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“Yes. I’m reporting myself to the regulatory board. I’ll lose my license to practice.”
Miri frowned. “You won’t be a psychologist anymore?”
“I shouldn’t think so.” I kept my gaze fixed on the greenhouse. “Because, in general, sleeping with your patients is frowned upon.”
“So what will you do?” Miri asked.
A familiar sadness weighed heavy on my shoulders, but at the same time a lightness filled my chest.
Relief.
I hadn’t enjoyed my work for such a long time. I didn’t miss the hospital or the clinical work. Maybe I’d travel or write or study. Now, I was free to choose a different path. I could do anything. Maybe I could finish writing the book I’d been working on for years.
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll do something.”
Gabe swayed to and fro, rocking the baby in his arms. “I’m not accepting your resignation. We need you at the club.”
“Get someone properly qualified. An actual sports psychologist. You don’t need me.”
“I don’t care if you’re discredited. You’ve been doing some great work. The team has been playing better than I’ve ever seen them. Let them strike you off or whatever you need to do, but we’re not letting you go. There’s no point arguing with me. I always get what I want in the end.” He inclined his head toward Miri and flashed a smile full of white teeth. “Just ask your sister.”
I blew out a breath. Fine. I didn’t have the energy to argue with Gabe. I wasn’t going back to that club.
I looked up to find Miri watching me. “And you and Skylar? Is it serious?”
“We’re done. She doesn’t want to see me anymore.”
Miri studied my face intently. “Maybe this isn’t as bad as you think, Reece. The football club isn’t the hospital. Skylar wasn’t your patient. If you don’t work at the club anymore, then maybe there’s a way you can be together?”
“Skylar needs to concentrate on the final match. I pissed her off when I hid her from you. Besides, it’s not right. She came to me in the middle of a breakup, vulnerable and sad. I should have met her in that space and helped her. I’ve behaved so selfishly.” My voice choked, despite my efforts to keep myself steady. “I should never have crossed that boundary.”
Heat pressed behind my eyes at hearing myself speak the words out loud. I’d let myself down. I’d let everyone down. Miri and Gabe fell silent. They probably couldn’t believe what they were hearing. I’d spent my career counseling people through their problems, and I’d let my own life get so out of control.
Miri reached out and caught my hand in hers, then she pulled me into her arms. “Hey. It’s okay. You’re being so hard on yourself. You’re human, Reece. Just like the rest of us. You’re a good man. You’re kind and thoughtful. You’ve held this family together through so much. I know you’re beating yourself up for this, but don’t do that too much. Dad would be so proud if he could see you now. I know we all give each other a hard time, but it’s from a place of love. We’re all proud of you.”
“Thank you.” My heart contracted, and I buried my face into Miri’s shoulder. “The worst part is that I love her so much. I’ve always loved her, even if I can’t have her. She told me to stay away. I didn’t want to tell anyone what was going on. She was so angry with me. I hate the way we left things.”
Skylar was angry with me, but she’d disappointed me, too. I’d been so appalled about the bet that I hadn’t really listened to her explanation. Perhaps what I’d been most shocked by was the concept that I could ever be disappointed by Skylar Marshall. I’d worshipped her since we were teenagers, but I’d created a fantasy in my head. Skylar was right. I’d put her on a pedestal, and it wasn’t fair to her. I was getting to know the real Skylar. The Skylar who didn’t tell me about a stupid bet. The Skylar I’d hurt with my constant rejections. The Skylar that got angry and swore at me and stormed out. This was the woman I’d fallen in love with, and as much as I adored her, nobody deserved the impossible task of balancing on a pedestal. Skylar was perfectly imperfect. A woman who was as real as anyone else, and who I didn’t want to live without.
Miri held me at arm’s length. “The pressure is intense at the moment. Everything is riding on one game. You should talk to her. Maybe she’s calmed down.”
“She needs to focus on the match tomorrow, not on me.”
“What about a text? Wish her luck. You can talk properly afterwards.” She leaned back, sizing me up. “She’s probably so stressed about tomorrow. It will let her know that you care about her.”
Warmth spread in my chest. Miri was right. I didn’t want to distract Skylar or bother her, but the thought of her running out onto that pitch thinking that I didn’t care about her didn’t sit right either. At least I could clear the air.
“Fine. I’ll do it.”
“Good.” Miri brightened and stroked the baby’s head. “We thought of a name, by the way.”
I braced myself to maintain a neutral expression. “Oh?”
“Simon.”
A pang pulled at my heart and I stroked my nephew’s smooth cheek. They’d named him after Dad.
“Simon,” I said. “It’s perfect.”
