Page 98 of Breakaway

Their hands swung at their sides as they walked and she wished he would take her hand and hold it. But he didn’t. She pressed her lips together, stomach a mass of twisting nerves. “Let’s just get to your place.” She paused. “How did your practice go?”

“It was okay. Everyone’s kinda tense. We lost again last night.”

“I know. I watched.”

“Oh.”

“But you played well.”

“Yeah, I did okay.” He shook his head. “But we gotta get our shit together tomorrow night or we’re done.”

“You can do it.”

He looked at her and smiled. “Thanks. Maybe you should come to the game. Last time I think you brought me luck.”

She laughed. “I doubt I did.”

They rode up the elevator in his high-rise building, her remembering the first time she’d been there and they’d been all over each other. Her stomach did a little flip low down. Her breathing shallow, she tried to focus on drawing air into her lungs.

Jase led the way in. Sunlight flooded through the wall of windows, the view beyond spectacular, all the way to Lake Michigan in the hazy distance. She smiled at all his exercise equipment taking up half the space, the other half filled with leather couch and electronic equipment.

“Have a seat,” he said, his jaw tight.

She sat on the couch and set her purse on the floor. “So.”

He sat beside her, but not touching, eyeing her as if she was alternately a bomb that might explode or a meal he wanted to devour.

She twisted her fingers together again. “I wanted to talk to you.”

“Uh-huh.”

Hell. She’d already said that.

“I’ve been doing some thinking. About you and…Brianne.” She forced the name out through stiff lips. “And the baby.”

He leaned back and lifted a brow. “Really? Me too.”

Was that sarcasm? She licked her lips. “Maybe this is none of my business, but I don’t want to see you make a big mistake.”

He frowned. “Like what?”

“Like…I know you want to do the right thing and I know you’re going to take responsibility and be a father to your child, but…oh shit.” Her throat closed up.

“What, Remi?” Now he leaned forward and reached for her hands. His were big and warm on her clammy ones.

“Dammit.” She swiped at a tear. “All I do is cry lately. I hate this!” She drew in a shuddering breath. “I know you want to take responsibility and man up to the consequences of your actions and all that, but Jase, I don’t think getting back together with Brianne is the right thing for you. For any of you, even the baby.” She bit her lip. “I’m sure Brianne is a lovely person,” she continued. “Butdon’t you think it would be a big mistake to get back together with her for the sake of your baby?”

“Yup.”

“Because I…what?” She stared at him.

“Yup, that would be mistake,” he agreed, regarding her soberly. “I already figured that out, Remi.”

“You did?”

“Hell, yeah. Big mistake.Hugemotherfucking mistake.”

“Oh.”

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