Tumble (Dogwood Lane 1)

“I’m saying I want to walk away in a large way. But I want to hand this place off to someone who will love it and care for it as much as I do. And honestly, you’re the only person who will do that.”

“Aerial, I’m flattered,” I say, still unsure if I’m hearing this right. “But I can’t take over the gym.”

“Why?”

“I’m honored, Aerial. Truly. This is your baby, and for you to think I could do it justice, even partially, is one of the nicest things to ever happen to me.” I stop talking and look at her again. “I’ll think about it. I’ll see what I can do. But I still have a lot of irons in the fire up north, and I’m not convinced that’s not where I should be.”

“But you aren’t convinced you should be either.”

Glancing around the room, I see the trophies from years gone by. I see the pictures from teams and students and handwritten letters sitting in frames. All of that is nice, but that isn’t what Aerial is asking me to take over. She’s asking me to take over the heart and soul of the gym.

My mind floats to my apartment in the city and all the things there. If I go back, I’m going back to things. A job. A subway pass. A rack of shoes I can barely afford because rent is so freaking high.

I’m not going back there for the heart and soul of the place. Maybe that means something.

Maybe it means something, too, that when I think of my life there, it feels shallow. There’s no color like in Dane’s house, no laughter like at the gym. It’s a bleak, monotonous life that isn’t as appealing to me as it once was.

“I won’t keep you waiting long,” I promise. “I have a lot to think about.”

“Absolutely. I’m honored you’d consider it, Neely.”

I pull her into a big hug before letting her go.

“Okay,” she says. “Enough about the gym. What’s happening with you and Dane?”

I sigh. “I don’t know.”

“I’ve been seeing you with him here and there. Mia acts like you’re best friends. You should’ve heard her in here before you got here tonight, telling everyone you were taking her to Manicure Day.” Aerial stops. “Do you know how much that means to that little girl?”

“I think so.”

“Many women wouldn’t have been able to accept her like you have. It shows your grace.”

“That’s silly,” I say, waving her off. “Mia’s a great kid. She can’t help the circumstances in which she was conceived.”

“Again, not everyone would see it like that.” She picks up a few papers on her desk and puts them on top of a larger pile. “Based on what you just said, I’m guessing you still might leave town?”

“I’m so torn, Aerial,” I admit. “There’s a growing part of me that thinks I could be happy here. Mom is here. Heck, I even like Gary. It’s so beautiful here, and I love seeing Claire and Matt and Penn . . .”

“And Dane.”

“And Dane.” I grin. “But if I do that, if I stay here, I fear I’ll always feel robbed, because what am I going to do here, Aerial? I can run the gym for you. I could pick up some freelance work somewhere, probably. But how am I going to feed that part of my soul that needs to do something . . . else? And does that mean I’ve wasted my entire life up to this point if I don’t go back?”

“Maybe everything you’ve been through so far was to prepare you for this? Or something else, even if it’s not this.”

I look at her honestly. “Or maybe I need to realize this is a honeymoon phase and it won’t always be like this here. With Dane or the gym or even Mom. It’s all new and fun, but it won’t always be.”

“Sounds like you have a conundrum.”

“It feels like it too.”

“Let me know what you decide,” she says. “But my fingers are crossed you decide to stay home where you belong.”

“Thanks.” I laugh. My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out. “I need to take this.”

She gives me a wave as my spirits sink like a ship. Hustling outside, I wait until I’m alone before I answer. “Hello?”

“Is this Neely?”

“It is.”

“This is Frank Selleck. How are you?”

My old boss’s boss. His voice rings through the line. It feels like forever since I heard it, but also like we just spoke yesterday. We used to get together about big projects or to brainstorm. There’s a warmth to his tone that makes me relax a bit, but I still sit on a picnic table while I gather my wits.

“I’m good, Frank,” I say, clearing my throat. “How are you?”

“Been better, been worse.”

Mia waves as she trots off with Keyarah and Madison. I wave back.