right now.

"That’s great, Baylor. Congratulations."

"Thanks," I say, and suck in my lower lip.

He looks around the kitchen, keeping his hands in his pockets.

I haven’t answered him since the gala. I saw the messages when I woke up, but I didn’t know what to say, and getting dressed felt like enough of an accomplishment for one morning.

"If you’re here to talk about last night, I’m really not in the mood. Today is a good day for me. I don’t want to ruin it with this."

"I’m not." He glances around the space.

"Can we sit somewhere?"

"I just got the keys, Beau. There aren’t any chairs."

"Right." He rubs the back of his neck. "Standing’s fine."

I lean against the counter and wait.

He looks tired. There’s a crease in his shirt, and his hair is still damp. For a second, I want to ask whether he’s eaten.

Then I remember that I don’t know whether Wolf can get dressed by himself.

"I owe you a better apology," Beau says.

"Yes, you do."

"And I owe him one."

I look up.

He holds my gaze this time.

"What I did was wrong. Finding out about the foundation didn’t make it wrong. It already was."

My fingers tighten around the keys.

"I knew his shoulder was hurt," he continues. "I kept going after it anyway."

"I was there Beau. I remember it quite well. In fact, it replays in my head on repeat and I wish I could make it stop."

Beau looks down.

"I know what that’s like," I say. "You know I do."