Page 41 of The Replay

Chapter 14

Mariana

Cora: Hermanita, you were distracted again this morning. I thought you'd be excited for our upcoming work trip together! But you kept staring out into space. Our weekly breakfast is too far away. What's up? Come clean now and we can discuss further over eggs and toast on Monday.

Mariana: You've been saying that for days and the answer is still the same. Nothing is going on. I'm good, I promise! Just getting busier prepping all the December stuff. It's October already! How is that possible?

Cora: This is why I haven't had much time for fun either. For me it's the first year of many so it needs to go well. And for you? I was worrying you were getting anxious about making the next few months asuccess.

Mariana: I can't say my anxiety isn't flaring up again, but it's not too bad at the moment. All my work plans are going well— I think. Unless you've heard otherwise?

Cora: The opposite which, ironically, might be a problem. Did you talk to Selena yet? She wants to invite Mom and Dad to the gala.

Mariana: What?!

Cora: Sigh. Come have lunch with me and we'll talk.

Mariana: I bet this is what the meeting Selena's office added to my calendar tomorrow is about.

Cora: I'll tell you what I know over lunch.

I sit at my desk the next day, watching the night fall outside my window and twirling my pen between my fingers. My sister was right. I've been distracted. And even though I was able to redirect the conversation back to work, I haven't been as successful with my thoughts. In fact, all that's happening is I'm adding more and more worries to my mind.

While I'm proud of how I walked out of the university two weeks ago, I'm not proud of being the one who pushed for what happened. I keep going back to that study room in my mind, rewinding and slowing down the tape, checking it frame by frame trying to decipher who truly initiated.

Who broke? I'm afraid it was me. I think I moved first, going for that kiss. And I definitely was the one to push for more.

My stomach twists. I said I would never, but I did. I so did.

It's okay. I asked no questions and he gave me what I needed. I've been craving casual sex, right? Dom is a good time, guaranteed, and I've just been too busy to go meet someone. This high should last me a while. It better, because work won't slow down for some time, and having so few opportunities for bars and pubs and clubs is what got me in this situation in the first place.

Right? That has to be it. Please, tell me that's what it is.

The only thing I should really be concerned about is the evidence I can't deny. The one proving that despite our arguing, there's at least one area where the magic between Dom and I remains.

I didn't even need a lot of foreplay to come fast.

That's why I've avoided Dom for two weeks. If I don't want to confront my confusing feelings about Dom, isn't steering clear from him the logical answer? Too bad I've learned that avoiding things just makes the fear stronger, and now the idea of seeing Dom again forces me into shallow breaths.

Unfortunately, after the meeting with Selena this morning, my luck disappears.

I take air in, counting to four, letting it out in six. I repeat it a few times and leave my office for a quick trek to the training area. The halls at the TD have begun to empty, with the official working hours now past. I walk through white and blue halls that echo the team's branding. The elevator takes me down to the first floor. Half the offices' lights are off, but I make my way toward the locker room anyway.

The large, open space is mostly empty as well. Secretly, I'm hoping Dom is gone and I'll have to try again. But I remember where his cubby was, and under the label with his name, there are way more things than in other ones. Two sets of shoes wait on the floor, like he's not wearing any at the moment. He could be in the shower and I could just wait…

A player I'm not familiar with comes out with a towel around his hips.

"Can I help you?" he asks.

"Hi, I'm looking for Dom. Have you seen him?"

"Pool room. He likes to stay there longer if he can."

I thank him and find my way through the gym to the back, where I think the wet room is. Because that's my kind of luck. I'll have to have this conversation with him while he's barely clothed.

I could send him an email, except this is going to be a personal conversation and I don't want it on the Strike's servers. I could unblock him and text him… except who knows if he still has the same number.

All right. I won't avoid this. Or him. I'm a determined woman on a mission.