Page 39 of Drop Pass

I dropped back against the wall and shook my head. I was a fool.

Part of me wanted to knock again and talk to her, but I knew better than to push an angry woman. I let myself into my apartment and shut the door before making my way to my couch. I fell onto it and rubbed my face.

Elena got under my skin. She invaded my thoughts and consumed more than I had to give. I had too much going on. I needed to focus on what was important, getting my family here. She was a distraction. The other guys somehow managed to balance their lives on the team with their wives and girlfriends but I didn’t have the capacity. I needed to keep things simple. I hadn’t meant to hurt her though. Holding her—touching her—was the best I’d felt in years. I wanted more of that. I wanted her more than I should, so I had to be the bad guy. It was the burden I was meant to bear in life. It had been that way for over a decade. My sisters’ futures and my mother’s welfare were up to me.

Maybe someday I would be happy. I would have a relationship like Olli and Emma or Reese and Chloe. I’d have a family, like Grant and Addi. I’d have a partner like Noah had with Colby.

One day.

Right now, wasn’t the time. If she was willing, I could be Elena’s friend. I could be someone she went to for help or advice. I could do that if she’d let me in.

13

Elena

If I ever saw Nikolay Kozlov again it would be too soon.

Part of me wanted to go back into the hall just to smack him but I refrained. He didn’t deserve my attention no matter how epic that kiss had been. It was the toe-curling, head-spinning out of body type of kiss that should only happen in the movies.

No other kiss came close.

Then he had to go and ruin it. Why, oh why, were men so dumb? I wanted to curl up with some ice cream and watch a horror movie to cleanse myself of the memory of last night, but I couldn’t bring myself to forget.

It was that perfect.

Ugh! I straightened my navy blazer and walked toward set. I had a job to focus on. I spotted Jas and crossed the room to her. “Where’s Wesley?”

She smiled when I got next to her and pointed past me. “He’s over there discussing the changes with Tyson.”

I looked over my shoulder to see the afternoon weatherman talking to my producer. “What’s going on?”

Jas looked excited. “Tim needs to speak to you. He’s in the newsroom.”

I nodded and turned around. Was I being fired? Jas wouldn’t look excited about that right? Who knew? She was always at an eleven. But why was Tyson here?

Tim spotted me the second I entered the room. “There you are. I need you to check in with Shawn and Jordan over in sports.”

“Why?” I narrowed my eyes. None of this was making sense.

“You’re covering sports for the next few weeks.” He said while reading over a paper as if this wasn’t a complete shock.

“I’m sorry, what’s going on?”

Tim finally paused what he was doing and met my eyes. “Dean is out. He had emergency surgery last night and will be recovering for four to six weeks, so we’re pulling you to sports.”

I felt horrible that Dean was sick, but this still wasn’t making sense. “I’m a meteorologist, not a sports broadcaster.”

Tim didn’t bother looking up. “You’ll be fine. Shawn and Jordan will make sure you have everything you need.”

I took a deep breath and nodded even though he wasn’t paying attention and went back to the set to look for the sports producers. They sat on the opposite side of the set from the weather team and when I approached, they both looked up with easy smiles.

“Hi Elena.” Shawn, a tall brunette in his mid-thirties, greeted me first. I’d only met them when Jas showed me around on the first day, but they seemed nice enough.

“Hi.” I sat at the empty desk and looked around.

“I know this is probably a shock, but Tim thought you could handle the change.” Jordan said with a reassuring smile. He looked to be around my age, but I wasn’t sure. His round cheeks and baby blue eyes gave him a boyish look.

“I’ve never reported on sports.”