Page 54 of The Coach

I had four months left of school, and I had a feeling it was going to be the longest four months of my life.

By the time I finished studying, it was nearing midnight. and I had to call it a day so I could get up and be at the clinic by eight the next morning. And do it all over again with a slightly altered schedule.

Tanner has been great about it. Most nights, food would show up at my doorstep with a note from him, wishing me luck on whatever I told him I was doing. Then there are random drops of candy or flowers throughout the week.

It keeps me going.

It also helps that my friends know about us, so I don’t have to hide the gifts or the fact that each one gave me a new case of butterflies when they arrived.

As a matter of fact, they both are completely on board with this relationship.

Victoria was drooling over the snippets I’d told her about our sex life—which was very minimal at the moment—and Cassie was swooning over the gifts and treats and devotion to help me with my studies.

“That is romance,” were her exact words.

The man she ends up with better be the most romantic guy in the world, or it won’t work out for them, I swear.

It is nice to know he is thinking of me, but I really just want to see him again. It’s been over five days since I have, and no, that isn’t very long, but it is starting to feel like weeks.

“Hey,” a voice to my left catches my attention, and I see Erik Zabrowski standing there munching on cashews. He is basically the boss of the OT department at the clinic I work at, and everyone loves him. He is never a jerk, always helpful when I have questions, and never ever hits on anyone.

“Hey there,” I reply, turning my attention back to the paperwork I’m trying to get done before I have to head to class.

“Almost there, huh?” He leans against the elbow-height counter I’m doing the paperwork on.

“Almost where?” I reply, distracted, my eyes skimming over the words on the page.

“To the graduate finish line,” he clarifies. “May will be here before you know it.”

I blow out a breath and smile kindly at him. “God, I hope so.”

He laughs at my words and nods his head. “I remember, it’s pretty grueling. Worth it though.”

“Yeah.” I smile, my eyes catching on a client being helped in our exercise room. “Definitely worth it.”

“Think you wanna stick around here?”

My eyes wide, and I look over at him. “Here, here? Like work in this office?”

He nods his head. “Mary is going on maternity leave in about three months, says she’s gonna cut back her hours when she returns, and I need someone to fill that extra gap.”

“Wait,” I hold up my hand, my eyes blinking rapidly. “You’re offering me a job?”

He smiles at me, his white teeth gleaming under awful fluorescent lights. “I am. We love you around here and so do our clients.”

“I-I would be honored,” I say, shocked that this was brought up already. I assumed that I would have to not only apply to this place but to many others and hold my breath about a job.

“Good,” he nudges my arm with his shoulder. “Well, graduate first, then you can have it.”

“Thank you,” I fumble over my words, emotions hitting me hard, my hand tightens around the pen in my hand. “Thank you so much.”

He nods his head and walks back to his office.

I’m still an excited mess as I stuff my bag back together and start making my way out of the clinic to start the trek back to school. I grab my phone and find Tanner’s name. It’s ringing in my ear when someone steps out of the shadows of the building, and I let out a shriek, throwing my phone at them.

“Whoa, calm down, sis.” Lincoln reaches to the ground, grabbing my phone from where it clattered to the pavement, and I rest a hand on my heart, trying to calm it down.

“Sorry, I was in my head.” I take a deep breath, reaching for the phone. Sudden urgency hits me when I remember who I was calling and who is now holding my phone.

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