I lift my gaze to her. “I don’t mind. This is your home, too. You know that, right?”
“It’s just an adjustment.”
That’s not an answer I like. “Whatever you need to do to make it feel like home, do it.”
“I want to help pay the bills,” she quickly interrupts.
“Fine. You get the light bill. Whatever you need, Mere, just do it,” I repeat. I want this to feel like home to her. I know it’ll take some time to adjust, but I don’t want it to take too long. She belongs here with me and I want her to feel the same way. She kisses me softly. I smile when I feel some stickiness from the syrup on her lips.
“Thanks. I’ll have a surprise for you once my clothes come. Mom’s shipping them this morning and is overnighting them.”
“A sexy surprise?”
She laughs. “No, but you’ll appreciate it. What are you doing today?”
“Hanging out with Leo, I guess. I’ll need to call the landlord. There’s a pet fee and it’ll be better that I call and tell him instead of one of the neighbors. And don’t worry; you can write me a check to pay me back for it,” I add before she can mention it, causing her to smile.
“I love you,” she says.
“Then help me eat the rest of the pancakes, yeah?”
“Yeah,” she agrees, taking a big bite.
If we were the same two people from before Meredith left, or before she met Vance, then I would be certain nothing could tear us apart. I would be sure that we’d make it this time because nothing should break us. But we’re not the same people, and I know Meredith is harboring some part of her past, keeping it away from me and trying to keep it away from herself. We’ll make it if only from sheer determination alone. What worries me is the havoc we’ll have to deal with when she can’t hide from her past any longer.
THE MOMENT I see Erica and her glare, I almost wish I had asked Noah how much she knows about us. She obviously learned of some of our past during the four months they were together. Vance never knew about Noah. He knew I had been in relationships before, but we never discussed specifics. I didn’t tell anyone about Noah. What does that say about me? What does it say about Noah that he told some girl he’s been dating for four months about me?
There’s no time to think about it now. Part of me wants to say that I’m sorry, but what for? Noah said he was already planning to break up with her. If she blames me for him ending it, then that’s not my fault because I’m not the reason. Still, I paste a smile on my face.
Erica tosses me a set of keys. “Get the courts set up,” she snaps. “I want ball machines on courts two and three. When the girls get done going through their drills, you can work with Kira. I can handle everyone else.”
I nod, briefly wondering if she’s sticking me with Kira because she doesn’t think anything will come of it. “Anything else?”
“Bring ice, drinks, and snacks for the game tomorrow. I’ll have the cooler.”
“Okay.”
Her glare hardens and she makes a sweeping gesture. “You can go now.”
I turn and leave for the shed near the courts where the equipment is stored. I set everything up exactly how she asked. There are two baskets of balls at the first court, and the machines are set up at the second and third. Erica has her bitch face on when she walks outside.
“Simple instructions. I gave you simple instructions. The machines should be on one and two, not two and three.” I could’ve sworn she said two and three. “How hard is it to listen and put things where they belong?” she continues. “I know you don’t have any coaching experience, but damn. And where is the box?”
“What box?” I ask since she’s taking a breather.
“I told you to get the box out of the shed. It has all the stuff for drills.”
She didn’t mention a box, did she? She’s staring at me like I’m the dumbest person to walk the face of the earth and I’m starting to feel stupid. Maybe she did tell me. “Sorry,” I mumble, turning to get the box she asked for.
When I return, the girls are starting to arrive. Erica huffs as she holds out a clipboard. “You forgot this.”
Shit. I did forget it in her office. I start marking the girls present. Erica runs them through their stretches, sends them running, and gets them started on a few drills. Some of them are relatively easy, like bouncing the ball on your racket while walking around. It’s not easy to start with, but it helps ensure control of the ball. Tap it too hard or not in the right place on your racket and you’ll lose control, sending the ball flying and causing you to reach and scramble for it.
Erica ends up having the girls take turns with the ball machine. I watch them for a few minutes before walking over to her.
“Can I use the other machine with Kira?”
“That’s why it’s there, Meredith.”