Page 72 of Floored By Love

Okay, thanks.

“Let me know if you need anything else. Or just push the button and a nurse will be here, quick as a flash.”

“Thanks again, doc,” Noah said.

“Well, that sounds great, Cam,” Heather added.

Cam smiled at his mother, then looked at me and then back at his mother, raising his eyebrows. Heather cleared her throat as she and Noah made a move for the door, and then chaos erupted. It was like the scene in Home Alone when the entire family comes home and interrupts that delicate moment Kevin is having with his mother in the foyer.

Ty was there. Alex, O, and Colton all poured in. Coach and Ford and...Cassandra. Fuck.

She looks pissed.

“Lucas, we need to talk,” she said, still standing in the hallway.

“No!” I heard myself yelling. Everyone in the room turned to look at me. I felt slightly embarrassed, but I didn’t have the chance to say what I needed to say yet. I couldn’t let her drag me out of there.

“I’m not here to get you. I’m here to let you go,” she said, wheeling my suitcase into view.

What? I was confused.

I slowly stood up and joined her in the hall. We were alone.

“I’m not blind, Luke.” She lowered her voice. “You still love him. It’s obvious. I don’t want to be a part of keeping you away from that anymore. You had me worried sick this morning. I had no idea what happened to you. I had to wait for Woodward to tell me.”

Her words shocked me. “You were?” was all I managed to say.

“I’ll admit, looking back, I was a bitch at times.”

Apparently, I didn’t hide my smile well enough.

“I know, I know. Ha ha. At first, I was a hardass because your parents were paying me to do a job. I was trying my best, but the longer I did it, the more something felt off. It wasn’t really until this past year that I realized you were more than a job, and I liked myself less because of what I, on behalf of your parents, was doing to you. And this morning, when you weren’t there, I panicked. And then I found out why, and this just made sense to me. I can’t be your coach anymore.”

“I don’t know what to say, Cassandra. I-”

“You don’t have to say anything, Luke. You’re an Olympic gold medalist and I know you’re going to win a few more this week. But I want to give you one last piece of advice. You’re stronger than you think. In the gym, and in life. I know you can stand up to your parents. It’ll be hard, but it’s the right thing for you to do. And I’m sorry it took me so long to realize I should stand up to them as well.”

I felt the tears welling in my eyes. “I’m sorry it took this long for me to realize what I needed to do, too. Despite what’s happened between us, I made it to the Olympics and earned that medal with you as my coach. Are you sure you have to quit?” I felt the first tear roll down.

“I think it’s for the best right now. I’m sure your parents will fire me anyway, and that’s totally okay and not your fault. This is all on them, Luke. Maybe in time, who knows?”

“You called me Luke,” I observed, sniffling.

“Well, I figured I don’t have to be super professional anymore. Honestly, you feel more like a little brother to me than anything else.” She shrugged. “I hope you can find happiness. Even if it ends up being without your parents.”

“Thank you. That...means a lot,” I said, wiping my face dry.

“And if you need anything, I’ll be around. Just text me, though I have a feeling they might shut your phone off. I...uh...told them you were AWOL. I can probably give you a few hours, but I’m going to have to tell them I found you. And that I quit.”

“It’s okay. I’ll text them myself soon, either way,” I said, glancing back in the room at Cam, surrounded by our team.

“I packed your stuff,” she said, gesturing to the suitcase.

“I noticed. You didn’t have to do that.”

“I figured you wouldn’t want to come back to the hotel, anyway. I’m sure you’re hoping for something else. Hint, hint.”

“Got it.” I laughed. “Wait! You packed everything?”