Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Or maybe I’m just being too sensitive. To give him the benefit of the doubt, I’m tired, and it’s been a long night. Regardless, I texted him before I left the restaurant that I was going to stay the night at my place.
He hasn’t responded.
It takes me no time at all to get my makeup off, moisturizer on, and a good scrubbing of my teeth. I choose a pair of fuzzy flannel pajamas, which is a far cry from sleeping naked with Cannon, and I crawl into bed.
I’m just setting my alarm for seven a.m. when my phone rings.
It’s Cannon.
Part of me doesn’t want to answer it because I’m itching for a fight, and I expect he probably is, too, since I texted I wasn’t coming to his condo with no real explanation.
But Shelley was right… we need to communicate.
“Hey,” I say when I connect the call.
“Why did you go to your place?” he asks, and I don’t detect any anger, but Cannon’s such a level guy, he might be hiding it well.
“I’m tired, so—”
“My place was closer than yours to the restaurant,” he cuts in over me. “If you were tired, it would have been easier to come here.”
I take in a breath and let it out before telling him my honest feelings. “I’m upset you didn’t come to dinner, so I wanted some space.”
“I knew this would happen,” he says with a heavy sigh, but there’s clear accusation in his tone, and that flares my anger to downright fury.
“No,” I snap. “You don’t get to play the victim here and act like I’ve overstepped. I asked you to come to dinner with plenty of notice and on a particular day that I know you can usually cut out of the arena fairly early. You checked your schedule, and you accepted. There was no reason for you to cancel other than you’re having doubts.”
“I had to work,” he maintains. “I’ve been clear that my career comes first, and you accepted that about me.”
“Yes, you’ve told me that time and time again, Cannon. You set the boundaries, and I accepted them. But then you kept erasing them with your actions. You had me come to away games, and keep my things at your condo, and you left work to bring me flowers and chocolate. So that had me thinking maybe I was special enough to get a little more of your attention. I had the right to assume you could offer more because you were offering more.”
“You shouldn’t have assumed—”
My laugh sounds maniacal, and I feel like I’m spinning out of control, because I keep waiting for him to apologize and tell me I’m right and that he’s just scared. But it doesn’t come. “It shouldn’t come as a surprise at all that I fell for you because you were doing all the things a man would do if he cared for a woman.”
I pause, let that sink in. I wait for him to affirm that he does care for me, but there’s silence.
Tears prick at my eyes. “I had you promise me once that if we were moving at different speeds… if I was going somewhere you didn’t want to go, then I needed you to tell me. Do you remember that?”
“Yeah, I do.”
I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, one arm across my stomach as I hunch over. I’m barely able to choke out the words. “You promised you wouldn’t let me chase something that wasn’t achievable with you. I need you to keep that promise.”
Holding my breath, I wait for him to ease my mind or crush me.
“I think we need to take a break,” he says flatly. “I’m going home for Thanksgiving. I need to figure things out. We can talk when I get back.”
Pain lances through me, punching deep into my chest, and I squeeze my eyes shut as I let my breath out. It doesn’t expel the hurt, but when I inhale, I feel steadier.
I open my eyes. “I don’t need a break to figure things out, Cannon. I know what I want, and I know, without a doubt, that I’m not willing to go backward. I deserve better than that.”
I don’t give Cannon a chance to respond. Despite how disappointed and let down I feel right now, I know he would only want me to have the best.
So I don’t need him to say it.
“Goodbye, Cannon.”
CHAPTER 29
Cannon
Pacing my hotel room, I glance periodically at my laptop. I should be working as we have a game tonight. The team will be heading to the New Jersey Wildcats arena in three hours, and the players are all relaxing after lunch.
This is the time I use to go over my notes, make any last-minute adjustments, and review video clips of our opponents one more time to be sure I didn’t miss anything—the time I sit in front of my laptop, hone my focus, and be a goddamn coach.