“Do you have some kind of project right now?”
Other than trying to stop thinking about Silas? She shook her head. “No.”
Harris’ brows lowered. “So, what have you been working on?”
“I, uh, just finished sending out your vouchers.”
His mouth fell open. “You what?”
“You sounded a little stressed out yesterday before we left. I thought it would be nice to help you out.” Though Miriam was having doubts with the way Harris was looking at her right now.
Soon his shock was replaced with a giant grin. “You. Are. Amazing. Did you know that?” Then he did something that surprised her. Harris pulled her in for a hug. Even though they’d hung out several times, she wasn’t sure that they’d ever hugged. The scent of soap and maple overwhelmed her as she hesitantly wrapped her arms around him.
They hadn’t been embracing very long when Harris groaned. “Oh, crap.”
She pulled back. “What’s the matter?”
Harris reached out and brushed his fingers over a small strand of hair. “I accidentally got frosting on you when I went in for that hug.”
That explained the strong maple smell. “That’s okay. I’ll smell like breakfast for the rest of the day. There are worse fates.”
He pulled his hand back and grabbed a tissue off Miriam’s desk to wipe the frosting off his fingers. “Seriously though. Thank you for doing the vouchers. That’s such a big help.”
“You’re welcome. I was happy to do it.”
Harris looked at Miriam’s desk and then back to her face. “Are you going to be behind because of it?”
She shook her head. “Nope. I’m good.”
He stared at Miriam for another moment like he wasn’t sure if he believed her, but he must have seen something in her expression that convinced him that everything was fine because he nodded. “Okay. Well, thanks again for that, and the donut.” He waved what remained of the treat as he walked out of her office and down the hall.
Alone again, Miriam sat back down in her chair and looked at her list of tasks for the day. Most of her day consisted of talking to sponsors and trying to dream up new ways to get the Storm out into the community. Unlike sending out vouchers, it wouldn’t occupy enough of her brain cells to keep her from thinking about Silas all day.
Maybe she could fake a cold and go home sick—not that it was going to help her relationship with Greg or her thoughts from betraying her.
She decided that doing inventory would be helpful. Miriam needed to know how much Storm swag she had, and counting made it difficult to think about other things. She went to the storage closet, sat down on the hard-carpeted floor, and started going through boxes. She pulled out cups, bracelets, and small squishy soccer balls that were in the Storm colors. Soon, there was an explosion of green and black all over the floor of the small room.
One-hundred-eighty-seven, one-hundred-eighty-eight, one-hundred-eighty—
“Hey.”
Miriam dropped the bright green rubber bracelets she’d been counting and looked up to see Silas standing in the doorway. He leaned against the doorjamb and smiled down at where Miriam sat. She frowned back at him. Not only had he made her lose count, but just him being here made her goal of not thinking about Silas impossible.
“Greg told me he thought you were in here.”
Oh, great. Just what she needed after she specifically told Greg that Silas wouldn’t be a problem.
Miriam let out a sigh as she picked up the rubber bracelets she’d dropped and put them in the pile with the rest. Once Silas left, she would start over again.
He bent down and started helping her.
Miriam looked up, and her gaze met Silas’. His green eyes stared directly into hers. She tried to keep eye contact with him but was the first to look away. “What do you want?”
“I just want to talk.”
“Well, I don’t.”
He leaned in and lowered his voice. “It’s been two days.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She shook her head.
“So, what? You’re just going to ignore me for the rest of the season?”
“Of course not.” She twisted one of the bracelets in her hands.
“Then what?”
“We’re going to keep it strictly professional.”
“Strictly pro—” He rubbed his hands over his face. “You act like you didn’t feel something between us the other day.”
“Of course, I felt something, Silas.” She let out a humorless laugh and let her eyes find his once again. “That’s the problem. I let myself fall for you once, and in the end, I was heartbroken and alone. If you think that I’m going to let that happen again, then you’re insane.”
“I was wrong to leave.”
She nodded. “Yeah, you were.”
They looked at each other for a long time before Silas spoke again. “How long am I going to have to suffer for my mistakes?”
How long was he going to suffer?
Miriam stood up, leaving the mess on the floor. She’d come back for it later when the closet was less crowded. She looked down at Silas. “Only as long as I do.”
Right now, that felt like forever.
She gave him a sad smile, and then she walked out—leaving him the same way he’d left her.
Silas
Silas had messed up.
But that wasn’t the only thing weighing heavily on him.
Most of the team still held a grudge against him. Practices were rough, and Silas was convinced that everyone was ganging up against him during scrimmages. The only positive was that it sharpened his skills for actual games. He was playing better than ever, and he hoped that if he scored enough goals, he’d eventually win them over.
Today, he was given another chance.
They had a home game that night, and Silas was ready.
As the Storm warmed up in the arena, his eyes occasionally went to the stands. He knew Miriam wouldn’t be there yet—she’d be working the Storm table just outside the arena—but he always liked to see the sea of green and
