He sighed and rubbed his palms over his thighs, flattening the knife-edged crease in his trousers. “Now, I’m going to ask you for some space. Ironic, huh?” He laughed again, but the sound came out hollow. “I’m going with Mari for the initial test. Mainly to make sure she shows up. Once we have those results, I’ll be able to think things through. Make up a plan.”
“But until then, you don’t need me around.”
A bitter smirk twisted his lips. “Oh, I’m gonna need you, but I can’t let myself. I need to sort this out on my own.”
“But you know I’ll be here if you need me.”
He looked her full in the eye as he corrected her. “When I need you, Millie.” He planted his hands on his knees and pushed to his feet. “I’ll call you next week.”
“Okay.”
Without another look or touch, he walked away, his back straight, his head high.
Rooted to the spot, she watched him go. His height made him easy to track. The breadth of his shoulders would have made a sculptor weep. Millie watched as he nodded greetings to passersby, stopping occasionally to accept a handshake or a friendly pat on the back. When they were alone, it was easy to forget he was who he was. Easy to believe he belonged to her and only her. But out in the world, he was a person people thought they knew. Someone they believed to be a part of their lives.
And he was.
Each time he led his team onto the court, he took the expectations of thousands of fans with them. The university administration counted on them to represent the school well. The staff basked in the reflected glory the athletic teams brought home. The students’ hopes and dreams lived and died with each basket, touchdown, and home run. Every practice was designed to bring them one step closer to greatness. With the exception of Kate’s Warrior Women’s basketball, the school’s teams were notoriously mediocre. But the cellar dwellers of the country’s toughest conference had more to count on than many top-tier schools.
Every season spawned new hope. Maybe this would be their year. Perhaps this was their chance to come out on top.
Biting her bottom lip, she stared in the direction of Ty’s departure long after he’d disappeared around the corner. He had every right to put her off. She’d been trying to hold him at arm’s length ever since he’d come back from Reno.
Come back to her.
For her.
Despite the gnawing, twisting pain in her gut, she knew she had to let him go for now. It was only right and fair. To both of them, really. For weeks, she’d been telling him to back off, not only because she was afraid of getting in too deep, but also because she was terrified of being his rebound girl. The intensity with which he’d grabbed and held on to her scared her, but it didn’t worry her nearly as much as what he’d do when he found he had an open path to a new life.
He wouldn’t need to settle for a woman who had nothing more to offer than one slightly worse-for-wear heart.
So the tables were turned. Drawing a deep breath, she reached for her tote and swung the bag up onto her lap. Pulling her tablet from its depths, she tapped on the calendar app and started making notations. If she didn’t hear from him in one week’s time, she’d go after him. Baby, no baby. Didn’t matter. She loved him, and she had no doubt she’d love his baby too. Either way, they’d both fought through worse times and come out the other side.
Maybe this was their chance to come out on top.
Blowing the air out of her lungs, she tapped on the messaging application and brought up the string of texts she, Kate, and Avery kept running. She typed with one finger but with what she liked to think was impressive speed. After hearing the little whoosh of the message winging away, she tipped her glasses down onto her nose and waited for their replies.
Almost immediately, the ellipses indicating keyboard action appeared beneath the bubble where she’d typed, Help! I’ve fallen in love and I can’t get up.
Seconds later, Kate’s initials appeared with a simple, Where are you? What do you need?
Almost immediately, Avery chimed in with, Booze is the answer. Calhoun’s?
Millie shook her head and began to type. I’m going home to wallow for a while. My house tonight. Bring ice cream. She stared at the message, then in a new message added, And booze. Another second passed. She tapped out a few more vital letters. And chips.
On it, Kate replied.
I’ll bring chocolate too. Just in case, Avery responded.
Tears filled her eyes, but Millie refused to let them fall. Not until she was safe in her cozy little cottage. Blinking faster than a hummingbird’s wings, she tapped out one last missive. I love you girls.
As she was tucking the tablet back in her bag, it vibrated to indicate a new message arriving. She peeked at the notification and smiled when she saw Avery’s response: Worse than I thought. See you ass app! Then a second later: Damn autocorrect.
Chapter 18
Ty sat midway up the grandstand and off to the side, tucked away behind the piles of backpacks, gym bags, and other gear left behind by the drill team. Ignoring the autumn breeze slicing through his hooded jacket, he kept his attention focused on the lithe form on the track circling the football field. He knew her routine by heart. A two-mile warm-up on the rubberized track would end with a sharp right. She’d crisscross the spokes of the campus quadrangle, then shoot off down University Avenue. It was five miles from the edge of campus to the
