Page 21 of Double Fault

Annie’s diagnosis almost shattered me. If not for this little girl, I don’t know that I would have made it after she was gone.

In the kitchen, I find the room service menu and scan the QR code. Thank fuck the kitchen opens so early. I desperately need food and coffee after being out for so long.

Without hesitation, I place an order for way too much food. What can I say? I want options.

As I turn the TV on, I scratch my stomach and survey the room. It looks far more lived in than it did before I went to sleep. Maddie’s shoes lie in one corner, both turned on their sides, and there’s a blanket in a pile on the floor. Already, crayons litter the top of the coffee table, along with her favorite coloring book.

Damn, my kid knows how to turn any place into a home.

Maybe her ability to adapt is why she’s handled losing her mom as well as she has.

Settled on the couch, I scroll through the channels. Before I’ve found anything that looks even remotely interesting, the door to the suite beeps.

Puzzled, I stand quickly. Room service shouldn’t be letting themselves in. Fisher usually has a key to my room, but I can’t imagine why he’d be coming by this early. I figured he’d be passed out for at least another hour.

Sabrina eases quietly into the room, closing the door silently as if not to disturb the other inhabitants of the suite. It all goes to waste when she turns around, catches sight of me, and screams.

Hand to her chest, she attempts to catch her breath. “Dammit, Noah. Give a girl a little warning next time.”

Her skin is damp with sweat, and she has her hair tied back with a scrunchie. The matching black running shorts and bra clinging to her every curve are doing things to me that they really shouldn’t.

I clear my throat, banishing the lust threatening to worm its way through me. “Sorry. I didn’t know you were gone.” With a sigh, I drop back to the couch. “You really shouldn’t be out running by yourself so early.”

She shrugs. “I’m still alive, aren’t I?”

My stomach clenches. “Not even funny.” I pick up the remote and focus on the TV again. “I ordered breakfast if you’re hungry.”

“I am actually. But,” she sniffs her arm and grimaces, “I should shower.”

God, she’s so fucking amusing even when she’s not trying to be.

“All right.” Angled back, I kick my feet up on the coffee table. “Food should be here when you’re done.”

I eventually settle on a reality show I’ve never seen before. I have no idea what’s going on, but I’ve always been a sucker for this kind of stuff. Annie used to poke fun at me for it. Damn, what I’d give to have her sitting here with me now, giggling over my choice of entertainment.

But no number of wishes can bring back the dead.

She’s gone, and life goes on, regardless of how painful it is.

I don’t know where I’d be if I hadn’t had Maddie. For months after Annie died, she was the reason I forced myself out of bed in the morning. Even tennis wasn’t enough to motivate me. Sure, I’d practiced plenty, but competing was virtually impossible. Not when my speed and stamina and drive had all disappeared.

Once I’ve tipped the server and closed the door behind him, I put the deadbolt in place and move the food to the long dining table. Then, without preamble, I pile a plate with fruit, eggs, and toast. To start, at least.

As I’m pouring a cup of coffee, the door to Sabrina’s room opens and she appears, freshly showered and smelling like that warm floral scent again.

I hold up my mug. “Coffee?”

The smile she responds with is small and a little tentative. “Yeah, please.”

I pour a second cup, and when she takes it from me, she wraps her fingers around it and pulls it close.

The smile dancing on her lips this time is full of mirth. “Cute of you to think I drink it without sweetener.”

“Ah, you’re one of those people.” I take a long sip. It’s decent for hotel brew.

“You bet I am.” She sets her cup on the table and snags three creamers from the bowl in the middle. She dumps them in, followed by three packets of sugar.

“Three of each, huh?”

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