Page 65 of Hail Marry
I’ve been convincing myself that the moment in her bedroom when I wanted to kiss her so badly was just a fit of madness, but now? It seems like madness to spend any time doing anythingbutkissing her.
She slides her fingers up my neck and threads them through my loose hair, still wet from the shower. I grasp the fabric of her shirt at the small of her back like those threads are the one thing keeping me on this earth.
Am I crazy, or does kissing usually not feel like this? Maybe it’s just been that long for me.
She pulls away suddenly, and I’m dizzy as she looks up at me and smiles. “I missed you.”
I can’t form words. My brain is too busy trying to figure out if she means it or if this is part of the show for Louie.
Definitely part of the show. She was crystal clear about not wanting anything romantic. And neither do I. In my sane moments.
The sight of Louie staring at us brings me back to earth. “I see you’ve met my wife.”
“Yup.” Suddenly, he’s no longer the smooth player picking up a woman. He’s a gruff football player.
“Still need a ride?” Tori asks him with a smile, one hand splayed on my chest. She looks him up and down. “You look small enough to squeeze in the back.”
I cough to mask the laugh that comes out of me.
Louie stares at her, then me, and forces a smile. “Nah. I’m good.” And then he and his buddies, who are stifling their own laughs, head the other direction.
We watch them for a few seconds, then Tori drops her hand from my chest and turns to the car. “Is he on your team?”
“I hope not,” I say. “He didn’t get picked, but he’s hoping to get put on the off-season roster.”
“Dang skippy he didn’t get picked,” she says with an adorable half-smile and wink at me as she gets in the passenger seat. It’s her car, but she clearly expects me to drive. It feels very man-and-wife, which is technically accurate.
She rolls her window down and closes her eyes against the breeze as we get on our way. “I really needed this.”
I glance at her. She’s talking about a day in San Diego, away from work. Not time with me, or the way we just half-made out in front of Louie. “Work not going well?”
“Oh, it’s going fine. It’s just soul-suckingly boring. What’s the point of paying a fortune to live in sunny L.A. when I stare at windowless, eggshell-white walls all day? Not that Iampaying a fortune.”
“Really? Your place is nice.”
“It’s my brother Troy’s.” She takes off her sunglasses and blows on them, then cleans them with her shirt. “He and Stevie own a few properties, and he’s generous enough to sacrifice market-rate rent money so I can live there. But it’s only temporary.” Her brow wrinkles. “Actually, I’m coming up on a year here soon. He’ll probably be bugging me to get out any minute now. Anyway, what’s our first stop?”
“A place in Carmel Valley,” I say. “It’s not too far.”
“A rental, right? Or have you looked into buying at all?”
“Not really. I don’t want to put down roots only to get cut.”
“You’re not getting cut.” She puts her arm out of the window and lets the wind rush between her fingers. “But I think renting is best anyway. Gives you a chance to get to know the area better. Plus, it’ll make things easier when we get divorced.”
My stomach drops.
Divorce has always been the plan. I guess it’s just weird to hear it talked about so flippantly.
The Carmel house is in a nice neighborhood. It’s huge and has a workout room, which is a must. It just feels a little big for one person.
After that, we head to an apartment in Solana, which has a gym, but only as part of the HOA. It’s a third-floor apartment with a partial view of the ocean. It’s a lot more compact than the house, and there’s no elevator, but the amenities and view are nice.
Finally, we stop at a place in Bird Rock, another home in a family-friendly neighborhood. Across the street, the houses have views over the clifftops. I can’t believe I can afford to rent these types of places. I’m trying to be wise with my money while also letting myself enjoy the fruits of my labors a bit.
“What do you think?” Tori asks as we leave the Bird Rock house.
“What doyouthink?” I parrot back.
