Page 52 of Playing to Win

Izzy is already half-dressed. I stand at a distance behind her, afraid to move closer. “Izzy…” I have no idea what to say to her.

She meets my eyes through the mirror, then turns her back on me. Outside the changing room, there’s no sign of the reporters. I trudge up to my office and change into dry jeans and a clean T-shirt. I don’t care what time it is; I’m done. What the fuck was I thinking?

In reception, I tell Charlie, “I’m going home.”

Her brows scrunch as she checks her watch. “Is everything okay, boss?”

Her words fall on my back as I leave. I walk home via the convenience store and pick up what I need for one of Izzy’s salads.

It was the right thing to do, I tell myself. Since Cady, I’ve been careful with every woman. I’ve always had backup contraception. Her covered, me covered. The one time I didn’t do that was eighteen years ago. That didn’t work out so well.

But the look on Izzy’s face. I’m not sure I’ll ever forget it.

Hours after the shower incident, I’m eating my salad alone on my sofa with my guitar next to me. It dawns on me that I miss her. As crazy as it sounds, I even miss arguing with her. I wonder if there’s any part of her that’s missing me too.

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