Page 6 of Matched with Her Athlete Boss

In a voice that’s lower and closer to the phone, Spencer says, “Jack bet that you wouldn’t show. Come on, man. You owe me for setting you up on that last date of yours, the one for the charity auction. I can’t lose a bet to Jack today.”

As much as I want to say I’m sick and have to get back to the house to recover, he’s right. I owe him for helping me not go alone to any event. If the old ladies at those things find out I’m single, I’ll have fourteen phone numbers and a wedding venue within minutes. Dates equal survival at those things.

“Fine. Send me the address. But I’m not happy about it.”

“Thanks, man. You’re saving me from a day of torture.”

I shake my head. “Running through mud sounds worse.”

Spencer clears his throat. “No, man. You haven’t lost a bet with Jack in a few months, which means you’re delusional at the moment. He’d make me do something ridiculous, like eat the mud or something.”

I cringe, feeling a grittiness in my mouth as if I’m being forced to eat mud. “I’m coming.”

Blowing out a breath, I head back to the car. This is not how I saw the day going.

3

KENZIE

Whiplash, that's what my life has come to figuratively and physically.

Things seem like they're going good for a few minutes and then wham! My head hits the back of the passenger seat for the third time on this trip and I'm ready to yell at someone.

I'm beginning to wonder if we'll make it to the mud run before we hit retirement age.

"Millie, do you want me to drive?" I ask, trying to keep the edge from my voice. When we talked about the mud run a few weeks ago, my roommate offered to drive the van she uses for work as a nanny. The one problem is I’ve never ridden with her before and probably won’t again.

Millie looks over and shakes her head. "No, you're the map girl. I won't be able to get anywhere without the map."

I turn and look back at our other two roommates, Evie and Hillary. I widen my eyes hoping I’m not the only one internally freaking out. Are they not feeling the record-level panic I am about this hour-long car ride?

"I can navigate with the map," Evie says, leaning forward. "And if you're not driving, you won't need Kenzie's help."

How she's able to say it with so much kindness makes her look like a saint.

The Sullivan family had two volume settings while I grew up, loud and louder. Those usually involved several emotions, but at this point, I feel like steam is coming out of my ears.

We hit slower traffic, which I'd expected. Even on a Saturday morning in Boston, we've hit road construction.

Roll forward, sudden brake check. Head slamming into the headrest. Repeat.

Millie looks out on the world like a new doe, her eyes wide and all the color drained from her face.

"That might be a good idea," she finally says and I'm too stunned to move.

"Y-You want me to drive?" That little sliver of hope that I won't be killed on my way to what’s supposed to be a fun race is holding its breath until she moves.

Mille nods and unbuckles her seat belt. The door is open before I've even made a move.

"Go!" Hillary says, waving for me to switch seats.

"At least it wasn't just me who was worried about the trip," I say, taking my chances over the middle console rather than going out the door.

"The poor girl just needs some more time learning how to drive in the city," Evie says. "I think she comes from a really small town."

The passenger side opens and Millie gets in, her eyes already spilling tears.

"Oh, now Millie, don't cry," I say, regretting the surge of irritation from seconds ago. "I just know what it can be like to drive in this area."

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