Page 9 of Falling Offsides

Courtney Nilsson is my new next-door-neighbor.

I fucking hate Matheo for moving out. I hate him so fucking hard right now.

The drive is mostly silent. Courtney has her eyes closed for the most part. Until we get off the freeway and the ocean comes into view ten minutes from our block.

“You doing okay?” I check when she rubs her neck with a hiss.

“Just throbbing.” A sigh. “No big deal.”

What have I done?My teeth grit at myself. “Still sorry.”

Courtney says nothing. Instead she checks her phone and then the navigation screen.

“You know where you’re going…”

“Ugh, yeah. Yeah, a few guys live there… the team keeps a couple units open for temp staff, trades, off-season stuff.”

When she doesn’t ask who lives in the building, ifIlive there, I breathe out a sigh of relief.

Why?I have no idea. It just feels like today has been troublesome enough.

Besides, it doesn’t feel like a good idea.

“So,” I say, breaking the silence so my brain stops overworking itself. “How come you didn’t move in with Coach?”

“We haven’t lived in the same city, let alone in the same home for a long time. He and my mom divorced when I was nine. I stayed with my mom in Washington… they have a complicated relationship, so I only really see him on special occasions, the holidays...”

There’s a sad undertone to her voice that has my hands tightening on the steering wheel so I don’t reach for hand clawing at her leggings. The conversation is making her uncomfortable, but now I’m curious…

“What made you want to work for The Comets if you don’t want to live with him and?—”

“Is that a dig?” Courtney snaps, fingers twisting in the stretchy fabric.

“No. No, that’s not how I meant it. Not a dig.”

Now she’s got me flustered. Feeling like a total dick for not keeping my mouth shut and just focusing on getting her home.

“I love my dad,” she whispers, and I swear her voice is wet and raw. “What I said makes him sound like a crappy father, but he’s not. Our family dynamics are complicated and I don’t know him like I used to anymore. Like I want to.”

“Is that why you’re here?” God, I wish my mouth would seal itself shut.

“I guess so. I guess I want to spend time with him while I still can. Before life gets bigger and real adulting means we’re forever two ships in the night.”

The silence settles heavy. Too deep.

I don’t like it. Especially with the way she’s gnawing at her lip. She’s bled enough for today.

“So you’re a photographer,” I say, trying to take her mind off the conversation we just had.

“That’s the plan. I only graduated last month. This is a dream job to graduate into…”

“And you get time with Coach,” I say to myself.

Courtney nods, her gentle smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

Thankfully, we’re turning onto our road. I get us into the underground garage before I think about it. Luckily, Courtney is too distracted to realize that the number plate recognition let us in and that the security at the tailgate welcomed me with a nod.

Parking in my designated spot close to the elevators, I make quick work of getting her out and grabbing her belongings from the trunk before I call the elevator.

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