When I get off the phone, I redirect my Uber to Reed’s place, hoping he’s home, and when I find his truck in the drive, I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Hey, you. Come in.” He smiles, welcoming me inside, not even questioning my appearance when I open the door without knocking.
Without giving a response, I beeline for his living room, falling onto the couch with a dramatic huff, only then telling him my problems. “I’m filming in Texas.” I groan as he sits down opposite me, making him chuckle.
“Hey, Baby. How was your day? I missed you.”
“I missed you too.” I roll my eyes, ignoring the way my heart flutters when he plays pretend and we’re not in public. “That’s why I’m pouting.” Since it’s still the offseason, we’ve been seeing each other most days. It’s going to feel strange not spending time with him.
“What are you worried about? You knew you were filming in Texas. What’s changed?”
“The timing. I’ll be gone for at least a month and a half now.”
Reed’s eyes widen but he quickly schools his features before assessing my reaction, seemingly working out what I’m trying tosay. “You’re going to miss me?” He plays down my feelings, a smile lighting up his face.
“I am.” I pout again. “I’ve kind of gotten used to having you around.”
“Yeah. It sucks to be you.”
“Shut up.” I throw a cushion at his face. “You’re going to miss me too.”
“When do you leave?” he asks, and while he doesn’t respond to my remark, I don’t miss the way the light dims in his eyes.
“Mid-June.”I cringe. “I’ll be gone for your parents’ birthdays.”
“That’s alright. They’ll understand. And that timing isn’t so bad.” He surprises me by smiling wide, his lips comically stilted. “I’ll be busy with preseason by then. I won’t even remember your name.” He laughs at his joke but I call him out on the lie.
“Preseason starts in July.”
“Officially, yes, but we start training together in June.”
“Okay, good. So what you’re saying is that I wouldn’t get to see you that often anyway.”
“Exactly.”
I’m not sure which one of us needs more reassurance, but an emptiness overwhelms me, and I panic at how little time I have left before everything changes. Again. “We should probably break up soon then, right? We could blame my upcoming travel, the long distance, and—”
“No.” Reed’s quick to cut me off.
“No?”
“No. Our relationship is too strong for that. We’d definitely try and make it work.”
He folds his arms over his chest and I bite back a smile, loving the seriousness in his expression. But when he winks, I grin. “You’re right. We would do that. Should we also stage a big dramatic airport scene? I’ve always wanted to do that.”
“Definitely. Can there be tears?”
“From you?” My eyes widen before he scoffs.
“Hell, no. Fromyou. I’d be disappointed if there weren’t any, considering you’re constantly bragging about your ability to cry on cue.”
“I told you thatonce.”
“Me, yes. But I’ve heard you tell plenty of others.”
Dammit. He’s right. I do brag about that often. It’s my party trick. But still, how dare he call me out?
“You know what? No tears for you.” I waggle my finger. “You don’t deserve it.”
