See You at the Finish Line (Run, Love, Repeat #1)

47. Paige

“You’re fired,” Maxim says without any emotion.

“Excuse me?” I say, surprised even though I knew this was a possibility. Especially since he's tried to fire me twice already.

“You heard me. You. Are. Fired.” He punctuates each word like I won’t understand him if he doesn’t speak slowly. “You are still within your probationary period, and this cannot stand.”

I marched into Maxim’s office first thing this morning to disclose my relationship with Adam. Fuelled by the weekend and my confrontation with Adam’s dad—and the subsequent gratitude Adam showed me—I was hoping being honest and forthcoming would work in my favour again.

I was wrong.

“Look, Maxim, I understand this is a rule, but there has to be some sort of grey area. What about married couples?”

“Are you getting married?”

“No, but—”

“Then that shouldn’t matter to you. ”

“Isn’t there some form we can fill out with HR? This isn’t a casual thing.”

“But you aren’t getting married.”

“We just started dating—”

“You said it wasn’t casual.”

“If you’d let me—”

“My decision still stands. You’re fired.”

I stand and storm out of his office. The grey and blue halls that welcomed me only months ago now feel like they’re closing in on me. I don’t want this one moment to taint the amazing experience I’ve had working for the Whales. Adam is waiting for me at the end of the hall, and I shake my head before he can ask.

He takes my hand. “We’ll figure this out.”

How can he be so calm? I meant what I said—I’m willing to give up my job for him. But damn, I thought that I had a shot at keeping it. Without it, I can’t move here. Like, legally. I need a work visa. Or a marriage. And I can’t ask that of Adam.

“Ashford.” Coach Whyatt’s voice booms down the hall.

“You’d better go.” He kisses my forehead and follows Whyatt down the hallway to the head coach’s office.

Making my way into the dreary parking lot, I take stock of how far I’ve come. I don’t get panic attacks on my runs nearly as often, and my communication skills are getting excellent. Speaking of which, there’s a certain someone I may or may not have been ignoring by accident.

Or on purpose. Once I’m inside my Jeep, I take out my phone and call Leah .

She answers on the first ring. “Oh, look who it is. I thought you forgot about us.”

“Sorry, Leah, I’ve been busy.”

“Busy like, cleaning-up-after-I-burned-my-life-to-the-ground busy or like I’ve-been-having-so-much-sex-I’ve-lost-ten-pounds-because-I-forgot-to-eat busy?”

“I’m not sure that’s ever happened but the second one, for sure.”

“Tell me everything.”

“Leah, I love you, but there are some things I don’t think you want to know.”

“You saw me poop on the delivery table, we are as close as close can get.”

“That’s true and I’ll never forgive you for telling me to look.”

“And miss the miracle that was your favourite nephew’s birth? You’re making me lose my concentration. So the sex is so mind-blowing you forgot about your sister?”

“The sex is so mind-blowing I forgot about my life,” I correct her.

“Damn. I don’t think I’ve ever had sex that good.”

“I’d say you should try it but I think it’s a me and Adam thing.”

“Cocky is not a good look on you.”

“Adam is a good look on me.”

“Gross.”

“I met his family.”

“YOU DID?! Holy crap, Paige, is your life completely perfect now?”

“You’re not here yet, so no. And I got fired.”

“What?! You two couldn’t keep it in your pants and got caught, didn’t you?”

She knows me too well. “Kind of.”

“Oh, Paige.” She sighs and my heart clenches—she sounds like Mom.

“I honestly don’t think it’s going to stick. Adam is going to help me fix it.”

I crane my neck to look back at the doors of the arena, hoping to see him walking towards me.

“Oooh, big strong man coming to your rescue? I didn’t peg you as the damsel in distress kind.”

I snort. “No, I’m the damsel without a job who is not too proud to let someone help me. Regardless of whether that person has the most perfect penis on the planet. He does, by the way. It’s magic.”

“Gross.”

“I told you there were things you wouldn’t want to know.”

“Fine, you win. What else is new?”

“Well ... I’m moving in with him.”

“WHAT?!”

“Ow, eardrums, Lee.”

“Paige Elizabeth Harrison, you are moving in with a boy and didn’t tell me! How is Q taking it?”

“Q likes Adam more than me,” I pout.

“Is it because he cooks better than you?”

“Okay, why do I bother calling you when you clearly already know everything about my life. ”

“It’s a big sister thing. I’ve known you literally every second you’ve been alive.”

“Fine, then tell me, big sister, how are you?” I switch the topic, hoping she doesn’t ask me more questions.

“I’m fine. Packing by myself is hard.”

Unbelievable. “Oh no, don’t you dare complain to me about it. How many times did you yell at me that I was doing it wrong?”

“Well, you were!”

I shake my head. “It’s your own fault. How’s Levi?”

“Levi is perfect.”

“I can’t wait to see you guys.”

“Hopefully you won’t be jobless when we get there, but at least you won’t be homeless.”

“Wait until you see our house, Leah, it’s so perfect.”

“Our house? Oh my god, when are you getting married?”

“Shut up.”

“Have you told him you love him yet?”

“No, there’s never the perfect time.”

“Really? You can’t just blurt it out during sex? Men love that shit.”

“So romantic. No, I’m too busy having insane orgasms to have coherent thoughts.”

“Gross. Tell me everything.”

“You’re impossible.” Despite the stressful day, I can’t help smiling so big it hurts my cheeks.

I hear Levi crying in the background and she sighs.

“Gotta go, little monster is awake. ”

“Alright, I’ll see you in a few weeks. And I apologize in advance for not keeping in touch—sex brain and all that.”

“I love you! See how easy that was! Try not to mess everything up again.” She hangs up and I let out a big breath. I am never going to live that down.

Adam's Actual Phone Number

Monday 10:22 a.m.

don’t lose hope, I have a plan

Does your plan include a mutiny?

actually, sort of

What?

you’re already some of the staff’s favourite masseuse, they’re ready to go to bat for you

Isn’t that the wrong sport? Shouldn’t you be making a hockey reference, Coach?

the correct response is thank you

I’ll thank you tonight

you can thank me now

A knock at my window scares the crap out of me.

“What the hell?” I unlock the Jeep, holding my chest like that can stop my heart from escaping. I look at him expectantly when he settles in the seat beside me, but he doesn’t say anything.

“Adam, why are you here?”

“Do you want to get lunch? I’m starving.”

“Adam, communication.”

He sighs. “Fine, I got fired.”

“What?!”

“I threatened to quit if you didn’t get your job back and Coach fired me.”

My jaw drops. I’m not exaggerating or using a turn of phrase—I literally feel my mouth hanging open.

“And this doesn’t concern you?”

He shrugs. “Not really.”

“Why not?”

“Look.” He points to the double doors at the back of the building where I see people filing out.

“What’s going on?”

“A mutiny.” When I turn back to him, there’s a smug smile on his face.

I cannot believe what I’m seeing.

“For me?”

“I think you underestimate the power of your hands. People want you around, and they hate Maxim—he creeps them out. Plus, the fact that the company made this rule without having a clause allowing couples to sign a waiver is pissing people off. Do you know how many staff are dating each other?”

“You did this,” I whisper, turning to look at him.

He doesn’t even seem to know how amazing this is. Does he see it? The positive influence he has on the world just by being him?

I’m going to make it my life’s mission to ensure he never forgets that he is more than his job, that his place in this world is enough. Because his place is beside me.

I turn back to see more people flooding through the doors of the arena. The season already started and it’s not only the staff who are exiting the building. I see the other developmental coaches, the assistant coaches, and even players.

Players are leaving.

Are they even allowed to quit? Probably not, but it sends a message.

I turn back to Adam.

“I love you.”