Page 107 of Edging Coach
“I’m okay.” He sniffed and gazed down at me, eyes still wet. “I just…” He swallowed hard. “I’m not ready to leave Tofino.”
Fuck, I almost broke down right there with him. Instead, I closed my eyes and pulled him back in close. I was still inside him, still hard for the moment, and neither of us made any move to separate. The way he trembled, we both knew he was crying, but I just stroked his hair and held on to him.
After a while, he sat up again and cleared his throat as he swiped at his eyes. “We should clean up.”
I nodded. He was pulling himself together, so I needed to do the same. We had so little time left—no point in spending it mourning something we hadn’t yet lost.
He lifted off me, and after we’d cleaned up, we returned to the bed we’d shared every night this week. I rested my head onhis chest, and he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. His other hand clasped mine over his stomach.
I didn’t know what to say. What was the right thing. What wouldn’t make this ache in my chest exponentially worse.
All I knew was what I wanted to say, and I didn’t dare. There was no point.
Why tell you I love you when I have to let you go tomorrow?
CHAPTER 30
DEVON
“Devon? Is that you?” Jack’s voice had me glancing up from my burger, fries, and milkshake.
“Coach Showalter? What are you doing here?” No one was near us, but I was still going to put on the best performance I could. “Oh, you’ve got food. Do you want to join me?”
“Sure.” He eased into the seat across from me. “I didn’t realize this burger chain had a restaurant right on the ferry. I must’ve missed that going over.”
“Mmm.” I pointed to my plate. “Ilovemushrooms. With Swiss cheese and this special sauce? It’s divine.”
“Ah. I’m having a barbecue sauce concoction. I’m looking forward to it. Their fries are amazing.” He grinned.
Even I could see the smile was tight and uncomfortable.
Our gazes held.
We were traveling from Nanaimo back to West Vancouver on a Monday, so the ferry wasn’t as busy as it might’ve been on a Friday or a weekend day. Apparently, weekend trips could be full.
I blinked. “So, where were you?”
“Oh. A cabin in Tofino. Watching the winter surfers and walking on the beach.”
“Really?” I put on my best astonished face. “I was there as well. I can’t believe we didn’t run into each other.”
He shrugged as he opened a ketchup packet and put some on his fries. Then he added vinegar.
Even from a distance, I tasted it. Not my favorite.
He spoke. “I didn’t leave the place I rented. I was focused on watching the All-Star game as well as watching our team footage.”
“Oh man, that sucks. You take a vacation and you’re watching us skate?”
He arched an eyebrow.
Shit, am I laying it on too thick?
“I’m always thinking about the team, Devon. That’s how we’re going to get out of our slump and make a run for the playoffs.”
I winced.
He cocked his head.
