Page 118 of My Secret Bandit

It’d be rough, being in the same space with Mateo. But I couldn’t let fear or emotions impede me achieving my goals.

And that motivation kept my feet moving along the pavement.

“Last chance to turn around, Flynn,” Jeffrey said, dragging out every step, hoping I might change my mind.

The further we went, the queasier I felt, but I wasn’t about to let Jeffrey know that. If he did, he’d have me in the car so fast I’d be stuck finding fresh faces in the texture of the office walls for the next few weeks.

Instead of answering, I kept my grip on his arm and pulled him through the iron gate like he was the one scared out of his fucking brains to be back.

“Get a move on, boss. It’s now or never.”

“Please don’t let this be awful,” he groaned but kept up with my quickened pace.

Well, shit Jeff. Thanks for the vote of confidence.

We sat in the back for interviews. Jeffrey bounced his legs theentire time, nervous there’d be an appearance by the man we were both anxious to see.

Growing more irritated, I pushed his knee down with my palm and gave him a mean glare.

“Damn. Okay, I’m sorry,” he whispered, throwing his hands up.

We made it through with our nerves barely intact and Jeffrey’s legs hopefully burning from the thousands of mini calf raises.

The humid air and fresh grass smell filling the space received me with open arms. I knew I missed coming to the practice field, I just didn’t realize how much. It would’ve been easy to go to games, sit in the press box, and leave without worrying about if I’d run into Mateo. If Jeffrey and Kyle hadn’t insisted on taking my place, I would’ve gone.

Being at practice was a whole different story. There was no press box to help stay hidden or crowd to lose myself in. But with the last regular season game upon us, I wanted to end the season feeling like I accomplished what I needed to as a journalist.

Meaning, I had to get my shit together.

No more waiting around, wasting my internship because of a broken heart.

“Hey, Jamie,” Suzanne said, coming up to hug me before giving Jeffrey a light peck on the lips and wrapping her arms around his waist. “I wondered when you’d be back.”

“Yeah, I figured now was as good a time as any.”

While the two lovebirds cuddled, I moved away.

Far away.

Giving them sufficient space for the lovey dovey, sweetness overload I just wasn’t ready for.

A few minutes later the team took the field, and I glued my eyes to my phone.

What was I looking at? Not a fucking clue.

But I wasn’t ready to connect with the eyes I felt on me.

After giving myself aquit-being-a-pansymotivational speech, I tucked my phone away, acting relieved to have finished whatever business I’d been handling.

“First day back. You good?” Xander popped up behind me and put his hand on my shoulder, giving it a few encouraging pats.

“Oh, yeah. Never better.”

He laughed, saying he’d swing back later.

“Take your time. I’ll just be here… arguing with myself on the best way to behave,” I muttered as I watched him move further away.

I turned my attention back to the field. Well… I meant to concentrate on the field.

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