CHAPTER 29

NOT A CHOCOLATE KIND OF PROBLEM

DAVID

“You fucked up.”

David sat on Chuck’s couch, his face buried in his hands. “I know, but —”

“I’m an asshole and even I know you fucked up,” Tommy added from where he sat in one of the arm chairs that framed the large picture window on one side of Chuck’s living room. Chuck sat in the other.

“I’m not arguing with the fact that I fucked up,” David said, shooting a glare at Tommy. “All that I’m saying is that all of us got help along the way.” He pointed at Chuck. “You got hired by the same coach who’d just spent four years seeing what a good leader you were. Your character and skill was what ultimately got you the job, but the connection was what got you in the door in the first place.”

Chuck shook his head. “Of course we know that, David. But does Sage? We’re all on the other side of it looking back on those years. That was ten years ago , man. We can acknowledge the calls our mentors made and the help we got because we’ve ultimately found success down the line that we earned with our own merit.”

David frowned, pressing the heel of his hand into his sternum where a steady ache had taken up residence ever since Sage had compared him to that absolute piece of shit who’d hurt her.

He honestly hadn’t thought it would be a big deal.

But goddamnit, he’d been wrong. He thought she’d be upset, sure — he wasn’t a complete idiot — but he’d counted on her understanding. That she’d be able to see where he was coming from. David knew that Sage was going to be a good coach. He knew it so deeply in his bones that he didn’t think twice about calling a friend on her behalf.

The truth was that he wouldn’t have called if he hadn’t believed in her. He didn’t have a single doubt that once she had the opportunity in front of her, Sage would prove herself a million times over. But now? His actions had hurt her more deeply than he’d ever considered.

“Have you talked to her?” Chuck asked, his expression kind.

David shook his head. “She told me that she didn’t want me around.”

“So then give her some space to cool down,” Tommy shrugged. “Then you go and bring her chocolate and talk it out and then you’re all good.”

“I don’t think this is a chocolate kind of problem.”

Tommy tousled his hair with one hand, making the whole front poof up in a way that looked completely ridiculous. “So how are you going to fix it?”

“I don’t know,” David admitted.

Chuck looked thoughtful. “I’d start by apologizing.”

“If she told you she needed space, then I’d start by giving it to her. Based on experience, I’d listen to what she says.” Tommy shrugged.

“Since when are you the expert on communicating with women?” David snapped. Everything hurt and he was so fucking tired.

“Come on, man,” Chuck admonished, sending a disappointed look David’s way.

Tommy cocked a brow at him. “Since I didn’t listen and my wife fucking left me, asshole.”

“Sorry,” David muttered. “That was shitty of me.”

“Yeah it was, but you’re sad and I love you, so we’re good.” Tommy got up and walked into the kitchen.

“I hate not doing anything to fix it,” David admitted to Chuck.

His friend gave him a sad smile. “You picked her, Hughes. If Sage is the kind of person who needs to take on things like this alone, then you’ve got to respect that if you want to be with her.”

“I know.” He let out a frustrated sigh. “She’s so capable, Chuck. She’s capable and beautiful and tough, and every minute of my life this year has been better because she’s been in it. So how am I supposed to sit back and do nothing when I know what it takes to get a good coaching opportunity?”

“I think you’re supposed to support her and trust her, as painful as that may be.”

“And what about the part of me that needs to take care of her? I don’t think you get it; I feel like I’m being stabbed in the chest when I think about her taking on the world by herself. Not because I don’t think that she can, but because there’s nothing that compares to the feeling of taking care of her.”

“You should probably talk to her about that,” Chuck said, shifting in his chair to tuck his long legs up under himself. “And regardless of how either of us see it, it’s obvious that the job was taking it too far.”

David nodded. The way that Sage had looked at him after he’d sent what he thought was an innocuous text had left him absolutely fucking gutted. Hollow. Because Chuck was right: it didn’t matter how David had intended the gesture. To her, it had meant something completely different. Whether intentional or not, he’d hurt her. He’d damaged the life that they were building together. He’d stomped on the thing between them that was still tender and new.

And the thought of intentionally hurting Sage made him feel like he was going to vomit.

“There’s no right or wrong way for people to be together.” Tommy had wandered back into the room, beer in one hand and a bag of baby carrots in the other. “The way I see it, all that matters is that the people in the relationship understand the expectations and what needs the other is hoping to get met. And it’s up to each person to say what those needs are.”

David blinked, turning to stare at Chuck. “What the hell happened to Tommy?”

Chuck reached out and grabbed a carrot from the bag, crunching it between his teeth. After several loud chews, he responded. “Divorce has made him wise.” His blue eyes narrowed on David’s chest. “Also what the fuck is that shirt?”

David looked down at the t-shirt he’d borrowed from Sage and never returned. He spent a slightly embarrassing amount of time wearing the green shirt, but it was soft and fit him well and always made him smile.

“It’s Sage’s,” he said softly, rubbing a hand over his chest. Like maybe the motion would soothe the ache that had settled there.

“You look ridiculous,” Chuck said with a laugh, before his expression sobered. “Get out of here and go for a walk, or something. There’s no rush to figure it all out.”

David took a slow, ragged breath. “Fine. You’re right.”

“Come back for dinner,” Chuck called out as David walked toward the door, keys jangling in his pocket with every step, trying to ignore the mounting dread in his chest.