Page 24 of Lose You Twice

“Too late,” I mutter.

The next listing loads.

Athletics Equipment Assistant — Men’s Hockey.

I blink.

No. Absolutely not. There is no way in hell.

I scroll past it.

Then immediately scroll back up because apparently I enjoy a little sprinkle of torture.

Athletics Equipment Assistant — Men’s Hockey

Work-study eligible. Immediate start. Flexible early morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend hours available around team schedule. Duties include laundry, inventory, equipment room organization, practice setup, game-day preparation, and assisting coaching/equipment staff as needed.

I stare at the screen until the words blur.

Men’s hockey.

Of course.

Of course the only job left that might actually fit my life is attached to the one person I have spent the last three months pretending I can be normal around.

Kai Mercer.

My ex.

My best friend’s brother.

The boy who once knew every version of me, knew my deepest thoughts, knew me better than my best friend did, and now barely looks at me, as if he could care less about my existence.

I click the listing, mostly to prove to myself that there will be some obvious disqualifier. Heavy lifting certification? Experience required? Must possess an emotional death wish?

But there isn’t.

Just a basic application. Availability. Work-study eligibility. Start date.

My cursor hovers over Apply.

Holden walks into the living room and stops behind the couch. “Find anything?”

“Not really.”

He leans over my shoulder before I can close the laptop. His eyebrows rise. “Men’s hockey?”

I glare at him. “Reading the screen while someone else is using it seems a bit invasive.”

“You’re the one who clicked on it.”

“Accidentally.”

He drops onto the other end of the couch, looking far too amused for someone who currently owns zero assets. “Isn’t Kai on the hockey team?”

“He is.”

A snort leaves him, accompanied by a massive eye roll. “Sounds healthy.”