He turned and walked out.
Savanna collapsed against the back of the couch, replaying their conversation over the pounding beats of her heart.
A few seconds later, his motorcycle roared to life.
She crossed to the window and drew back the curtain. He tore down the street. His figure grew smaller and smaller, until it melted into the traffic.
Savanna let the curtain fall into place.
Ending things was for the best. But she hadn't expected it to hurt so much.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
LIAM
HE COULD START BACK up with PT again next week. The thought replayed itself over and over in Liam's mind as he walked away from Andy's office, happier than he'd been in days. His ankle was still a little sore, but he barely felt the ache.
He couldn't wait to tell Claire the news. He exited the stadium, the stark quiet a contrast to the revelry of the previous evening's All-Star game.
"Liam." Raymond waved as he set the alarm on his car and approached the building.
"Hey, Ray." Liam slowed to a stop. "Good news, Andy gave me the okay to return to PT next week."
Brows raised, Ray smiled and nodded. "Good, good. But take all the time you need to heal. Claire and I are working on lining up an alternative for you if you can't make it back."
"Wait, what?" He couldn't have heard that correctly.
"She's on board to coach the new hire if needed too. We really lucked out with her."
Liam shook his head, confusion and anger and betrayal battling for dominance. "But I am going to make it back. Mid-August, remember?"
"I hope so. But I need a contingency plan in place. Just like the team. Every position has at least one backup. You understand that."
"But I also understand if a replacement plays better than the injured guy, the replacement becomes the starter, even after the original guy is healed." He couldn't lose his job, but it seemed like his time as Fin was slipping through his fingers and he couldn't grab hold.
Ray held up his hands. "Relax, Liam. You're thinking too far ahead. Just worry about getting yourself better."
Not exactly a don't worry, the job will always be yours. "Well, that's reassuring. Thanks a lot, Ray." Sarcasm sharpened his tone and Liam walked away before saying something he'd regret. His professionalism didn't extend very far. He felt blindsided. But Ray had said Claire had a role in the alternative mascot plan, too.
He needed answers.
Now.
Twenty minutes later, he knocked on Claire's door.
When she opened it, some of his anger receded as his concern surged forward. Purple smudges under her eyes, pale skin, and a wan smile on her lips, she hugged her arms around her middle. "Did I miss something? I wasn't expecting to see you until later tonight."
"I just had an interesting conversation with Ray." He studied her expression. Sure enough, she looked guilty.
"Oh?"
With that, his hurt doubled. "Any reason you didn't tell me about your involvement in lining up a replacement for me?"
She backed up, probably as much shying away from her guilt as letting him inside. "Come in."
He strode to the middle of the living room. "Well?"
"Ray stressed that he needed a fully functioning mascot unit and asked if my old gymnastics coach had any students that were close to your height and build."
"Does she?"
"I didn't ask her yet. He only broached the subject with me yesterday."
Frustration crawled over his skin like an itch he couldn't scratch. "Are you going to ask her?"
She became intently interested in the swirling lines of color on her area rug.
The lack of response spoke volumes. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Did you tell him no?"
Pleading blue eyes raised to meet his gaze. "I couldn't do that, Liam. I can't have him thinking I'm not a team player."
"We're a team. You and me. At least I thought we were. But you're willing to be an active participant in the hiring of my replacement? And you were doing it behind my back?" He shook his head. Gutted. She'd lured him in then slit him open the second he'd become vulnerable.
"What was I supposed to do?"
"You were supposed to put me before the job."
"You've always said the job comes first."
"I would never put it before you."
"I wonder." Her hands moved to rest on her hips. "I mean, the day we met, you and Slade made sure that you were going to stick around, even after I was brought in."
"That was different."
"How?"
"This job is more than just a job to me. It's who I am. Cheering up sick kids, making the fans happy, that fuels me. I'm doing all I ever wanted to do, and what I was meant to do." He jabbed his finger into his chest while he paced in front of her. "I need you to go to bat for me. To tell him no, that we can come up with something else while I recover."
"If I'm not helpful, I could lose my job too. I can't let that happen right now." She pressed her hand to her stomach. "I can't tell Ray no."
He had to get out of here. No question, his heart split apart. No other explanation for the intense pain twisting in his chest. She might as well have shot him. His worst fears, made a million times worse. Betrayal lanced through his soul. His chest hurt like she'd literally stabbed him in the heart. "I can't do this."
"What are you talking about?"
He waved his hand between them. "This. Us."
"You're breaking up with me?" Disbelief turned her sweet face pale, but what had she expected from him?
"I need someone who has my back. Who I can trust to fight for me just as hard as I'd fight for her. Who
