Page 60 of Push

The spring in my step had disappeared by the time I thumped my locker open. I unbuttoned my shirt, slipped it off, and then slung it over the hanger, but my hand faltered before I could snag a white undershirt off the shelf.

The idea of starting work suddenly felt too overwhelming.

I sank to the bench and pressed the heels of my palms against my eyes. With some effort, a few deep breaths filled my lungs. Life was one step forward and two steps back every damn day. Sort out a problem, and another was always waiting. Tuesdays were mine to spend with Noah, but there was still daycare to chase up on my lunch break, and money problems always loomed over my head.

I sighed. Screw this merry-go-round. I wanted off.

“Hey.” Fingertips stroked down my spine. “It’s going to be okay.”

My chin jerked up. My eyes rounded.

Kayleigh.

I almost launched out of my skin. “Get out!” What the hell was she doing in the men’s changing room? This was another problem I didn’t need.

The rough edge to my voice made Kayleigh stumble back, but her eyes fell to my bare chest. “Oh.” She sighed as her gaze slid slowly down to my belt, lingering there for far too long. “Wow.” Her tongue darted out over her lips.

I scrambled for my locker. She was quicker. She sidestepped the boxes stacked next to the bench. Gridlock. There was no getting around her.

My pulse exploded. “Get the hell out!”

“It’s okay.” She bit back a smile as she tugged her scrub top out of the waistband of her pants. “I locked the door.”

“Youwhat?”

Her fingers curled around the hem of her top.

Was she…?

Ohhellno.

I grabbed her hands, stopping her before she stripped, and through gritted teeth, I demanded, “Quit that!”

Kayleigh’s smirk was a challenge. “You want to do it for me?” She giggled. “Okay.”

“Thisisn’ta game.”

“Are you sure?” Her fingers slithered toward my chest, but I twisted out of reach. She only giggled more. “I went along with Judy’s plan. I even sat through all those stupid meetings when the lawyer gave me a speech about professional conduct. I know Gwen sees my photos.Sheknows I’m winning your game.”

My chest heaved from almost panicked breaths, and my eyes darted around the cramped room. What could I do? Kayleigh blocked my locker, wearing a smile that made my gut turn over. Not an option. But if I walked out half undressed and she followed, I didn’t need to be as smart as Gwen to guess everyone’s reaction.

My stunned silence only fueled Kayleigh’s bravery, and she edged closer to me. “I want what you do, Toby.”

“You have no idea what I want.”

“You want to feel seen…be taken care of—”

“I want mywife! Christ, Kayleigh! I want you to stop posting lies about me all over the internet! I want you to stay the hell away from me!”

A strangled hiccup escaped her, but she blinked away the devastation, coming for me, even more determined to get her greedy hands on my skin. Her fingertips grazed my bare chest before I dodged the unwanted touch, slamming into the lockers, my heart thumping.

“Stop!” I shouted. “What the fuck iswrongwith you?”

Kayleigh wasn’t listening. She’d concocted a fantasy in her head that we were in a relationship. And why? Because we’d shared too many lunches? Because I’d made the disgusting choice to kiss her? It was time to take my chances with the corridor and everyone’s overactive imaginations. I was out of there.

But I hadn’t gotten more than two steps closer to the door before Kayleigh called after me.

“I know why you’re fighting this,” she said. “You’re a good person. You want to make sure Gwen’s taken care of.”

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