Chapter 29

Eliza

It’s been five days since I moved out of Steve’s place, and I still feel like I’m barely keeping my head above water. I also feel a little weird that I essentially left in the middle of the night, but I have to be practical at this point. There was no need to continue the charade with him, and once I realized that, I could not stand one more minute of trying to contort my life into looking a certain way to please my father. I’m frustrated that I ever tried in the first place, and I’m determined to change that now.

Anyway, I didn’t want Steve to feel any pressure to be something he’s not while I was falling apart. In the short time we spent together, I grew to love having him to talk to. But Steve never wants to marry. He’s been honest with me from the beginning, and while my feelings for him, against my better judgment, have grown, it doesn’t change who he is or what he wants for his life. So my only choice—because I care about him and because I need to move forward on my own terms—was to step away.

And not just from Steve. There’s something else I have to do, which is what brings me to Dad’s office at the stadium this morning. He’s done with his cancer treatments for now, so he’s taking a more active role with the team again. Still, he’s looking thin and gaunt as I wait for him to finish his call. I sit across from him, listening to what sounds like a conversation about the engineering company he bought last year. My heart is heavy with sadness and resignation. I love him, but I know now what I have to do next, even if it breaks my heart.

Finally, he finishes and puts the phone down, looking up at me. “So, what did you want to meet about? Are you and Steve engaged?” He looks down at my left hand.

Unbelievable . He really does seem to think he can issue commands and that’s just how things work. I shake my head. “No, Dad. In fact, we’re not together any longer.”

“I thought you wanted the team.”

“Dad,” I say, my voice quiet but firm. “You are not seeing me or hearing me. I do want the team. I have wanted it my whole life, and I have worked hard to make myself ready to handle it effectively. I believe I am ready. But I also have to live with myself. I understand that you want what you think is best for me, but I have to tell you, that isn’t your call. I need to make choices I can feel good about, and manipulating the people in my life to fit a mold you’ve decided is correct doesn’t work for me. I won’t marry just so I can inherit the team. If I choose to marry, I want to do it once, and I want to marry because I’m in love, not because you require it. The Tigers mean everything to me, but I won’t sacrifice my happiness or anyone else’s, just to hold on to them.”

My father looks at me, his face a mix of surprise and admiration. “Elizabeth, I’m proud of you,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “I know how much the Tigers mean to you, but your integrity and your heart are even more important. It sounds like you’re the one who broke up with Steve. ”

I ignore that. I don’t want him to see the heartbreak on my face. “I’ve moved into a temporary apartment. My condo isn’t ready, and I can’t stay at Mom’s with Antonio living with her. They walk around partially undressed all the time. They’re entitled to privacy.”

Dad smiles. “I’m sorry you’ve moved out of Steve’s home. Relationships are hard. Your mother put up with a lot from me.”

“Yes, she did, and even though you were married, you didn’t have balance in your life, so it didn’t solve the problem you seem to think getting married will solve for me. Honestly, I don’t understand why you think any marriage would last if I’m forced into it.”

He looks over at the family picture that doesn’t include me. “But I see you here at the stadium all the time. You need a life. I’m sorry you broke it off with Steve. If he’s the right man for you, he’ll fight for you. And if not, well, okay. We’ll sell the team.”

I shake my head, my heart aching with the weight of my decision. But I know I’ve done the right thing. I may want the team, but not at any price. I slide the envelope across the table at him. “Here is my letter of resignation.”

My father’s eyes widen. It isn’t easy to surprise him, but I’ve just done it. “Why are you resigning?”

“For the same reason I ended things with Steve. I want to run my own life without you dictating the terms. If I’m going to date someone and fall in love, I want it to be because we like each other and want to spend time together. And if you can’t accept that I am the best person to run the team, you need to sell it to Donnie Cochran and see what happens then.” I can’t resist that tiny little barb at the end. Donnie Cochran will be a disaster for the Tigers.

My father crosses his arms. “I have eighteen other companies. Which one are you going to run?”

I cross my arms right back. “None of them. As you pointed out, I have my own money. I don’t need to worry about an income, so I don’t have to take a job that doesn’t interest me. That is all thanks to you, and I am grateful. But I’m going to stick with what I’m passionate about and start my own company. I will build it from the ground up.”

“But what about my legacy? If you’re doing this so I’ll change my mind, know that I won’t be doing that.”

I shrug. “I guess your legacy is your own concern. I’m not doing this for any reason other than for me and my goals. I’ve realized the Tigers are your company. You can do with it whatever you want. I’m forever grateful for what you’ve given to me, not only financial independence but also the introductions to people who can help me with my new adventure.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m still working on my business plan,” I tell him. “Once I have it figured out, I’ll let you know.”

As I stand and leave my father’s office, I feel a sense of relief and freedom. I’m no longer tied to his expectations of my personal life. The Tigers may be what I thought I’d always wanted, but I know there can be something else. I have to pursue my own happiness, wherever it may lead.

I’ll always be a Tiger at heart, but I think I’ll look back on this as the day my life finally began.

The next day, I don’t go in to work, but Tanya and I meet mid-morning at a small café close to the stadium. I’ve just laid it all out for her—everything, from my dad changing his requirements for our deal and me reevaluating my life to letting Steve know he’s not required to do anything for me anymore and resigning yesterday.

She shakes her head. “I can’t believe you quit. You’ve done everything you can to prepare to run the team one day.”

I nod. “I know. But my dad’s requirements make it impossible. I can’t let him run my life, no matter what I’ve dreamed of.”

Tanya nods sympathetically, and I know she understands. “You did the right thing,” she adds after a moment.

“I’ll miss working with you every day,” I tell her. “That’s another thing that sucks about this.”

“Have you decided what you’re going to do?”

“I have a plan to start a sports marketing company. I want to put sponsors and athletes together. The big brands have people who do that, but the mid-sized brands don’t. And I can start with Canadian companies, some that are interested in the U.S. market, and I can work with U.S. companies that want more visibility in Canada.”

Tanya takes a sip of her tea. “I think that’s a great idea. You will excel at this.”

I smile. “Thanks. I’m working on attending an event in a couple weeks to help get things started. I’ve never considered life without the Tigers, but it’s time to try, right?”

“What does your mother say?”

“She’s a little overwhelmed by all the changes, and she’s not thrilled that I might be working more instead of less if I start this new venture. She disagrees with Dad’s methods, and she’s fine with me not running the Tigers, but she wants me to have a life too. I’m sure she’s chewed Dad out, but only because I know her. She’d never tell me that.”

“What about Steve? Have you talked to him?”

I take a sip of my tea. “No. I need some space. I tried not to get my heart involved, but he’s a great guy, and he did so much for me that of course I did.” I pause, putting my head in my hands for a moment. “I miss him, but what we had together wasn’t real. I needed him to know he doesn’t owe me anything. He’s not a relationship guy, so I don’t know where to go from here.”

“Are you sure you know how he feels about this? About you?”

I ignore her question. I can’t put anything else on my plate right now. I just have to move forward. “What’s going on with you and Jun?” I ask, wanting to move past the upheaval in my life for a moment.

“Evidently, he’s getting serious with some girl. His parents are going to have a fit. She’s a redhead.”

“Why do they care about her hair color?”

“She’s not Chinese.”

I sit back. “Ahh. How do you feel about it?”

Tanya takes another sip of her tea. “I’m actually really glad for him. I hope they’ll be happy. And I met a nice guy at the grocery store last week.”

“At the grocery store?”

“He was in the produce section, staring at a durian.”

My face scrunches up in disgust. Those things smell like raw sewage and rotting flesh. “Why was he thinking about a durian?”

“He likes to be adventurous. He just moved here from Regina.”

“So he went to an Asian market to pick up a durian. Is he for real?”

“His interest in durians aside, he works for Amazon as a developer.”

I nod slowly. “Okay. And what did you suggest in place of the durian?”

“Dragonfruit.”

“Smart move. Much better smelling and tasting. Are you going to go out sometime?”

“We’ve talked each night, and we’re going out on Saturday. I thought I’d give him a tour of the best Chinese restaurants.”

“He’s in for a treat. How adventurous do you really think he is? Will you order off the Chinese menu or the English menu?”

“I’m not sure yet,” she says.

“Well, I want to hear all about it.”

She promises a full report, and then she has to get back to the office. I appreciate her always making time for me, and it’s an odd feeling when she runs off and I’m left sitting here with no real place I have to be. I know I need to learn to embrace that, but it just makes me miss Steve. My dad is right about one thing. My life was more fun when I had someone to share it with.

I’ve been moping a bit, even as I have some percolating excitement about my new business venture, but Tanya refuses to let me wallow too much. She’s taken me to dinner and out to coffee this week, and this morning she called again, determined to get me out of the house for Saturday afternoon. I’ve been furiously working on my new business plan for this event I’m going to with Vince in San Diego next weekend, and now—as Tanya helpfully pointed out—I have just a week to find the perfect dress.

We’ve already hit the mall, Simon’s downtown, and Hudson Bay, and now, we’re at a boutique in West Van that Tanya has seen advertised on the society pages.

“Are you going to get together with Vince?” Tanya asks, trying to seem casual as she examines dress after dress on a department store rack of formal wear.

I search through the opposite rack, but I’m not seeing anything I like. I don’t want to go too high-end. This event I’m attending is a fundraiser, and I want the people I meet to be interested in doing business with me, not think that I’m doing this as a hobby because of my trust fund.

I roll my eyes. I feel like I’ve been over this with her before. “Nope, that ship has sailed. Back in the day, he dumped me to date a cheerleader, and he’s only interested now because that didn’t pan out. This is professional. I’ve told him about my business idea, and he’s agreed to introduce me to some of the Pelicans’ sponsors at this fundraiser.”

“And what’s going on with Steve? I haven’t been asking you about that, but I know it’s on your mind.”

I shake my head. “I haven’t really talked to him. He sent me a text the other night, but nothing’s changed. I can’t stand the thought of him dating someone else, so I don’t know how to be friends.”

“Have you told him you quit the team?” Tanya surveys the dress in front of her and shakes her head.

“Didn’t my dad send a notification to everyone?”

“If he did, I didn’t get it.”

I look at her, surprised. “Does he think no one’s going to notice? Does he think I’m coming back?” I shake my head. I don’t know what to make of that, and I don’t have the energy to speculate. I guess I should at least let Steve know that. I pick up a black sequined full-length dress. “What about this?”

Tanya shakes her head. “That’s something a lounge singer would wear.”

I roll my eyes and throw it over my arm because it’s a real possibility, no matter what she says. “What time is your date tonight?”

“We’re meeting at the restaurant at six.” Tanya pulls out a pink silk dress and looks at me.

It’s as close as you can get to neon without being neon. I shake my head. “What are you going to do after dinner?”

“What I want to do and what I will do are two different things.”

“Meaning?” I pull out a navy silk dress with a boat-neck collar and put it on my arm. It has some rhinestone bows I’m not sure about, but worth a try.

A saleswoman approaches. “Can I get you a dressing room?”

“Please.” She takes the stack of dresses I’ve collected, leaving me to pick more.

Tanya holds up a dress with a tulle skirt. It looks like I should wear ballet slippers with it. I shake my head.

“I want to take him back to my place and ride him like a pony,” she informs me.

I laugh. “What’s stopping you?”

“He’s a nice guy,” she says with a sigh. “A little shy, and he’s looking for adventure, but not that kind of adventure.”

“Are you sure about that?”

She rolls her eyes. “Well, I like him, and I want to go slow.” Tanya pulls out an emerald-green dress. “What about this? It’s Pelican color.”

I tilt my head. “It may have too much cleavage.”

“There’s double-sided tape for that.”

“What if I sweat? That would be awful.”

She giggles. “Then Vince will have something to beat off to later that night.”

My jaw drops. “You’re feisty today.”

She shrugs. “Unless you want him to peel you out of it.”

“No. Definitely not.”

“Go try it on.”

Might as well. I walk back to the changing room. I have eight dresses, and I’m not sure about any of them. I start with the black sequined number, and it’s about as basic as you can get. I understand why Tanya called it a lounge-singer dress.

I try on the navy one, but I don’t care for the shoulder décor, so I take it off.

Next up is the green silk dress Tanya found. I struggle to figure out which is the front and which is the back, but finally I slip it on. The front dips low, but it’s backless and skims the curve of my ass .

“Do any of them work?” Tanya calls.

I open the door and walk out to the mirrors where she’s waiting for me. “This one fits…” I pick up the skirt. “But I would need at least a three-inch heel.”

“Oh my God.” I hear from behind me. I turn to see Paisley and Nadine waving and heading this way.

“You look fantastic,” Nadine says, giving me a hug.

“I wish I could wear that dress,” Paisley says, making a sizzling sound.

Tanya clears her throat.

“Ladies, this is my best friend, Tanya Wei,” I tell them. “And Tanya, this is Paisley and Nadine. They’re the wives of two of Steve’s closest friends.”

They exchange pleasantries, and then Nadine squeezes my arm. “We’ve missed you,” she says. “Where are you going in that dress? Steve’s going to love it.”

Paisley elbows Nadine.

“Well, Steve and I aren’t seeing each other any longer,” I explain.

“He told us,” Paisley says. “Davis says he’s really struggling.”

Is he? I manage a smile. “I resigned from the team, so I don’t have much chance to see him.”

“You quit the Tigers?” Paisley asks.

I nod. “It’s not what I wanted, but it was the right thing to do. I’m not sure if Steve told you, but my dad changed the agreement we had in place that was going to allow me to take over the team. He wanted more control of my personal life than I was willing to give up, so I’m going to start my own thing.”

“Does Steve know you quit?” Nadine asks.

“I’m not sure. Evidently, my dad hasn’t announced it like I expected him to. I needed some space as I reevaluate, so I haven’t really been talking with Steve.”

“I can’t imagine how the Tigers are going to get along without you,” Nadine says.

“Well, my dad has an offer from someone to buy the team. I’m expecting he’s going to sell.”

“Wow, that’s huge,” Paisley says.

I nod. I don’t know what to say. It’s not like I want to rehash this whole mess here outside the dressing room.

“Anyway, where are you going with that stunner of a dress?” Paisley asks.

“I have a friend who works for the San Diego Pelicans, and they have a big fundraiser I’m going to fly down for next weekend. I’m hoping I can jumpstart some work in sports marketing for myself.”

Paisley nods. “That sounds like fun.”

“I’m so impressed by your strength and resilience,” Nadine says. “I may not understand all the details, but I respect and support you no matter what.”

“Right? She’s a rock star,” Tanya jumps in.

I smile at them. “That’s very kind of you.”

“We need to get together for drinks soon,” Paisley suggests. “Whether you’re with Steve or not, we can be friends. You too, Tanya.”

“I’d love that.”

“Me too,” Tanya says.

We talk a few minutes more, and Tanya suddenly snaps her fingers. “Wait a minute! You’re the famous artist.”

Paisley looks like a deer in headlights for a moment, and then she looks around to make sure no one heard Tanya’s declaration. “I’m an artist, yes.”

Nadine rolls her eyes. “The richest people in the world are on waitlists for her work.”

Paisley turns crimson.

“I’m sorry,” Tanya says. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I’ve never seen any of your work up close.”

“Yes, you have,” I correct. “Steve has one of her driftwood-dipped-in-silver pieces.”

Paisley laughs. “You know, that one caught on fire in the dipping process. I thought I was going to burn the building down. ”

Tanya lights up. “I should have looked more closely when I was there. Now, I want to go see it.”

“I have an art exhibit going up at the gallery that gave me my start early next month,” Paisley says. “I’ll make sure you’re on the list.”

“Thank you.” Tanya nods. “I’d love that.”

As Tanya and I say goodbye to Paisley and Nadine, we agree to see each other soon. I’m still not sure about this green dress, and I may not know what the future holds, but I’m so grateful for the support of my friends. I know I can face whatever comes my way. Eventually, I’ll stop missing Steve, right? I’m going to be okay.