24. Mallory
Mallory
By the time I pushed through the arena’s side entrance, the city’s chill still clung to the inside of my coat. The lobby buzzed with the usual morning movement—boots squeaking on tile, the faint hum of conversation, someone shouting down the hall for a forgotten water bottle.
My ID badge clipped against my chest as I walked past the front desk, head down, keeping my breathing even. I didn’t feel heavy, exactly. Just... like every part of me was moving in slow motion.
Security nodded. “Morning, Mal.”
“Morning, Mike,” I offered, forcing a small smile.
The elevator ride up to the staff offices gave me sixty seconds to breathe. I exhaled slowly, watching the floor numbers blink one by one. When the doors opened, I stepped into the hallway and headed to my desk without a word. Familiar clatter and the soft whir of printers filled the space.
I sat down, slipped my bag under the desk, and pulled out my phone like muscle memory.
I opened the group chat.
Mallory
Jackson and I met this morning. It’s done. Well I should say he's done
He also zelle'ed me 9 grand as an apology?
The typing bubbles came in hot.
Dakota
Okay, wow. Immediate reaction: are you okay?
Ava
Seriously. Do we need to throw you a soft blanket and an emotional support playlist?
I smiled—my first real one since leaving the café.
’Im okay. Like, weirdly okay. Quietly okay. It’s the right thing. Just… a lot.
Dakota
You did something really brave.
Ava
Group FaceTime tonight? I need to read your face while we unpack this.
Yes. After work. Bring the emotional snacks.
Ava
I will be the voice of nurturing reason. Or at least try.
Dakota
I’ll bring sarcasm and too many opinions.
I stared at the screen a beat longer, my chest warming just enough to soften the edges of the morning.
The rest of the workday passed in blurry snapshots. Updating practice schedules. Checking off supply lists. Answering emails that all blended into one long scroll of logistics and time stamps. Eliza gave me a nod in passing, the kind that said we were good without needing words.
Jaymie popped in around midday, damp hair curling slightly from a shower, water bottle tucked under his arm.
“ Hey,” he said.
“Hey.” I didn’t even fake busy. Just met his eyes.
He lingered in the doorway a second longer than necessary, like he was waiting for something else to happen. But I didn’t know what to say yet.
“I’ll call you later,” I offered. “There’s stuff to catch up on.”
He nodded, mouth twitching into a barely-there smile. “Cool. I’ll be around.”
Then he disappeared down the hallway, his laughter trailing behind him as Logan yelled something about protein bars.
***
Home felt smaller that night, like the walls had curled in just a little, watching and listening. I kicked off my shoes, dropped my keys into the bowl by the door, and flopped down onto the couch, letting out a dramatic groan as I melted into the cushions.
My phone buzzed.
Incoming FaceTime: Ava + Dakota
I answered, holding the phone slightly above my head so they wouldn’t get a full double-chin view. Ava appeared first, curled up in her kitchen nook with a glass of wine and a thic k sweater. Dakota followed, lying in bed with a green clay mask smeared unevenly across her cheeks.
“Okay, you look wrecked,” Dakota said. “But like, in an empowered ‘I just made a major life decision and survived’ kind of way.”
Ava leaned in, mock-serious. “And your skin looks good, so honestly, emotional growth is glowing on you.”
I laughed. Actually laughed. “You two are menaces.”
“Details,” Ava said, snapping her fingers. “Give us the full scene. Start to finish.”
So I told them. The coffee bar. Jackson’s face when he admitted he wasn’t in it. The way he’d spoken, calm but distant. How I’d said what I needed to say—clearly, firmly, and without letting my voice shake. I told them about the money. The lawyer. The way he left.
I didn’t cry. I didn’t have to.
By the end, Ava’s eyes were glassy and Dakota had peeled half her face mask off without noticing.
“You’re a badass,” Dakota said. “A tired, emotionally fried badass, but still.”
“You did the hardest thing,” Ava added softly. “You chose peace over pretending. I’m proud of you.”
I blinked fast. “You guys are going to make me cry after I held it together all day.”
“We’re good at that,” Ava said with a smirk.
“ We’re also good at hyping you up while eating snacks in bed,” Dakota said, holding up a fistful of cereal like a toast.
After we finally hung up, I let the silence settle.
Not empty. Just quiet.
Then, without overthinking it, I scrolled to Jaymie’s name and hit FaceTime.
He answered instantly. Still in that same hoodie. This time, barefoot, sitting on his couch with a bowl of cereal.
“Hey,” he said. “Long day?”
“You could say that.”
I adjusted the phone, curling into the couch. “I talked to Jackson this morning. It’s official ovvvver. He’s out. Said goodbye for good.” I was information dumping but I had to get it out and over with quickly before I chickened out.
Jaymie didn’t say anything right away. He just smiled. A real one this time. Like something deep inside him had exhaled.
“That’s… huge,” he said. “Are you okay?”
I nodded. “More than I thought I’d be.”
He looked down, then back up at me. “I’m really happy for you, Mal. You’ve got a clean start now.”
My throat tightened, but not in a bad way.
“You’re not weirded out by any of it?”
He shook his head. “Not even close. I was never afraid of Jackson. Just wanted you to know you had a choice. That you weren’t stuck.”
I s tared at him for a long moment, then laughed softly. “I just told Ava and Dakota everything over facetime as well, its like their weekly telanovella update. They brought snacks.”
He grinned. “I’ll have to step up my game.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Got any snacks?”
“Half a chocolate bar and a heated blanket with your name on it.”
I smiled. “I’ll be up in ten.”
He winked. “I’ll put the kettle on.”
And just like that, I was off the couch, pulling on my slippers and hoodie, walking not toward an ending—but something brand new, just waiting upstairs.