Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
AUDREY
As I walk, I go over what to say in my mind.
I have to steel myself for the possibility that this is all too much for him.
That he was cool with hanging around, but has decided that he doesn’t want to take it any further.
That he needs to focus on football, and not getting injured again.
Life is dangerous, but it’s even more dangerous when you hit and get hit for a living.
If that’s true and he wants to end things, why send gifts? Why send tickets? Why am I here?
I’m jogging now, peeking around doors, trying to figure out which of the overly lit rooms Noah is in.
My heart pounds in my chest, breath coming in short bursts.
I can’t see the posters on the wall or the items lined up in the hallway.
Just each room and its contents. The only noise in the hall is the clack of my heels on the tiled floor.
The fluorescent lights burn my retinas, but still I search.
I whip into the last door on the right and stand completely still as dark green eyes meet mine.
Time stops.
I just look at him, taking him in. Sitting up on one of those training bench things, one arm around his middle holding an ice pack to his ribs. My heart hurts at the sight of him. He’s shirtless in just football pants, and the sight of that makes my lady parts ache in time with my bruised heart.
After a tense beat, we both try to speak at once, but I can’t wait another second.
The words tumble out. “I quit.”