Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
My shoulders slump. He’s right, of course, but I hate that I can’t do anything right this moment. Every fiber of my being wants to hop a plane to Raleigh right now and say fuck the game tonight.
But that’s not an option, and no matter how much Ava might be hurt or disappointed in me, she would never want me to leave this team when they need me.
I can, however, put some wheels into motion. I grab my phone back. “I’m going to change my Thanksgiving flight from Denver to Raleigh.”
“Good luck with that.” Baden laughs as he moves to the door to let himself out. “Day before Thanksgiving? Doubt you’ll find anything.”
“Well, wish me luck,” I say, pulling up my Delta app.
The door opens but before Baden steps out, I call for him. “Hey!”
He glances over his shoulder, eyebrows raised.
“Thanks for talking sense into me.”
Baden grins. “My pleasure.”
CHAPTER 30
Ava
“Who’s ready for pie?” my mom asks as she stands from the table and we all groan.
My dad pats his belly. “I’m going to need a little more time to digest.”
“I’m not eating until tomorrow,” I mutter, glad I’m wearing black leggings under a burgundy sweater tunic. They’re quite stretchy and help minimize the misery from all the food I ate, but I do it every Thanksgiving.
“Y’all are lightweights,” Rob says, and then smiles at Mom. “I’ll have pumpkin.”
Why I’m doing this, I have no clue, but I say, “I’ll have a slice of pecan.”
Dad laughs and says, “I’ll have a small slice of both.”
I stand and clear plates, and when Rob just sits there, I kick his leg. “Get up and help.”
“That’s woman’s work,” he says and then scrambles up when Mom turns her head his way with that look that makes grown men cry.
Snickering, I nudge him. “You’re going to get it if you keep talking that misogynistic crap.”
“He’s certainly not going to find a good woman,” my mother says as she doles out slices of pie.
I make decaffeinated coffee for everyone, and we all settle in for tiny bites of dessert so we can get it down. I expect each of us will pass out watching football in about fifteen minutes.
“I’m so glad you were able to come home for the holiday,” my mom says as she swirls her fork through the whipped cream.
“Yeah, me too,” I murmur, my stomach clenching from the absolute lie that just fell from my mouth. I push my plate back, knowing I’ll puke if I put one more bite in my mouth, and not because I’m full.
I stand from the table. “I’m going to take a walk, see if I can burn off some of these calories.”
My mom smiles, oblivious to my pain. “Take a jacket. It’s chilly out.”
“I will,” I assure her.
Grabbing my coat from the rack in the foyer, I shrug it on and head out into the crisp fall day. My parents live in an older neighborhood with large lots, tons of trees, and rolling hills. I make it to the end of the driveway when I hear, “Hey… wait up.”
I glance back to find Rob jogging toward me.
“Didn’t want to get left alone with Mom wanting to know why you and Kristin broke up?” I tease as we head out.
“Something like that.” He laughs as he falls into step beside me. “If I have to hear her lament one more time about how much she wants grandbabies, I’m going to puke.”
“Yeah, well… at least you didn’t hook up with a cheater who got you fired and kicked out of your home.”
“There’s that,” he agrees. “But I have to wonder why you’re so silent about your new beau.”
“Not my beau anymore.”
“What?” Rob takes hold of my arm and pulls me to a stop. “Why not?”
I gently pull free and start walking again. “Things didn’t work out.”
Rob catches up to me and takes my arm again, forcing me to turn to him. “Did he hurt you?”
“Yes,” I reply, holding his gaze. “But not the way Derek did. It’s just that we want different things in a relationship, and I had thought maybe it could be more.”
“Does he think you’re not good enough?” Rob snarls.
“No, nothing like that. And honestly, he was truthful from the very beginning about his limits, and he was truthful in the end.”
“But you’re still hurt,” Rob says, hooking his arm through mine.
“Yes, I’m still hurt, but I’ll let you in on a little secret that I’ll tell Mom and Dad later. I just didn’t want them to make a big deal about it the entire time I was home for the holiday.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m moving to Charlotte. It was my choice to work remotely from Pittsburgh, but given that things didn’t work out with Cannon, my best move is to… well, move.”
“Mom and Dad are going to flip out since you’ll be closer,” Rob muses.