her, wrap his arms around her waist and kiss her neck, remind her how it had been between them. How it could be again.
But that wasn’t what she wanted.
Gia had made so many excuses in her dance around the truth.
She wanted someone she could never have again and Kai wasn’t that guy. He never would be. He had to stop pretending he could be.
“There’s coffee in the pot if you want a mug,” he said, feeling awkward and clumsy as he stood behind her, shoving his hands and cell into his pockets.
“No, thank you,” she said, turning to face him. It had only been a week since Kai left Gia crying on his cousin’s shoulder in that Philly restaurant, since he realized why she’d gravitated to all those men in all those pictures. Despite what he knew, his fingers ached to touch her. His body felt weak just being this close to her. “There is a reason I came to see you,” she continued, brushing the hair from her shoulder as she stood in front of him. It took her several seconds before she spoke. Gia seemed distracted as she watched Kai—her gaze moving over his face, her lips pressed together as she shifted her weight on her feet like she wasn’t sure what to do with herself when she stood this close to him.
“What is it?” he said when he couldn’t take her scrutiny.
The question pulled the pleasant smile from her face, had her features instantly tightening and the muscles around her mouth pulling her lips into a line. “Mills,” she said, crossing her arms. “He saw us that afternoon you came to my place.”
“Okay…and…” He didn’t understand the issue. Plenty of people saw Gia and Kai speaking before and then, like a snap, with her frowning and worried, he understood what she meant. “He saw me kiss you.” She nodded, curling her arms closer together when a breeze whipped through the balcony.
“This…could be a major problem and I thought you should be aware.”
“It shouldn’t be a problem,” he said, keeping his tone even. “I mean, if anyone says anything, I can honestly say that you and I have a professional relationship.” He stepped closer, his throat felt tight, just watching her. “You were the…college girlfriend of my…cousin and I just remind you of him. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
The second he said them, Kai regretted his words. They stung her, that much he saw in how she flinched, in the quick moisture that formed between her lashes.
“I…just thought you should…” Gia took a second, turning away to look at the river, her hair flying into her face with another whip of wind that move by them. “Anyway,” she said, lifting her chin. “Mills can be handled. If anything comes of this and you feel you need representation, the team will provide a mediator.” She straightened her shoulders and moved past him.
“Gia…wait…” he tried but stopped when she held up a hand to silence him.
“I apologize, Mr. Pukui, for any difficulties I may have caused you. I was unprofessional and irresponsible.”
“I shouldn’t have said that,” he told her, not touching her, not liking it when she nodded.
“It was…deserved, I suppose.” She glanced down at her feet, looking like it took effort to even be near him. “Please… call the office if you need anything at all.” She looked out of the window and Kai thought he spotted her eyes going glassy and wet. “We’re…um…we’re of course, happy to help our players when we can.”
And just like that, the Steamers general manager left Kai’s home and it killed him watching her walk away.
24.
GIA
THE FIGURINE WAS PLACED in a prominent position in the center of Gia’s desk. Normally, it sat proudly, its wide grin and round belly welcoming visitors as it stared at them. Today, however, she needed to hold it close. The wings were gold and wide, but the edge had become worn from the times over the years that she’d rubbed them, sometimes for luck, mostly for comfort. Luka had picked the flying pig for her as a means to encourage her, telling her who she was didn’t matter. He believed more than anyone else in her life that the only limits came from the hurdles she placed in front of herself. Luka had always believed she could clear each one.
She held the pig against her chest, looking out of her office window, cradling it because she needed its comfort. Mills had made hints, small suggestions in the team meeting