Page 63 of The Coach

“Yep, I told him you don’t work full time and your schedule is sometimes sporadic, but he says he’ll work with it. He said, and I quote, ‘I don’t want to be shuffled around between a bunch of ninnies. I want the tough girl.’”

I muffle a laugh behind my hand. He was definitely the type to use the word “ninnies”.

“I guess that’s a good thing,” I say, resting my elbows on the counter that separates the clients from our desk space.

“I think it’s great,” he leans back in his chair and looks up at me. “I think once you’re here full-time, we could start taking on more clients like him.”

My heart leaps in my chest, excitement threatening to escape through a happy squeal. I rein it in so I can speak. “Oh yeah?” See, casual.

“Yeah, we have a community of veterans here that have to drive down to the VA hospital for things like that. If we can find a way to give them a good rate, they might be willing to go for it since it’s not as far.”

I nod my head. Some veterans get their medical for free—but not nearly enough of them. If Erik was willing to do this for them, then I wouldn’t have to only work here for a few years like I planned. I could stay here for good.

“I think that would be amazing,” I reply, biting my lip.

He looks at me and sputters a laugh. “You’re trying so hard not to blurt out how happy you are.”

I shake my head in a laugh and step back to get ready for the next client. “I am not.”

“Yes, you are!” He calls out to me, and I let my smile grow. Yes, I was.

“Delivery,” Cassie announces from my open door, and I glance up, blinking my tired eyes and see Tanner standing behind her.

“Oh, hey.” I glance at my phone before I stand and don’t see a missed call. “Did I know you were coming?”

“No,” he answers, handing a bag to Cassie. “Here, for your trouble.”

“Ooh.” She peers into the bag and glances back at him. “Chocolate. Good man. I think we’ll keep you.”

“That’s for keeping the secret, Cassie.” He smirks at her, reminding her of Thanksgiving, and she glares at him before leaving.

Stepping into my room, he closes the door behind him and steps into me, wrapping me in his arms, and I feel myself melt into him. His cologne and his natural scent wrap around me, and I dream of falling asleep just like this, safe and comfortable.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, my voice muffled in his shoulder.

“Thought you could use a study break.” We pull away, and he holds up his remaining bag. “Some sugar to keep you going and protein bars to keep you full.”

I blink at him and smile at the gesture. He was always doing little things like this for me, small, consistent gestures to let me know he was thinking about me.

“You’re too good to me.”

He wrinkles his brow. “Never.”

Walking toward my bed, he flops down onto it, getting comfortable.

“Are you staying?” I ask, walking over to the bed and away from my desk where my study materials are. I’ve been at it since I got home from work and was nearly falling asleep at the desk.

“Yup,” he replies, not looking up from where he was digging through the different treats. “Are you a Snickers girl or a MilkyWay type?”

I snort and crawl into the bed beside him. “Snickers, obviously.”

“Should have known you’d go for nuts,” he murmurs and pulls one out for me.

I dig my finger into his side, and he lets out an unmanly yelp.

“Okay! I give,” he says, tucking his arm behind me and letting me cuddle up to him. My blankets are down by my feet from where I’d hurriedly gotten out of bed this morning.

My schedule is kicking my ass.

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