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I shook my head again, “That was in the moment, though. I was a wreck. Bringing it up after a couple of days have passed seems like…I don’t know, uncomfortable. Weird.”

Mariam blinked at me saying, “You’re right. Anything uncomfortable or weird usually isn’t worth talking about at all.”

I groaned and tugged the blanket up over my head.

Because this time, I understood Mariam’s sarcasm loud and clear.

I just wasn’t confident enough to acknowledge the truth in her words, yet.

ChapterSeventeen

LEO

“What madeyou decide to apply at Sun Steer?” the red-haired woman asked.

I tore my gaze away from Jacqueline, clearing my head the best I could to answer the question. It was obvious that she had no desire to admit that we knew each other.

Something settled in my gut at the realization that she wasn’t humored to see me. She wasn’t pleasantly surprised to find me here.

No, sitting across from her at the conference table, taking in her stiff body language, Jacqueline made it very clear that from this point forward, we were strangers again.

* * *

My vision was clearing,stars danced around my peripherals, and I struggled to catch my breath.

“Damn,” Taylor grunted on top of me, “You really can’t take a hit, can you?”

I scoffed and lifted my middle finger.

“Are you okay?” I heard Zaid’s voice, followed by footsteps of him jogging near us. Taylor had already helped themselves up, but both Taylor and Zaid lent me a hand to pull me off of the grass. I probably had green streaks all over my back and arse.

“I’m good,” I gave Zaid a thumbs up after taking a deep breath, ensuring I could breathe still, “T’s just a menace.”

They rolled their eyes and checked their watch, before clapping their hands and ending the training for the day. Soon the team had dispersed to the edge of the pitch, grabbing water bottles and meeting up with friends and family who came to watch.

I reached into my bag to check my mobile, and my heart skipped a beat when I noticed a missed call from Jacqueline. Balancing the cell between my ear and shoulder while I gathered my things, I redialed.

“Hey.” Her voice was enticing. It wasn’t a high, feminine voice. If Jacqueline sang, she’d be an alto. Perhaps it was because we were sleeping together, but her voice alone could get me half-mast.

“Hey, sorry I missed your call,” I plopped myself down on the grass, sweaty and gross and not willing to sit in my car with my skin this wet, “What’s up?”

“Nothing,” Jacqueline replied.

And then silence hung in the air.

“…Did you not mean to call me?” I asked.

“No, no. I did.”

More silence

It was a thick, daunting silence.

I could practically hear her breathing.

A jolt of panic hit my chest, and a knot formed in my gut.Holy shit, was she ending things between us?

I knew the last time we got together didn’t go as planned, but I sure as hell wasn’t worried about it. Unless Ishouldhave been worried about it?What if I fucked it up by being too casual?