Page 18 of Chasing The Goal
I nodded, trying to keep my face neutral.
Easy.
Relaxed.
Like it didn’t sting.
“Right. Of course. Totally get it.”
You don’t. You won’t ever, because no one ever makes you feel like this.
She added quickly, “You’re great. I just… think we’re better as friends and coworkers. We do work for the same team, we have to remember that.”
Friends. Coworkers. Teammates.
I offered a weak smile. Or maybe it was a grimace, I couldn’t tell anymore. “No worries. Thanks for not pretending to be sick to avoid me.”
That got a laugh out of her. Light, beautiful.
It made everything worse.
And then she was gone, walking away like she hadn’t just cracked something wide open in my chest and left it there to bleed out quietly. Her ponytail swayed with each step, and I watched her until she disappeared around the corner.
The hallway felt colder without her in it.
And I couldn’t help wondering if I’d ever stop feeling like I missed a chance I never really had.
Mallory
I lied.
Well—stretched the truth.
Okay, fine. It was technically a lie.
But it was easier than saying,“I don’t know what the hell I’m doing and you make my stomach feel weird and my brain go soft.”
I sat at my desk, the one tucked behind the treatment rooms, and stared at my phone until the screen went dark.
Two dates. That’s all it had been with Jackson. One coffee, one dinner, both initiated via Tinder. He waspolite, polished, worked in finance. Predictable. Liked to talk about craft beer and his stock portfolio. Perfectly not her type.
But when Jaymie Prescott looked at me like I hung the moon?
Jackson didn’t stand a chance.
I opened my messages and tapped on Dakota’s name.
Mallory
Just turned down the hockey player.
Might be an idiot.
Dakota
WHICH ONE
Prescott
