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)
“No,” I growl in frustration. “I wanted to take a break, she didn’t, so it ended.”
“Why in the fuck would you want to take a break?” he asks in astonishment. “By all accounts, Ava made you happy. I saw it. Everyone saw it. Am I wrong?”
“You’re not wrong.”
“Well, if you’re still attracted to her, and you care for her, and she made you happy, what in the hell am I missing here?”
Damn, he’s making me uncomfortable, and I launch out of my chair to resume my pacing. Baden merely watches me as I make two full passes across the room.
I’m halfway through a third when I spin on him. “See… here’s the thing. I had established boundaries with Ava, and we were both doing fine, and then we both started operating outside the boundaries, and things got confusing.”
“That’s as clear as mud,” he says, then nods over to the chair. “Might as well start from the beginning.”
I don’t want to sit down and tell Baden my woes. We have a game in a few hours, and I need my head in it. Except, I can’t seem to get there on my own. Maybe I just need a purge so I can expel all the nasty feelings and get back on track.
With a sigh, I take the desk chair again. “Okay, I’m going to make this succinct and fast, so try to keep up.”
“I’m with you.” He settles into the sofa, casually draping an arm over the back.
“Before Melissa was diagnosed, we were on the brink of getting a divorce. The marriage was in tatters, we were barely speaking, and I had moved out.”
I pause to see if that’s a shocker, but Baden merely nods.
“But she got sick, and I felt so guilty about how things had gone between us. When we found out it was terminal, I left hockey behind to care for her.”
“That took a lot of guts,” Baden says.
I don’t affirm or deny that. I only did what needed to be done. “At any rate, Melissa died, I grieved, and I moved on. It was nine years ago, and I have a new career. I haven’t found anyone I wanted to have a committed relationship with. Dated some women long term, but no one ever moved me to step outside of the new world I lived in.”
Baden cocks an eyebrow. “I’m guessing it was a carefully orchestrated life.”
“Not to ever get too close.”
“Because you couldn’t get over Melissa dying and failing her?”
“No. I’ve reconciled with how my marriage failed. I mean, I hated it, but we wanted different things. Melissa wanted me home and couldn’t handle my career. And I don’t want to get back in that position again. I love my job too much, and those were the boundaries Ava and I put in place. She knew I only had so much to give, and she was fine with it.”
“Until?” he prods.
“Until I fucked it up and blurred the lines. Until I started giving her more than she ever expected, and I let her believe there could be more. Then my former mother-in-law showed up, got all in my head by throwing guilt bombs at me, and I got scared. So I pulled back. I needed a break to think things through.”
“That seems kind of pansy-assed,” Baden says.
I blink at him. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. You’re one of the strongest, most put-together people I know. For you to base your future on things that happened in your past is shortsighted and, frankly, disappointing. You’re also one of the most forward-thinking people I know. You’re all about second chances and building strong relationships. You have all these life skills that make you an amazing coach, and you didn’t employ a single fucking one to keep Ava.”
My jaw drops and remains hanging open as I stare at him. I try to speak but nothing comes out. The truth he just slapped me with has left me so rattled, my mind is blank.
Baden stands from the sofa. “Look, I’d love to stay around and chat about your feelings, but I can see I’ve scrambled your brains. I hope you clear the fuzz from your head long enough to pay attention.”
I blink again but manage a nod.
“Ava is moving to Charlotte,” Baden murmurs.
“What?” I say, exploding from my chair.
Baden nods. “She told Sophie last night. Had just made the decision, which is really why I came by to talk to you.”
“Jesus,” I mutter, looking left and right but not sure what I’m hoping to see. My eyes go back to Baden. “When?”
He shrugs. “Not sure. But I do know she’s back home in Raleigh and will be there for the Thanksgiving holiday. I expect she’ll move after that.”
“Fuck,” I mutter, pulling out my phone. “I have to stop her.”
Baden snatches it from my hand. “Not like this. You cannot just call her up and demand she not move, because I can see it written on your face that’s what you’re about to do. Ava needs an apology and some groveling, face to face. On top of that, you have a game you need to get ready for. So, much like I told Drake a few weeks ago, get your head out of your ass and into the game. Fix your personal shit after.”