CHAPTER 12 KAYLEE
“You’re more than welcome to stay at our place in San Diego,” Jack says, squeezing me tightly.
“Thank you,” I say. “I appreciate that so much, and if the roommate situation is too awkward, I’ll take you up on it.”
Carla offered me a place in a corporate apartment very close to where the offices are housed, so I’ll just stay there until I find a place of my own. It’s a two-bedroom and my roommate will be my new co-programming director, which is perfect so we can really immerse ourselves in this work.
It’s what I need right now. Immersion in a new life. A distraction. Something to help me get over the heartbreak while figuring out how to deal with the two babies I’m carrying.
I can’t believe I haven’t told anyone yet, but I already feel fiercely protective over these babies. I will share the secret when the timing is right, and right now doesn’t feel like that time.
Luke hugs me next, and then Kate and Ellie, who are both holding back tears.
My mom is standing in line last, and a little heat pricks behind my eyes when she looks at me with her face screwed up like she might cry.
She never cries. She’s notoriously stoic, so you know when she shows emotion, it runs deep.
“I’ll miss you, my sweet girl.” She hugs me so tightly that she almost squeezes this idea right out of me.
I’ve had my doubts over the last few days.
Would it be easier to stay here and tell everyone what’s going on with me and lean on my family for support?
Absolutely.
But this still just feels like something I have to do at this point in my life. I’m taking control because everything feels so messy. “It’s just an experiment for now, right?” I say brightly. Too brightly. It definitely comes out sounding fake. “If it doesn’t work out, I’ll be back.”
“And if it does?” Ellie asks with a sniffle.
“Then I’ll see you all at Jack and Kate’s place whenever you come visit.” I offer a smile.
My mom hugs me one more time, and then I hop in the car toward the airport.
Jack and Luke both offered to drive me, but I thought it would be easier to say a group goodbye before I left for the airport.
I’m not sure it’s easier this way. A goodbye would’ve been hard either way, and the emotions rallying around me because of this pregnancy bring me so high before dropping me so low.
I cry all the way to the airport.
Then I pull myself together and check in.
Luke’s having my stuff sent to my new apartment in a few days, so I just have a suitcase to get me through the week plus my purse, stuffed full with all my essentials (including a box of S’mores cereal).
California has stores. I can get whatever I need once I’m there.
It all happened so fast. I just signed the contract yesterday, found out I’m having twins, and then came home and packed up everything I need. I booked a flight for today, and the rest is history.
I’m on my way to a new life with just the snap of a finger.
I allow myself to feel the sadness on the flight there.
The flight isn’t very full, thankfully, so I have my row to myself.
I lie my head back, close my eyes, and try to focus on all the blessings I have in my life.
It’s only an hourlong flight, and when the plane touches down to sunny skies in San Diego, I feel a renewed sense of hope.
I’ve been here before to visit Jack, and I fell in love with the city a long time ago. I know it’s Jack’s favorite place in the world, and maybe it’ll become mine, too—though I think it’ll be difficult to knock Ben’s place in Montana out of that spot for me.
Carla sent a car to pick me up, and once I locate my luggage, I’m whisked away to my new apartment.
I text Carla to let her know I’m on my way, and when the car pulls in front of an apartment complex in what looks to be the middle of a downtown area with shops and restaurants all around, it feels like I’m home.
It’s a completely different life than staying with Jack or Luke or my mother or Ben. It’s still not mine, exactly—I won’t have my own place just yet, but it feels just a little bit closer.
A woman with long, dark hair and bright brown eyes who looks to be in her mid-forties stands in the lobby. “Kaylee!” she greets me when I walk through the doors as I pull my suitcase behind me.
“You must be Carla.” I smile, and she nods as she reaches out a hand to shake mine.
“It’s lovely to meet you. I’m so excited to start working together.”
“So am I,” I say.
“Let’s get you moved in first, and then we can get down to business. Good?”
I nod then follow her through the lobby to a bank of elevators. She’s both warm and welcoming, which is exactly what I needed after leaving my entire family behind in Las Vegas.
“Your roommate moved in yesterday. I’ll introduce you two at the office in a bit,” she says as we make our way up, up, up to the top floor, which happens to be the tenth.
“Can’t wait.” I wonder who I’m going to be living with and working with, and I pray it’s an easy dynamic just like it’s been so far with Carla.
She opens the door for me then hands me the keys, and we walk into a small entry hallway.
She holds out a hand indicating I should go first, and I step into the apartment.
I spot a coat closet and a little built-in desk in the entry, and I glance into the apartment.
One hallway leads toward a bedroom, and the other leads toward the main living area.
It’s small, but it includes a couch and recliner chair pointed at a television and a full kitchen.
A kitchen table is located off to one side, and an island with the kitchen sink located in it has four stools lined across it.
I can picture myself sitting there for breakfast—or on the balcony I can see just past the kitchen table, which even from this vantage point appears to offer some gorgeous views of the ocean.
I think this’ll do just fine for temporary housing.
“Your bedroom is right through there.” She points toward a doorway near the couch.
I head that direction and find a queen bed, desk, dresser, and nightstand along with my own private bathroom and a decent-sized closet. I drop my suitcase off in the closet and empty a few items out of my purse to lighten the load, and then I meet Carla back in the family room.
“This is wonderful,” I say. “I really appreciate you putting me up here while I get settled.”
“Of course,” she nods. “We’re so happy to have you on board. You’re welcome to stay here for three or four months, even longer if you need to, while you look for a more permanent situation. Are you ready to see the office and meet your co-director?”
I smile. “Ready.”
We walk out of my building and stop at a crosswalk to wait our turn, and I spot the StrongFitKids logo on one of the suites directly across the street from me.
It’ll prove to be the shortest commute I’ve ever had…that’s for sure. I don’t even have time to feel the thrill of nerves race up my spine at who my co-director is going to be.
The light changes, and we step across the street.
Carla opens the door for me, and the office is an open concept with large project tables set up in the middle and monitors along the walls for computer work.
The back of the room appears to be split into three private offices, but all three have glass windows.
One looks occupied, probably by Carla, and the other two just have a desk with a couple chairs in front of it, presumably a spot to meet, have a conference, make a phone call, or just have a quiet conversation while others are working in the main area.
A few workers sit along the walls tapping away at the computers, and a man sits at one of the project tables flipping through a binder. He glances up at me, and when his eyes connect with mine, I feel a little jolt dart through my system.
I recognize him.
Carla makes the introduction. “Kaylee Dalton, meet your co-programming director and your new roommate, Cooper—”
“Noah,” I echo as she introduces me to one of professional baseball’s hottest recently retired players.
He’s only thirty-one, but an elbow injury forced him out of the game early.
I follow football more than baseball because of my family, but still…
everybody knows former Dodger Cooper Noah.
He was on that hottest celebrity list last year, and as I stare at him from a few feet away, I can see why.
Bright blue eyes.
Dark hair that’s so perfectly messy that there’s no way he just woke up like that and put no effort into it.
A chiseled, strong jawline with just the right amount of a shadow.
Damn.
“Kaylee,” he says jovially, standing to greet me. Good Lord, he’s hot. “Great to meet you. I can’t wait to start on this new venture together.”
Cooper Noah is my new colleague? My new roommate? While I’m going to be busy vomiting and crying while I grow two babies all by myself, I’m going to be living with one of baseball’s hottest former players?
Well there’s a new twist I didn’t see coming.