Mile High (Windy City, #1)

by Liz Tomforde

“You leaked Stevie’s name, didn’t you?”

“Please don’t tell me you’re throwing away your career, throwing away your multimillion-dollar contract for some pussy. For your flight attendant. I get the fantasy, I really do, but don’t be so fucking stupid, Zanders.” “Don’t fucking talk about her.”

“I should’ve fired you years ago.”

A proud smile slides across my lips as I keep my eyes on the road ahead of me. “She fucking owned it.”

“You know, Miss Shay. I see a lot. I hear a lot, and I keep a lot of secrets. But you’d have to be blind not to see how much you’re going to hurt that boy if you don’t tell him you’re moving.”

“How do you know my daughter?”

“I don’t know who you think you are”—her brows furrow in disgust—“but he invited me here.”

“I’m talking to the woman who left her sixteen-year-old son because his dad didn’t make enough money to buy her shit. That’s you, in case you were confused.”

“Mind your business. This has nothing to do with you. This is between my son and me. I don’t even know who you are.”

“Is that supposed to be s...

“No shit, you don’t know who I am. You’ve been AWOL the l...

“I’m not done. Your son might not be able to see it or say it to your face, but he’s better off without you. Who does that? Who leaves their teenage kid then comes back around when he’s making more money than she could ever dream of? You left him! He just wanted his mom to love him and you fucking left. But the joke’s on you because he’s the best person I know, and he became that man all on his own with no thanks to you. You have no idea what you left behind.”

“Stop coming around for his money. You’re just embarrassing yourself. You did him a favor by leaving.”

“That’s why you’re here, Mom. I want to move forward, and I’m holding on to so much anger for what you did that I can’t. You were the one woman who was supposed to love me unconditionally, and you didn’t.”

Her act completely dissolves in front of me. “I thought you wanted me in your life again. I thought you flew me out because you missed me!” I shake my head. “No, I’m good.”

“She didn’t get fired. She quit after our last flight. Before her name was even released.” What? There’s no way. She promised she’d talk to me today. She wouldn’t lie to me. Would she?

I melt into the wall behind me in disbelief. Is this really happening? Why wouldn’t she tell me? Why’d she let me believe I still had a chance?

“One more thing you should know,”

“She took a new job. She’s moving to Seattle.”

“Please don’t go,” he begs.

“I thought you were going to be here today. I thought you got fired, but you quit? Stevie, I’m begging you, please don’t move. I need you.”

“I’m proud of you, Zee.”

“I can’t lose you, Stevie.”

“You left me,” my voice cracks. “I never would’ve left you.”

“Please, I’m begging you, don’t leave me now.”

“It was simple. I wanted you to love me.” His silence is deafening, telling me everything I need to know, causing my heart to shatter all over again. “I wanted you to let me love you, but you can’t, can you? I don’t think you know how to trust someone else to love you unconditionally.”

“Yes, I am. I need to see her. If she wants to move across the country, then okay. Fine. But I need her to say it to my face.”

“There’s no way in hell she wants to leave her brother or the shelter. This is my fault. She doesn’t want to go. She just wants to get away from me.”

“Go away,”

“Ryan, open the door.” “Fuck you.”

“Zanders, fuck you. Go home.” “Please, just let me see her.”

“She’s gone through life believing she’s the second choice, and you go ahead and reaffirm that by choosing your fucking playboy persona over her? What the fuck is that?”

“She hated the limelight when it came to me but was willingly going to live in it because she wanted to be with you, and you break up with her the moment anyone learns about her? Come on, man. Don’t be so dense. That was fucked up. And now she’s about to move two thousand miles away because of you.” “You encouraged her to go!” “You didn’t see her that day! I just wanted her to feel better, but even though she’s acting like she’s okay, she’s not. Your playboy bullshit was more important than her, so you can go ahead and fucking fix it.”

“No one wants you to lose your career over this, Zanders.” I pop my shoulders in a shrug, trying to remain as casual as I can. My career isn’t at the top of my priority list to fix right now. “Jesus,” he releases a startled laugh. “You really do love her.”

“So, thank you, Dad.”

“I never hated you, Dad. I needed you then, and I still do now.”

“I love you, Dad.”

“I love you too, Evan.”

“Why didn’t you follow Mom when she left?” “Because some people aren’t worth following.”

“And some people are worth following to the ends of the earth.”

“Do you have someone worth following?”

“Yeah. I think I do.” “Do you love them?” I nod, unable to speak.

This season means nothing without you. Nothing matters without you. Please come tonight. -Zee

“Take the fucking ring off your finger.” “No.” “Zee, stop being ridiculous. Take it off your fucking finger.”

We just won the fucking Stanley Cup.

My knees get knocked from behind, almost causing me to lose my balance. Peeking down, I find a pile of wild brunette hair and little hands holding on for dear life around my legs. I pick my niece up with ease, hoisting her onto my hip. Her tiny hands squish my sweaty cheeks together. “You win, Uncle Zee!”

My brows crease as reality starts to set in. I was so confident Stevie was going to be here. There was no doubt in my mind that she would be. We were going to win. I would tell her how much I love her, how much meaning she brings into my life, beg her to love me back. Remind her that none of this is worth it without her, but she’s not here.

“She wasn’t in that seat!” he yells over the crowd. “I’m sorry, man.” My heart drops. I’m not sure it’s healthy to experience every emotion I have in the last five minutes—the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I thought she’d be here. I convinced myself she would be.

And for the first time in a long time, I’m jealous of my best friend.

That’s when it hits me. Stevie has given up on me.