Page 25 of Pucking Rebound
I’d never get anything done if she lived here. She’d be a huge distraction for me and my dick.
“Where are you going to live? Have you figured that out yet?” I ask.
“I messaged Kali and told her about Graham.” She then pinches her fingers together to signify an inch of space. “I told her a little white lie that I was staying in a hotel for the night.”
Penthouse apartments are great places to hide secrets and people, it would seem, no one will ever know she stayed here.
“What did she say?”
“Wade called me and said I should stay at his place until I find something of my own.” She sighs. “So, that’s one less thing to worry about for now.”
“That’s great news.”
“It is, but it sucks. I feel like I've gone backward in my life.”
“Sometimes you have to just roll with the punches, Lola. Graham wasn’t right for you.”
Resting her head against the window, she sighs again. “Breakups suck.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” I grab the bottle of water I placed on the floor, twist the cap open, and take a sip.
“Staying with Wade will buy me some time to figure my life out, I guess.”
I hate that she’ll be staying with another man, but I know she said that she didn’t have any feelings toward Wade, and I believe her.
“A life reset?” I suggest.
“That’s a good way to look at it, and I've decided I’m not going to create a new vision board for next year. Nothing has gone to plan.”
“You have over two weeks of the year left, Lola. Close the chapter on this year and create a new vision board starting now. Do that instead.” I know it will make her feel better.
I’ve never made a vision board before, but I have goals I want to smash next year. Being injured last season taught me a valuable lesson. I need a backup plan, which I need to speak to my agent, Leon, about. I have a sense of what that looks like, but I’m not sure how to execute it.
“I like that idea.” She takes a sip of her own bottle of water she must have helped herself to.
As if she’s stayed here before, I like how comfortable she’s made herself in my home. It feels natural, like she belongs.
With optimism in my voice, I say, “Your new chapter begins now. It’s your time to start again.”
“My new beginning.”
“A do-over,” I try to reassure her. “It’ll all work out. You’ll survive, and living with Wade will be great. His house is fucking A.”
“Eh, hello, have you seen this place?” Waving her hand around, she gestures to my penthouse, which is swanky as fuck.
I’m a lucky bastard.
“I know it’s cool, but I don’t have a pool or a cinema, do I?” My voice drips with insincere envy.
“Oh, boohoo, you poor thing. You’re practically living in squalor.” The corners of her mouth turn down, feigning sadness.
I counter with an over-exaggerated sigh. “Awful really. The view is hideous.”
She breaks into playful laughter. “It’s the worst.”
I love that even though her heart is broken, she’s still managing to show me slivers of her sunny personality.
Sitting in contented silence, I know she’s lost in her thoughts as if contemplating her future.
