Chapter 5

E ven though we were exhausted, he woke up early and brought me to my car. However, based on how late we stayed up, I'm guessing he went back home to crash, but I'm on my second cup of coffee. It wasn't easy leaving his place this morning. I like his house; the design is well thought out. It's big but not obnoxiously so. It's practical. Very Sully . The setting suits him, with lots of trees and landscaping out back. He probably mows his own lawn. Great, now I'm picturing him mowing shirtless and dripping in sweat.

"Get it together, Kendra. Game face," I tell myself. My body might be at work, but my mind is still in bed with him. Sully and I had chemistry from the start. I'd never sleep with anyone who I wasn't one-hundred-percent sure isn't a conflict of interest. Sully isn't doing the show, so why shouldn't I pursue him? I shove off my overactive mind and fish through my bag for my beeping phone. When I feel it in my grasp, I pull it up and smile at the text from Sully, more memories of our night together replaying in my mind.

Sully

Good morning. Again.

It's almost noon.

Sully

Hard to get out of bed when my sheets still smell like you.

What a bum. I've already been working for six hours.

Sully

I'm retired, sweetheart. I can do whatever I want. And I want you to get some lunch. Nothing that comes in a wrapper.

I look down at the energy bar peeking out of my purse—my lunch, if I remember to actually eat it.

*eyeroll emoji* Yes daddy.

Sully

Goddamn girl…

I've gotta step into a meeting. Talk later.

Right on time, Pierce Haldermann, one of the production company executives—my boss—enters my office, and I tuck my phone aside. He sits down in front of me and breaks the news. News I don't want to hear. Apparently, this show was riding on Lee Sullivan's cooperation more than I anticipated.

"If he won't do the show, the network doesn't want it. You told us you could get him."

I may have implied he was an easy get when I thought I could talk him into it.

"Pierce. I sat with him for three hours. I tried. He's hard set on not doing it."

There's a strict no-fraternization policy. For once, I'm okay with the roadblock. It means I get to keep him all to myself. I'm careful not to share any of that information.

"I'm sorry, the intel I had told me he was in. I've got a backup, though. I spoke with Paul Heitz's agent this morning, and he seems enthusiastic and wants to sit down for a meeting. He was last year's MVP, he's attractive, women love him. We can make it work."

Pierce shakes his head. "The network wants Lee Sullivan. Here's the thing, women's hockey is becoming a thing—a big thing—and the local sports network has chosen to sponsor one of the teams. This is confidential, but we're going to be partnering with the Minnesota PWHL team, and they want him to help boost viewership—"

Are they serious?

"I'm sorry…" I shake my head and flail my arms, trying to make sense of this. "The network wants to promote women's hockey—a historic moment for women's sports, mind you—with a fucking dating show ?" My voice is a little screechy, but I'm pissed on principle. "Not only a dating show, but a dating show where women compete for a man 's attention?" This has to be a joke. I can look past a lot of shit in the television industry, but this is insulting.

"I know, the irony isn't lost on us either. But I don't need to explain to you that television isn't about dating or women's history, it's about advertising. There's a big opportunity for crossover between female viewership of dating shows and women's sports. When Taylor Swift started dating Travis Kelce, she generated an additional 331.5 million dollars in brand value for the NFL."

"Yeah, because she's Taylor-fucking-Swift . We're talking about Lee Sullivan." The guy's a catch, but let's be realistic, there's no comparison.

"The research they've done is positive." Research? How long has this been underway? "We're looking at a large increase in revenue for the PWHL, primarily, the Minnesota team. As their sponsor, they want to see it succeed. Lee Sullivan was born and raised here. He has ties to the Lakes NHL team. The network wants him. He's their golden boy."

"And what makes them think they can get him to agree? I told you, he's not going to give in."

Pierce looks around and gently closes my office door.

"They're willing to offer him the head coach position."

Oh my God.

My heart drops to the floor. It's selfish, I know it is, but I'm not ready to give him up so easily, not while I'm still sore from our night together. Sully and I just met, but, damn, last night was incredible. If they offer him the coaching spot, he's got to take it. I want him to take it, he told me himself how much he missed the sport. This is great for him… but filming him date women—women who aren't me—isn't my idea of fun. I don't look forward to filming his confessionals, don't want to ask him which women he's most attracted to and who he can see himself with for the rest of his life. I'd rather perform my own root canal.

"So this is their answer?! Dangle a hot hockey coach so women buy tickets? You think women won't be supporting women's hockey without a man?" The narrative is disgusting.

"Sports fans will be buying tickets, they want to capitalize on a larger fan base, viewers who don't watch sports. They have chosen to convert the show into a docuseries. Covering him coaching and navigating the dating world. They're calling it Scoring with Sully ."

What a stupid name. I can't believe this is happening.

Well, there goes all the progress I've made. Love Algorithm is just another show to slip through my fingers. "So we're just cutting the AI and losing our investment?" I take a deep breath. Whining will not help. "So, what do you want me to do, Pierce?" I snap.

"Look, I know you're upset. I don't blame you. It's not the first time you've been given a show only to have it pulled last minute."

"Yeah, it's the third time." That's not the only reason I'm irritated. I've been possessive over career opportunities, but my current possessiveness is personal. But this is good for him. He's been wanting to coach hockey. Our relationship isn't even a relationship yet, it's a morning-after. I'd never stand in the way of such a great opportunity; it wouldn't be fair to either of us.

"I'm sorry, Kendra. It's bullshit, I get it. But we both know how fast things change. It's part of being a producer. This is something you'll have to adapt to if you plan to make it. Your time will come, I promise. We're meeting with Lee and his agent tomorrow afternoon to drop the offer and make negotiations. Would you like to attend?"

"Wait, he doesn't even know yet?"

"I haven't been given all the details, it's still confidential." He gathers his coffee. "Cross your fingers!" he calls out, stepping out of my office.

I pick up my phone to text him… and then I stop.

This is his dream.

One night is not a reason to give up an opportunity like this. Even talking about it to him makes me look pathetic. I understand how important those dreams are. As much as I want to see what could become of us, perhaps we were only destined for one night. Our night together was unforgettable, and I'm glad I got the opportunity to know Sully in that way. Let's face it, he's a fucking catch. I want him to be happy. This way he can find love and get his dream job. Lucky man. Like Pierce said, my time will come.

I drop the phone into my pocket and swallow the bittersweet loss, hoping it will drown the butterflies he put there only moments ago with his text.

I'm twenty-three. We're in different places in our lives. It never would have worked out… but it was fun.