Page 14 of One Good Puck
After a moment, her expression falls. She crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m sorry for falling apart in front of you like that. I’m so embarrassed.”
“You don’t need to be embarrassed. What happened? Do you want to talk about it?”
She hesitates for a second, her hazel-green eyes big, clearly surprised at what I’ve said.
“I’m not going to make you listen to me ramble.”
“You’re not making me do anything. I want to listen to you. If you’re comfortable talking about it.”
She’s quiet for a second, her gaze on me curious. Almost like she’s in disbelief.
She sighs. “I just got off the phone with my landlord. I have to move out of my place at the end of next month because he’s selling it, and I’m just really stressed about finding a new place.”
She goes quiet for a second, then lets out a weak laugh like she’s embarrassed. “Wow. When I say it out loud, it doesn’t sound all that bad. Everyone deals with this at some point in their lives. I sound like kind of a drama queen.”
She tugs a hand through her sandy blonde hair. It’s styled in long, loose curls. The other times I’ve seen her, she wears her hair in a ponytail. She looks beautiful either way, no matter what she does with her hair. But tonight she’s breathtaking.
She’s wearing this long, shiny, flowy light-green dress that shows off her legs. I saw her when she first walked in and almost choked on my drink. I was stunned at her beauty.
Even now, she’s still so beautiful, face red from crying, a hesitant smile playing on her lips.
I shake my head. “You’re not a drama queen. Having to move unexpectedly can be unsettling. I had to move a bunch of times when I was a player in the league, and I hated it. Sometimes we’d only have a week to find a new place to live in the new city we played in. It stressed me out every single time.”
She looks at me for a long moment, and I instantly regret what I said. I sound like I’m trying to one-up her.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean for it to come off like I’m trying to make it about me,” I mumble, embarrassed.
“You didn’t. It’s honestly nice to hear you say that. I hate moving. It’s the worst. Especially with how expensive things are in the city nowadays.” She glances off to the side. “The place we live in now is pretty perfect. And affordable. And the landlord was great too. Really kind and helpful. I just got a little overwhelmed thinking about having to look for a new place. So many apartments are out of my pricerange. My budget can’t take many more surprise expenses. Gotta love single parent life.”
She lets out a sad chuckle. I’m quiet as I process everything she’s said. I figured she wasn’t rich since she’s a teacher. Most teachers are paid way less than they deserve.
I don’t know anything about her daughter’s dad, but I assumed he paid child support or helped her out in some way. He should—every father should support their child, no matter what. But it sounds like she’s the primary parent, and she doesn’t get much help from him or anyone.
This poor woman. She’s working her ass off and can’t catch a break.
She closes her eyes and shakes her head.
“Oh my god, I’m rambling.” She takes a breath and opens her eyes again. “I should head back out to the party. Thanks for letting me cry on you and listening to my ranting.”
She lets out another embarrassed chuckle, then starts to walk off.
“You could live with me,” I blurt.
She immediately stops walking and turns around to face me. She’s frowning like she’s never been more confused in her life.
“What?”
“You could live with me,” I say again, just now realizing how insane that sounds.
I don’t know Abby well at all. We’ve hung out maybe a dozen times, always with other people around. The only time we’ve ever been alone was the other week when I randomly ran into her at that dive bar.
I probably sound like a creep offering up my house to her and her daughter to move into.
“That probably sounds nuts.” I let out a nervous laugh.
A sweet smile pulls at her lips. “A little. But it’s also very generous of you to offer up your house to me.”
I shove my hands in the pockets of my suit pants and shrug, relieved that she doesn’t seem creeped out, mostly amused.
