Free Never Too Far by Abbi Glines Page B

thiswon’thappenagain.I’llstaylatetomakeupforit—”
    “Myoffice.Now,”hesnappedandturnedtostalkdownthehallway.
    MyheartspedupandIfollowedquicklybehindhim.Ididn’twantWoodstobemadatme.
    Thisjobhadbeenmyanswerforthenextfewmonths.NowthatI’dtalkedmyselfintostaying hereandfiguringoutwhattodoIreallydidn’twanttoleave.Notyet.
    WoodsopenedthedoorformeandIsteppedinside.
    “Ireallyamsorry.Pleasedon’tfiremeyet.Ijust—”
    “I’mnotfiringyou.”Woodsinterruptedme.
    Oh…
    “Haveyouseenadoctor?I’massumingit’sRush’s.Doesheknow?Becauseifhedoesand
    you’re here working for me in this condition I’m personally going to go break his fucking neck.”
    Heknew.Ohno,ohno,ohno.Ishookmyheadfrantically.Ihadtostopthis.Woodscould notknow.NoonewassupposedtoknowbutBethy.“Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout.”
    Woodscockedaneyebrow.“Really?”Thedisbeliefinhisvoicewasunnerving.Hewasn’t
    goingtofallforalie.ButIhadababytoprotect.
    “Hedoesn’tknow.”ThetruthfelloutofmymouthbeforeIcouldstopit.“Idon’twanthim to,yet.Ineedto indawaytodothisonmyown.WebothknowRushdoesn’twantthis.His familywouldhateit.Ican’thavemybabyhatedbyanyone.Pleaseunderstand,”Ibegged.
    Woodsmutteredacurseandranhishandsthroughhishair.“Hedeservestoknowthis,
    Blaire.”
    Yes, he did. But when this baby had been conceived I’d not known just how tainted our worldswere.Howimpossibleitwouldbeforustohavearelationship.“Theyhateme.They hatemymom.Ican’t.Just,pleasegivemetimetoproveIcandothiswithouthelp.I’lltellhim eventuallybutIneedtobestableandreadytoleaveafterIdo.Thistimemywantsandhis wantsdon’tcomefirst.Iamdoingwhatisbestforthisbaby.”
    Woods’frowndeepened.Westoodinsilenceforseveralminutes.
    “Idon’tlikeitbutitisn’tmystorytotell.GochangeandheadouttoseeDarla.Youcando cartroundstoday.Letmeknowwhenthekitchensmellisn’tsomuchofanissue.”
    Iwantedtothrowmyarmsaroundhimandhughim.Hewasn’tforcingmetotellanyone
    and he was giving me an out on serving breakfast. I used to love bacon but now… I just couldn’tdealwithit.“Thankyou.Dinner isn’t bad. It’s just the morning and sometimes the afternoons.”
    “Noted.I’llonlyputyouoneveningshiftsinthediningroom.Thisweekyoujustworkthe course. But don’t get overheated. Keep some ice or something to cool you down. Can I tell Darla?”
    “No,”Irepliedbeforehecouldfinish.“Shecan’tknow.Noonecanknow.Please.”
    Woodssighedthennoddedhishead.“Okay.I’llkeepyoursecret.Butifyouneedanything
    you’dbetterletmeknow…ifyou’renotgoingtoletRushknow.”
    “Okay.Thankyou.”
    Woodsgavemeatightsmile.“I’llseeyoulaterthen.”
    Iwasdismissed.

    The schedule for the rest of the week had me working the beer cart. There was a tournament a week from Saturday and I was down to work the entire day. I couldn’t be happieraboutit.Themoneywouldbegreat.Andalthoughtheheatwasintenseoutonthe
    coursealldayitwasbetterthanbeingintheairconditioningsmellingbaconoranygreasy meatandrunningofftovomit.
    IthadprogressivelygottenbusiersinceI’dleft.AccordingtoDarla,thememberswhoonly cameduringtheirsummervacationswereallnowinresidence.BethyandIrantwodifferent cartsinordertokeeptheplacehydrated.WoodswasrarelyonthecoursesoIdidn’thaveto worryabouthispryingeyes.Hewasbusyworking.JacehadtoldBethythatWoodswastrying toprovetohisdadthathewasreadyforapromotion.
    Afterrestockingmycartforthethirdtimetoday,Iheadedbacktothe irstholetomake mynextround.IrecognizedthebackofGrant’sheadrightaway.Hewasplayingwith…Nan.
    I’dknownthisdaywascomingbutIhadn’tbeenpreparedforit.Icouldalwaysskipthishole andletBethycatchthemonhernextroundbutthatwouldonlybeputtingofftheinevitable.
    IpulledthecartupandGrantturnedinmydirection.Helookedlikehewasinaserious
    conversationwithNan.Thefrustratedfrownonhisfacewasn’tcomforting.HesmiledbutI couldtellitwasforced.
    “We’regood,Blaire.Youcangoontothenexthole,”Grantcalledout.Nan’sheadjerked
    aroundatthesoundofmynameandthehatefulscowlonherfacehadmeshiftingthecartin