Weekend Goal

Chapter 21: Mint Green

I rarely overestimate my projects, but straightening the club's finances and member register has taken me longer than I expected. When Cooper asked me about it during the last practice, I told him I'm getting on with it and I'll be done soon. If I don't finish this soon, I'll have to head straight to the changing room during each practice or game to avoid the conversation.

"You'll go blind," Lachlan kisses the top of my head and sets a cup of coffee on my desk, then opens the curtain next to me to let the light in.

Lachlan has been staying at my apartment for the past three days. I believe we needed a change of environment from spending time at his tiny studio, and both our jobs are closer to this place. He's been so kind and supportive of this shitty task.

"How's the admin going? Do you want something sweet to go with your coffee?" He sits in front of me and arranges the stack of papers I've been putting aside in a neat pile.

"You know me well. A cookie, maybe? I know I must have said this for the thousandth time, but this is a mess," I turn around the faded paper I've been trying to read for the last 15 minutes to show him. He brings it closer to his eyes and shakes his head. "So far I haven't even found my membership. Besides the emails Cooper and I exchanged, I filled nothing."

"That's not a good sign. Members pay fees and you can't charge money if they don't exist."

"Exactly," I say and pick the next paper as Lachlan goes to the kitchen for the cookie tin.

"You said Rose came up with a new menu, right?" He asks as he goes through the cabinets.

"Yeah, she did. Copper wasn't exactly thrilled with it, but I think it will be a great improvement. There's even a breakfast menu to service the people who come to use the gym early in the morning and sharing options for whoever stays after the evening games to accompany their beer."

"Sounds like a good plan. And how are you going to get the word out about the food and everything else your team is doing for the club?"

"Sage is in charge of planning an open house. But first, we need to make the club presentable. My teammates formed a cleaning crew and scrubbed the whole lounge and dining floor and the furniture, but the walls need a fresh coat of paint and there's the kitchen issue. In order to make the menu Rose prepared, he'll need to get a new inventory and bring the cooking area to code. I've avoided going there, but Rose says she's on the brink of torching the whole thing down."

"And to think I've eaten there," he shudders. "Sanne... I don't know if this is the right time to bring this up. The other day, you said 'I love you' on the phone."

I put away the next coffee stained paper and stare outside. "I've been trying to tell myself that it was an automatic response, but I would be lying."

Lachlan holds my hand in his and gives it a kiss. "I know I put you through hell when I was at my worst. I realized you feared I would do something stupid, and then I left without giving you a reason. I'll be forever sorry that I did that. You are the best thing that has happened to me, and being here with you makes me so happy. I've received the help I needed and my sole goal is to turn my life around. I'm committed to make this relationship, or whatever it is we have, work."

"I'm glad you got professional help. To be honest with you, right now, what I'm most fearful of is that this blissful feeling might be only temporary. So far you've kept you friendships to your colleagues, Myrtle and me. What if you meet other people, the wrong kind, and the temptation returns?"

"You are right. If presented with the chance, I don't know if my willpower will be strong enough. I'm a recovering addict and only time will help me build a new life, meet the right people and avoid temptation. So far I've managed and I hope to keep it that way."