Mile High (Windy City, #1)

by Liz Tomforde

“I’m sorry, Vee,” he whispers as my heart shatters, any hope I had, lost. With that, he lets go, turning his back on me to walk out of my apartment.

“Why’d you let me fall in love with you?”

“You said I was your first choice, and I believed you.”

“Are you ready for me to brief you on the exit row?” “Stevie,” Zanders says in a breath of relief, asking for my attention. “Are you guys ready?” I ask again.

He knows the rules. He has to say yes before I can leave, but he stays silent, so I repeat, “Are you willing and able to help in case of emergency?” “Stevie.” His tone is laced with desperation. “Are you willing and able to help in case of emergency?” “Can you look at me?” he softly asks, sitting forward. I don’t care that his tone is sad. I have to do my job right now, and he’s not letting me. He’s the one who broke up with me, and here he is, forcing me to stand in front of him. It’s a unique form of torture. “Please look at me,” he begs. “Can you answer the question?”

“Do you need something? A drink? A pillow? Something to eat? You know, since I’m just your flight attendant now.” Maddison’s head falls back to his headrest as if my words affected him.

Zanders’ face shows the physical hurt my words cause, but most of me doesn’t care. He hurt me. It’s only fair for him to feel a tiny morsel of what I’m experiencing.

“You’re a badass,”

“But if you want to take a second to cry, I’ll cover you.”

“Okay,” my voice breaks. “Maybe for ju...

“Really?” My voice cracks, feeling just a speck of hope for the first time in a while.

“What?” I cautiously ask. “You love him.”

“Is she okay?” I finally ask. My dad takes another long swig of his beer. “She’s coming to some realizations, and they’re hitting her pretty hard. She had a tough time seeing those headlines and knowing they were about you. But I’m not going to sit here and say she doesn’t deserve to feel the way she’s feeling.” “They only said exactly what she’s been saying for years.” “That’s my point. I think seeing them written down in front of her face, and coming from other people, woke her up to what she’s been doing to you.”

“Because it’s Ryan. You think that guy could look you in the face and tell you to move across the country without him choking back tears? That kid is a brick wall of emotion unless it comes to you.”

I’m not thinking about hockey. I’m not thinking about my contract. I’m just thinking about the girl who’s missing from my life because I didn’t want my reputation to hurt her anymore.

Maddison’s apologetic gaze cautiously finds me before he looks down at my finger again. “I don’t want to talk about it,” I remind him as I grab a towel and head to the showers.

“No, I’m Coral. Rich sent me.”

“Don’t fucking touch me.”

“I don’t give a shit who sent you. Do not touch me again.”

“I can’t do this anymore,” I quietly say for only Maddison to hear. “I know, man.”

I’ve barely slept all week, thanks to an empty bed and Rosie whimpering in the middle of the night from Stevie’s absence. To be fair, Rosie isn’t the only one awake, hurt from missing her.

“You’ve got to stop punishing yourself.”

“I don’t really give a fuck what you do or don’t want to talk about. I can’t sleep because my best friend is in the worst shape I’ve ever seen him, so yeah, we’re going to talk.”

“Zee.” Maddison exhales a weary breath. “You’re our family, man, so him fucking with you is the same as if it weren’t happening to me.” My head drops down between my shoulders as I attempt to hide the glossy film covering my eyes before I nod my head, unable to speak.

When I look up at Maddison, it seems he’s having the same issue, his brown eyes glossed over as he rapidly blinks. “Oh fuck.” I laugh to break the tension, squeezing the bridge of my nose with my thumb and pointer finger. “We’re pathetic.” “You’re my brother.” Maddison’s voice breaks as he wipes at his face. “Where you live isn’t going to change that. My family will always be yours, but for the first time in a long time, you’ve got your own family. I can’t watch you throw that away because you’re worried about having to move away from us.”

“Fuck, Maddison.” The tears are flowing now.

“I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing.” My voice cracks. “I was trying to shield her from all the celebrity bullshit, but I can’t even think straight. I miss her so much.”

“I was trying to protect her from me,” I add in realization.

left her before she could leave me.” A disbelieving breath escapes me. “What the fuck is wrong with me?”

“Zee,” Maddison repeats. “My kids love you. My family loves you, and you believe it. So, why the fuck can’t you trust that Stevie loves you too?”

“You love so hard, but you need to start believing you are loved.”

“Trust me from experience,” Maddison continues. “All of this”—he motions around the hotel room—“the fame, the money, the fans. None of this is worth it if she’s not a part of it.”

“Why don’t you let her decide what she can and can’t handle.”

What happens when you learn you need love, but then you don’t have it?

And on a selfish note, part of me hates that I won’t be on board for the finals if and when that series comes. Though, no one else knows that yet. From the second I stepped onto the plane tonight, I’ve taken it all in, knowing it’s the last time I’ll be on board.

He’s never first. He’s usually towards the end of the crowd, leisurely taking his time, but not tonight.

“It’s not about what you need. She doesn’t want to talk. Let her do her job.”

“We’ll talk next flight,” I offer. “I need some more time.”

“Next flight?” he begs for reassurance.

“It’s clear as fucking day. I’m more upset over this than my own breakup.”

“If my knee accidentally finds Zanders’ balls as I walk by, is that okay?”

“Please. I know I shouldn’t get involved, but he’s so messed up over this. I’ve never seen him in worse shape.” “He broke up with me!”

“He did this, and I need to start moving on.”

“Vee.” His blue-green eyes stare down at me with an apology. “Your name got released.”

“I might not look how you want me to, but you know how many women look like me? The words you say online about my body affect not only me but them too. So, I’m done hiding because I’m afraid of what you have to say.”

“This is me, and if you feel the need to comment on it, well, that says a whole lot more about you than it does about me.”

“Oh, and if you’re going to keep following me around, I’ll let you know I volunteer down the street at Senior Dogs of Chicago, so if you’re wanting to stalk me there, I fully expect you to plan on taking some dogs on walks. We need all the volunteers we can get.”

Fucking badass.

“You’re fired.”

“You’re fired, Rich.”