Page 112 of Face Off With Fate

I snorted, rounding the corner to the café.

Me:

Why? You gonna judge me if I am? We don’t all love to be up at the ass crack of dawn.

The little dots bounced, taunting me. A woman walking her dog glared as I strayed into her path, too busy waiting for his response to pay attention to my surroundings.

Monroe:

So defensive. I was just going to tell you I wish you were in mine…

I pressed my lips together, heart skipping a beat.

Me:

You’re not even in your bed.

Monroe:

I would be if you were in it.

A laugh slipped out, and the grumpy lady glared over her shoulder. I didn’t care. Three days of this stupid, giddy feeling.

Three days of smiling like an idiot over texts that came in at odd hours. Before practice, after, sometimes a single line in the middle of the night that had no business making me feel the way it did.

Monroe:

I’m gonna be heading your way after morning training.

I frowned at the screen.

Me:

My way?

Monroe:

Your sink. Said it’s been dripping.

How did he⁠—

The list. The one he’d torn right out of my notebook and taped to his fridge.

Me:

You don’t have to do that. I can just hire someone, like you said.

Monroe:

I know. But I want to be the one to take care of things for you, Graciella.

Monroe:

K. I’ll see you later, baby.

I stood there in the middle of the coffee shop’s entrance, customers splitting around me as I stared at the text. Butterflies started back up low in my stomach. Truthfully, I’d had them since he’d pinned me to that wall and said those words.

It’s okay, baby. You can run. I’ll chase after you.