LITMIR.BIZ

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wasn’t going to marry somebody just to become a widow when I die early.”

      Lauren didn’t know how to respond to such a blunt statement. “Obviously, she cares a lot about you and your health,” she said carefully. “And I’ll be happy to help you. Training camp starts in a little over three weeks.” She wrote down some notes.

      “Right.”

      “Then we have work to do.” For the next hour, they went over his current eating habits and the changes he needed to make. He grumbled and whined like a big kid at times, but in the end accepted her plan. “I want you to check in with me at least once a week.”

      Darren nodded. “Thanks, Lauren.” He rose to his feet. “I’ll see you next week.”

      “Call me if you have any questions.”

      “Okay.” He left and closed the door softly behind him.

      Lauren smiled as she shut down her computer and packed up to leave. All in all, it had been a good day. She slung her purse on her shoulder and made sure she had everything. Satisfied, she opened the door and hit a warm mass. She gasped sharply.

      Mr. Green’s blue eyes widened and he grinned sheepishly, his face turning a deep shade of red. “Sorry.” He lifted a hand to steady her.

      “No problem,” she said, willing her heart rate back to normal.

      “I just wanted to give you your invitation to the awards banquet I mentioned at the team meeting on Monday. It’ll give you a chance to meet more of the management team and the owner.”

      His request sent her heart rate right back through the roof. She hadn’t planned to attend the event. He stared at her expectantly, and she took the invitation from his outstretched hand. “Thanks, I’ll be there.”

      “Wonderful. Have a good evening.”

      “You do the same.” It was bad enough having to see Malcolm. She wasn’t looking forward to being in the same room with the rest of siblings, especially Morgan. After her breakup with Malcolm, the woman had wanted to rip Lauren’s head off, and Lauren didn’t think time would have changed Morgan’s stance. So much for having a good evening.

      * * *

      Malcolm had avoided Lauren for over a week. He’d ignored the first two messages and then responded to her latest email yesterday informing her that he wouldn’t need her services. Now, as he sat waiting for his brother, he read a message from the running back coach indicating an appointment had been set up for Malcolm with Lauren this afternoon. This wasn’t how he wanted to start his week.

      “What’s up, little brother?” Khalil rounded his desk, dropped a folder on top and sat. “You just returned from a three-week vacation in Brazil a little over a week ago, training camp doesn’t start for another couple of weeks and, while everyone else is working on a Monday, you’re off. I can’t imagine one reason why you have that frown on your face.”

      “I was thinking about retiring at the end of the season, instead of having my agent ask for two more years.”

      “Is that right?” He studied Malcolm, no doubt reading him like he did everybody else in the family. Khalil had lost his hearing last year in an explosion and had had a rough time adjusting. Thankfully, he had regained his hearing fully in one ear, but even after surgery, he still had to wear a hearing aid in the other. At third oldest, Khalil tended to be the most easygoing and perceptive of the bunch, and Malcolm was glad to see him back to his old self...just not at this moment.

      “You know a running back’s lifespan is pretty short with all the punishment our bodies take. I’m just thinking it might be better to get out while I’m still healthy. Besides, with the second gym doing so well, it would be a good time to capitalize on the success.”

      Khalil leaned forward and clasped his hands together on the desk. “That was a great spiel. Now, are you ready to tell me the real reason you’re in my office with this nonsense?”

      Malcolm muttered a curse. He’d known his brother would see right through him. He hesitated a beat. “Lauren.”

      Khalil’s eyes widened and he slowly sat up straight. “Your old girlfriend from college?”

      “Yeah. Her.”

      Khalil frowned. “I’m not following. What does she have to do with your decision to retire early?”

      “She’s been hired as the team’s new dietitian.”

      There was silence for a full minute before Khalil burst out laughing. “I can’t believe it. I mean, the odds of that happening are, like, what...one in a million? Wow.”

      “Right. Wow. Not funny.”

      “I take it this is the first time you’ve talked to her or seen her in the eight years since the breakup.” When Malcolm nodded, he asked, “While it’s a shock, it shouldn’t be a problem. You’ve moved on and I assume she’s done the same, so...”

      Of course he’d moved on. Malcolm had an active dating life and enjoyed women on his terms. Besides, Lauren hadn’t exactly given him a choice about moving on after she’d accused him of seeing another girl on campus and broken things off without bothering to listen to his explanation. He felt nothing for her now. That’s not what your body said the other day. Malcolm immediately dismissed the mocking voice in his head as not knowing what the hell it was talking about.

      “Or maybe not. Look, Malcolm, you have a job to do. I’ve never seen you let anything, much less a woman, interfere with that job. You’re both professional enough to deal with whatever issues you have.”

      He sighed wearily. “I know. I just didn’t expect to see her, that’s all. I’m fine.”

      Khalil checked his watch. “I have a client in ten minutes, but if you want to talk more, you can come by the house later.”

      A smile curled Malcolm’s lips. “Lexia won’t mind?”

      At the mention of his wife’s name, Khalil’s face lit up. The two had gotten married nine months ago. “Nah. She’s gotten used to all the impromptu visits and phone calls at all hours of the night.” The siblings were all close, and it wasn’t unusual for one to show up at another’s home unannounced. However, now that all but Malcolm were married, the visits occurred less often.

      He stood. “I’ll see.” Lately, he had begun to feel like the odd man out, especially every time his mother tried to tell him he would be happier if he found a nice young lady and settled down. Except he didn’t see any reason to settle down at the moment, not when he enjoyed his single life. He had plenty of time to think about marriage and kids.

      Khalil came to where Malcolm stood, and the two shared a one-arm hug. “See you later.”

      Malcolm took the stairs down to the main level and pushed through the doors leading to the parking lot. In his car moments later, he toyed with going home but decided to go directly to the facility. “Might as well get it over with,” he muttered and started the car.

      When he arrived forty minutes later, he sat in his car contemplating how he wanted to handle this first encounter. A riot of emotions swirled in his gut, most of them not good—anger, irritation and, somewhere deep down, a hint of desire. Finally, he got out and entered the building. He stopped to talk to a couple of the staff members then continued toward the offices. The closer he got, the harder his heart pounded.

      Malcolm heard Lauren’s laughter before he saw her. The same laughter he used to love.

      “Thanks for your help,” he heard her say. A moment later, she rounded the corner. “Oh, Malcolm. Hey.”

      He mumbled something he thought passed for a greeting.

      They stood in awkward silence for several tense seconds before she said, “Um... I was just making...copies... We can talk in my office.”

      He gestured her forward but didn’t comment. They

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