Page 82 of Matched with Her Athlete Boss
“What are you doing?” Kenzie asks, searching my face for the answer. I’m stuck on her eyes, surprised by how much I want to keep looking at them.
“Just remembering this moment.”
She turns her head to the side, as if she’s going to be pranked or something. Then she turns to look at me, and I remember the short history between us from way back when.
“What if we don’t show up tomorrow? Maybe we can take a drive up to Maine or something.” The words are spilling from my mouth so fast that my brain hasn’t had time to catch up.
That has her attention. “You want to ditch out on the final date of filming and your last date? Why?”
There are so many emotions coursing through me right now that I’m not exactly sure what I’m thinking. I have a contract with the matchmaking company, the same people who are trying to help me find someone to settle down with.
But as I stare at Kenzie, I realize that I might’ve found that person all on my own.
“Well, didn’t Meg say something about the matches getting progressively better?”
Kenzie nods. “Yeah, so maybe you’ll get your dream, Turbo.” I can’t miss the frown on her face and the slumping of her shoulders as she says that.
“Why not move the fun date up?”
She gives me a sad look and shakes her head before taking a few steps back. “Did you bump your head? Do I need to call a doctor? What about your happily ever after?”
“No, I haven’t hit my head on anything. But there are a few things I realized.” I pause a moment, trying to figure out the best way to ask the question burning inside me. “Why did you change your name from Mac to Kenzie?”
Her expression is pure shock. “W-what? Why would you ask that?”
I try to reach out and take her hand but she backs away. “I put a few pieces together. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you at first. Seeing you play brought up all the old memories. Your flick move—”
“I think I forgot something inside,” she says, taking several more steps backward. “Don’t wait for me. I’ll have my brother drop me off.”
“Kenz, why are you being weird? I can take you home.”
She waves her hand and says, “I’m good. It’s okay. Just go.”
And then she turns and runs back into the rink, disappearing through the doors.
This is the time when I wonder if I should go after her, if I should tell her that I have feelings for her. But at the beginning of our relationship, she was skittish and would barely talk to me. I don’t want to drive her away if all she needs is a bit more time.
I don’t know whether to take that as a rejection or as nerves on her part. But there’s so much I want to figure out when it comes to her.
My phone rings loud against the stillness of the outside and I answer it when I see Meg’s name on the screen. “Hey Meg.”
“We’ll be filming tomorrow. I’ve got something to show you. Can you meet me at the office in the morning?”
“You’re going to make me wait all night?” I say, wondering what could be so important that she needed to schedule a meeting.
“You’re right. Do you have time to swing by the office? Maybe we can come up with a plan.”
36
KENZIE
Ifeel like a teen, with a crush who’s just told her he’s not interested. Then again, Trey never said anything like that. But it was like he knew that I was Mac long before I admitted anything. Had he remembered?
Well, I’ve screwed it all up anyway.
My dad tried to talk me out of running, but it’s a defense mechanism to protect my heart. It’s the least I can do since Trey pulled down all the walls.
I know, it’s irrational. Who cares if he knows I was the geeky girl who followed him like a puppy and left him notes?
