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"Already had decided on doing that," I assure her "I' overdue"

"Yeah, it was," she affir withthe boxes, and because I don't want to push her any further, I watch the clock on the wall tick down the minutes until I can take the ice pack off

I accomplished what I intended to do here--let Vale Campbell know that I won't be a stress upon her at this ti relationship like adults

Chapter 6

Vale

Tuna salad

Bottle of water

And what the hell, a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie

I slide my tray down the line in the executive cafeteria, also located on the bottorand total of twenty ht roo session with Max Fournier, who looks to be a shoo-in for the starting goalie slot now that Ryker Evans has retired Fournier tore his ACL season before last, had a terrific rehab, but wants to up his gaether a plan for him and we have our first session today, which I' to acute injuries, I really get a kick out of helping players with their conditioning

I pay for rab the closest table The cafeteria is deserted because it's almost two pm, which means this could be a late lunch or an early dinner fordrills are done and most of the players have left, but they're due back for a practice scrie in a few hours

While I really want to eat my cookie first, I forcemaybe that will fill me up and dissuade me from the cookie after I can afford the calories for sure, because noin at least a half-hour workout of regate around my hips

Just as I place the first bite of tuna in my mouth, I hear, "Up for some company?"

That voice Rich, deep, and rough

I don't even need to glance up, but I do, ht blue eyes dead on He has his hair pulled back into a short ponytail, one lock at his forehead having sprung free to hang down over his eyebrow His face is open and affable, which is still taking a bit to get used to Ever since last hen I iced his knee, the tension that had existed between us seeone And that's all on Hawke He extended an olive branch toon a polite and friendly basis I see hi rooms and he alaves or says hello He has me tape his knee up every day before practice and wefunny that's happened in the news All very easy and nonthreatening, and it's put me completely at ease with him

But there is a downside to this renewed yet casual friendship

And that's the way in which this new cordiality between us only serves to highlight the void that still exists Every ti, I re over in bed and kissing me soundly Every time I tape his knee, I realize how cold, clinical, and unfeeling my touch is upon his skin, especially when Hawke and I used to be all about the passionate touch All those things tearthose things about Hawke after I called it off with him

And then there came the inevitable time from deep withinI had cut ties with him as a means of punishment--both to hiht, I knew I had made a mistake I missed him so damn much and I had to believe that he knew I didn't mean it when I told him I didn't love him Surely he knew that wasn't really me Surely he understood that people don't just love one day, and the next it's gone

So I called hi him to please call ain Left another e

I never tried to call back after that He wasit clear he didn't want to talk, but that didn'tup So I sent him an email and then I waited patiently, because Haasn't much of an emailer In fact, he tended to eschew all social ht ultimately see my email

But he never wrote back

And then I gave up

I went through a period of self-castigation for ruining so and unsteady love, but it was love all the saot very low So loasn't sure how to exist I didn't hang out with my friends--except for Avery, who refused to let me shut myself fully away So she would hide in ot really depressed, would pelt ummy bears from the other side of the rooe I was attending and I even took up writing ray I was broken over everything I'd lost, solely due to bad judg