“That’s great. I’ll see you then.”
Now that I’d told her what I felt, I wanted to say it all the time. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I shoved Carrigan on my way to the shower. I didn’t feel tired anymore. Dell and Kyler were moving here. We’d be together. Before meeting her, that thought would’ve scared the shit out of me. But now I was ready. More than ready – I was happier than I’d been in a while.
***
Dell
I’d been hired by Jean Naughton in a phone call that lasted less than three minutes. There were formalities like a background check, but that wouldn’t be a problem. She’d agreed to the salary I proposed and asked me to start immediately.
It was unusual for a trainer to switch teams midseason, but she was easing the transition by helping my current team find someone new. She needed to replace Terese, who was leaving unexpectedly to move to Europe.
I was sitting at the kitchen table, still processing the news, when Sadie walked in.
“Want me to get Kyler from school?” she asked.
“No, I will.”
She sorted through a bowl of apples on the counter, trying to find one she wanted. “Will you test some face creams for an article I’m doing for a beauty magazine?”
“Sure.” I took a deep breath. Now or never. “So I just accepted a job with the NHL team in Chicago.”
Sadie had found an apple, but it plunked back to the bowl when she released it. “What? Dell! That’s like … a huge promotion for you, right?”
“Yes.”
She jumped up and down with excitement. “Let’s hug and scream!”
I got up and hugged her, but couldn’t bring myself to scream.
“Wait!” Her face became even more animated. “Luke’s team! You’re working for Luke’s team?”
“Yes.”
“I’m so happy for you, Dell. You deserve this.”
Her enthusiasm only heightened my sadness about leaving her.
“I like living with you,” I said. “And Kyler loves you.”
Her face fell and she sank into a kitchen chair. “Oh, shit. Yeah, Chicago.”
I felt like a beast as her eyes filled with tears.
“But you can’t pass on this, Dell. It’s an amazing opportunity for you and Kyler.” She wiped beneath her eyes. “And I can get a cat or some other single girl cliché.”
“Sadie.” I wrapped my arms around her, on the verge of crying myself. “You’re so much more than a roommate to me. You’ve helped me raise Kyler since we were in college. I don’t know if I can leave you.”
“We’ll be close.” She rubbed my arm reassuringly. “Or I could always move to Chicago, too.”
I froze, not sure I’d heard her right. “You’d consider that?”
She shrugged and smiled. “I’m only here because of you guys. I work from home so it doesn’t matter where I live. And the pool of eligible bachelors would be much larger there.”
The joy I hadn’t been able to feel before surged through me now. “That would be amazing, Sade. Everything would feel right then. Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I can get an apartment by you—”
“No! Why don’t you want to live with us? I don’t make shit money anymore, we can get a nice place.”
“You and Kyler don’t need me underfoot all the time. And things with you and Luke are going well—”
“So what? You’re part of the deal.”
She rolled her eyes. “I can’t live with you forever, D.”
“Maybe not, but for now. It would be a big help with Kyler, if you’re still willing.”
She gave me a look. “Willing? I love Kyler. I’d do anything for him. If you still want me around and need me, I’m there.”
I squeezed her in a tight hug. “You’ll have our place to yourself for a while because we’re going to the beach with Luke for a long trip in the offseason.”
“You whore,” she muttered.
“What?” I pulled away and gaped at her.
“You’re getting laid by a super hot, rich hockey player who wants to take you to the beach for the summer. If I didn’t love you, I’d hate you.”
“I bet you’ll find Mr. Right in Chicago,” I said.
“I’d settle for Mr. Good in Bed right now.”
I laughed and checked the clock. “I have to go get Ky. Luke’s coming for dinner tonight and you have to come with us.”
“I have an interview tonight or I would. He’s coming all the way from Chicago for dinner?”
A wide grin spread across my face. “Yes.”