Page 33 of Scoring Lessons

I scratched her ear. “Hey, Daisy.”

She started licking my legs, trying to savor the old sticky sweat that coated my skin. I allowed her to continue and sat on the floor to keep petting her.

“You’re such a sweet girl, did you know that?” I said as if she could understand. I mean, who knew? Maybe she could. “You’re making me feel all better already.” My chuckle was soft because even though receiving a warm welcome lightened the heaviness my chest carried, my brain was still in overdrive.

A set of keys rattled on the other side of the entrance door, then Olivia opened it while sifting through pieces of mail. Her natural frown was etched between her brows as she continued to read absentmindedly.

“Hey,” I said.

She startled and placed a hand on her chest, her eyes finding mine. “Why are you sitting in the middle of the hallway?”

“Hanging with my new best friend, obviously.” I patted Daisy once on the head before she went up to her mom to beg for her attention.

Olivia scrunched her nose, her silver septum ring gleaming. “It smells like death in here.” She approached me and sniffed. “Why do you stink?”

I gasped in mock offense. “What happened to…hello? How are you?”

“Hello, Wesley. How are you?” Olivia sighed and crossed her arms. “Why do you stink?”

“I came home straight after training camp without taking a shower.”

Her eyes flickered with recognition. “Oh.”

“Yeah.” My laugh was bitter and heavy. There was no point in elaborating, because she obviously knew.

“You okay?” Her tone took on a soft edge I hated.

“What do you think, Olivia?”

She dropped her bag on the floor and sagged her shoulders as she took a seat next to me. Daisy settled between us, resting her chin on my thigh. “Changes can happen any time. It doesn’t mean anything.”

I started to pet Daisy’s golden fur, avoiding Olivia’s gaze.

“Besides, I think you’re a better player than Sullivan,” she added casually.

My stomach fell in one swift motion. My skin buzzed when I stared at her, dumbfounded. “Seriously?”

She shot me an unimpressed stare. “Why is that so shocking?”

“Sullivan may be a rookie, sure, but he has raw, real talent. My career will never compare to his.” It didn’t hurt admitting the truth out loud as much as I thought it would.

She turned to face me, resting her elbows on her knees. Her head tilted as she continued to study me.

I shifted uncomfortably. “I hate when you do that.”

“Do what?”

“Look at me like you’re trying to decipher me.”

“That’s because I am.”

“There’s nothing to decode. What you see is what you get.” The lie tasted like vile in my mouth.

She smirked knowingly. “You’ve always been a shit liar.”

“I’m not the Wesley you used to know, Olivia. Stop pretending you still know me.” The words came out harsher than I intended.

When her demeanor changed from normal to stiff, I knew I had put my foot in my mouth. But she saw me too clearly, and I couldn’t allow it. My defense mechanisms naturally kicked in.