2. Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Indy — Now

I was not a patient woman.

If anyone peeked inside any popcorn bag I’d ever made, they’d find half the kernels unpopped. Letting it pop the full minute and a half was torture. There wasn’t a Christmas present I hadn’t unwrapped and then rewrapped growing up, praying my parents wouldn’t notice. Sometimes when I felt extra bad, I’d skip to the end of the book.

I liked happy endings, and I needed everything wrapped tightly in a perfect little bow.

And that little bow was nearly finished.

“Okay, moving forward,” Asher, the agent leading the meeting, said. “Beckett Wilson. Are we any closer to him signing with us?”

I shared a look with Evelyn across the boardroom table, pressing my lips together to hide my smile as she said, “He’s coming in this afternoon. I have the contract ready to go.”

Asher raised his brows, the most he’d let on to being impressed she had gotten one of the most coveted baseball players in the industry to potentially sign with us. “Good work. Send the documents to me before he comes in—I’d like to go through them. ”

Pulling out a pen, I scribbled out a reminder in my notepad as he said, “I’m assuming him coming in has something to do with the charge I saw on the company card two nights ago?”

I perked up in my chair, seeing what she might do. She gave him a coy smile. “I’m sure you’ll find it was worth every company penny.”

Asher laughed, the rest of the employees at the table following suit. Evelyn met my gaze and winked, as though to say See, I told you: it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

I’d been wary when she suggested we take Beckett to a restaurant. It was an upscale place and more than the agency typically spent on clients. Changes were happening within the company, and I’d been afraid to step out of line. But she’d insisted, and at the end of the day, I was an intern. It wasn’t my place to question her. It wasn’t until after a receipt with so many numbers I’d thought I was hallucinating that she’d revealed it was the restaurant Beckett’s grandparents had gotten engaged in many years ago.

She’d hoped he’d see it as a sign, and clearly it had worked: Beckett had verbally committed to sign with Victory Lap Agency. I had no idea how she’d dug up that information, but if I’d learned anything as her intern, it was to never doubt her.

Victory Lap Agency was one of the top sports agencies on the East Coast, specializing mainly in representing professional baseball players. It was homegrown in the concrete jungle itself—New York City—and for the past twelve weeks, I’d been lucky enough to roam its halls.

After graduating from Ohio University this past May, I’d been honored to receive an internship. One I almost declined. I was up to my ears in student loan debt and behind in life as it was—I didn’t have time for risks. I needed a sure job. But Evelyn assured me it would lead to a job offer.

“Think of it like a rite of passage,” she’d said, her voice sweet like honey. “Every single agent here started with an internship. Besides, we have two positions open, and we’re only taking on two interns this summer. There’s no way on earth you won’t land this job.”

After today, I’d step out of my shoes as her intern and into my role as an agent .

Settling into my chair, I continued writing down Asher’s every word. He was the head agent of the firm, and beyond getting him coffee, I hadn’t had the chance to work with him. I was ready to change that, ready to give this company my best.

“Okay, I’m sure by now you’ve all heard the news.” Asher sat on the edge of the conference table, unbuttoning his suit jacket. “But in case you haven’t, the board of directors has hired a new CEO. I haven’t met her yet, but I’ve heard she’s a fantastic fit and plans to be more hands-on with the agency. However, I’m sure we can anticipate changes coming our way. She’ll be transitioning in within the month, so let’s do our best to make sure our clients don’t get lost in that.”

Low murmurings filled the room, the other agents expressing their nerves with the upcoming changes. I might’ve been nervous had I worked here for years, but I hadn’t been here long enough to get too comfortable. If anything, I was glad to be starting with a new boss.

I was in the middle of deciding how I might make the best first impression when Asher continued, “That being said, there are some budget cuts coming our way. One of them being we’ll only be taking one of our interns on as an agent this fall.”

I froze, staring at the words I’d written down.

“Did you hear that?” a grating voice taunted from beside me. “I hope you can apply for social security because you’re out of a job, grandma.”

I ground my teeth, resisting the urge to stomp on Eli’s foot. “I’m sorry.” I cleared my throat, lifting my hand from where I sat at the end of the conference table. “Could you repeat that? I think I misheard you.”

Asher gave me a faint smile, but my stomach dropped all the same when he clarified, “We’re only hiring one agent this year.”

Super. My hearing works great.

“Do you know which intern will be getting the agent position?” Eli asked.

I teetered on the edge of my chair as Asher glanced between the two of us, likely deciding if it was a good idea to crush one of our dreams with an audience. “We’ve given a recommendation to the new CEO, but she’d like to make an unbiased decision. She’ll be opening the position up for interviews, likely within a month. The two of you will interview then.”

A month? What does that mean? My internship ends today.

Before I could ask more, Asher moved on to discuss potential athletes the agency could recruit. I glanced at Evelyn, hoping to find some sort of reassurance. But the longer she wouldn’t meet my eye, the more I realized I wouldn’t get any.

I smoothed a hand down my pantsuit, telling myself I hadn’t wasted twelve weeks of my life. Yes, I’d memorized the agents’ coffee orders, and I’d made enough copies that if I stacked them together, they’d rival the Statue of Liberty. But I’d also learned how to boost an athlete’s image without being over-the-top and how to nudge a reluctant client toward a sponsorship.

Just when I was on the verge of bursting out of my skin, the meeting was called to a close. Shifting out of my chair, I shook the hands of the other agents as they wished me luck before I hurried out of the office to find Evelyn.

“Maybe they’ll let me hire you as my assistant.” Eli strode beside me as we walked down the hall, his hands in his pockets. “Everyone agrees you make the best coffee. Something about that homely essence you bring to it.”

I held my chin high. He wasn’t worth shoving out the seventh-story window, nor wedging my heel in his boring blue eyes. I’d gone this long not engaging with his taunts—most of which stemmed from me being five years older than him and therefore so old —I wasn’t going to give in now.

I made my way to Evelyn’s office, knocking on the door before opening it. She gave me a half smile from where she sat at her desk, the look in her eyes telling me she wasn’t surprised I’d sought her out immediately. She knew how important this was to me.

“I’m sorry.” She leaned back in her chair, the light seeping through the window leaving a warm hue on her bronze skin. “I found out right before the meeting.”

I nodded. I wasn’t upset with Evelyn. I pulled out a chair and fiddled with a button on my blouse, trying to sort my thoughts. “Do you know which intern the agents recommended for the position?” I asked, seeking any sort of confirmation I had a future here.

She gave me a tight-lipped smile. “The CEO will make the final decision.”

Disappointment bloomed deep within me, but I did my best to brush it off. “Alright.” I straightened my spine. “So, what does this mean? Will I continue my internship here for the month?”

She brushed a dark curl over her shoulder, a view of the city’s towering buildings looming behind her. “Your internship ends today as originally planned. However, I already spoke with Asher and got it approved for you to stay on and assist me for the time being. It won’t be for more than a few hours a week though.”

My chest tightened, panic outweighing gratitude. What was I going to do? As an intern, my wage was barely livable—that was with me working over forty-hour weeks and having a second job. I was relying on landing this position. I didn’t have another plan.

This was my plan B.

Likely sensing I was on the verge of a mental breakdown, Evelyn reached across her desk and set her hand on mine. “Everything’s going to be fine. You have a month to prepare for this interview. That’s plenty of time for us to prove you’re the right person for this job.”

She was right. I knew that. But all I could focus on was the familiar feeling of everything slipping through my fingers. I couldn’t let that happen. Not again.

“What am I supposed to do for a month?” I asked, aware she had more important things than me to focus on right now. But I couldn’t help myself. For the past three months, I’d relied heavily on her guidance, and I had no clue where to go from here. I trusted her to lead the way.

Evelyn pursed her lips, seeming to think it over. But whatever she might’ve said vanished as her phone vibrated. “Don’t you have a sister who’s about to have a baby?” she asked absentmindedly, brows furrowed as she read something on her phone. “You could go see her. You mentioned you hadn’t been to your hometown in a while. ”

I shook my head, not bothering to point out my sister didn’t live in my hometown anymore. “I thought I was going to work a few hours a week for you?”

“You are. But you don’t need to be in New York—everything can be done from your phone. You should go home for a bit. You deserve the break.”

I bit my cheek, stomach twisting at the idea. But Evelyn didn’t need to know my distaste for going home. “Is everything okay?” I asked, seeing the frustration in her frame when she set her phone down.

She blew out a deep breath, the apples of her cheeks darkening a shade of brown. “I’m not sure if Calder Rohan likes making my job more difficult or if he’s actually determined to get dropped by the Falcons.”

I pushed my lips together, unable to disagree. Calder Rohan was arguably one of the best baseball players in the organization, known for his speed and ability to cover the outfield. Unfortunately, he was better known for wild nights and a temper that often got him ejected from games. It was a miracle he hadn’t been kicked off the Boston Falcons, and that miracle was named Evelyn Scott.

“What did he do this time?”

She cracked a dry laugh. “He was in jail—apparently a friend bailed him out this morning.” She groaned and rubbed at her temples, likely thinking of all the trouble Calder had given her in the years he’d been her client. I’d seen the stress he gave her in just the three months I’d worked for her. “I need to stop by his place. Make sure he’s okay before I give his general manager a call and see how much they’re going to fine him.”

“Do you need me to post on his social media?” I offered, grateful to set aside my anxiety for the future and focus on this instead. “I can draft a press release—”

“One of the other agents can do one.” She waved me off. “Please email Asher the contract for the meeting this afternoon, but otherwise take it easy. You should enjoy your last day.” I made a squeaking noise, and Evelyn must’ve heard it, as she corrected herself. “Your last day as my intern.”

She gathered her things, slipping her laptop into her bag. “I’m sorry to leave you hanging, but I need to go.” Rounding her desk, she stopped to put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “I’ll be in touch, okay? And if I don’t see you at the rivalry game next week, I’ll see you in a month.”

Before I could beg for a job, she was out the door, leaving me without a single clue what direction my life was headed in. Taking a deep breath, I skimmed my hands over my hair, ensuring my bun was neat before I made my way down the hall and to my desk.

Did I need to pack my things? My chest ached as I stared at my desk, painfully aware how easily I could pack my belongings. I wouldn’t even need a box. I might have spent the summer here, but I’d yet to make this space my own. Yet to make my mark.

My phone rang, and I pulled it out of my pocket, seeing my sister’s name. It was her third time calling today. She’d wanted to be the first one to congratulate me on my new job. And now she’d be the first one I’d disappoint.

“It’s going to be okay,” she assured me after I updated her with the news. “It’s not a no, Indy.”

I peered over my shoulder, ensuring Eli hadn’t returned to his desk beside me. “What am I supposed to do? I’ve built everything in my life around getting this job.” I hadn’t picked New York for its skyscrapers or even the pizza—I’d chosen it specifically for Victory Lap Agency. They were the key to helping me do what I’d failed to do all those years ago. “I just re-signed a three-month lease on my studio. How am I supposed to pay for that if I don’t have a job?”

“What about the call center you work at? Could you pick up more hours?”

I strangled back a cry. “My last day was yesterday.”

Rather than calling me a dumbass for quitting, Auburn said, “Okay, instead of panicking, let’s look at this as a month-long vacation.” I laughed, not surprised she’d tried to spin it that way. It didn’t matter if she was thirty—her free-spirited nature hung on. “Why don’t you fly to Texas and see me and your nephews? Leo requested to leave his deployment early, but we’re not sure if the marines will accept it or not. So, since he might not be home in time to help me deliver the baby, Mom and Dad are coming to help me . . . You should come. It’s been a few years since we’ve all been together. ”

I pressed my lips together, feeling like the scum of the earth as I tried to come up with an excuse. It’d been easy to stay away when I was in school, claiming I was too busy to get away from dusty Ohio. It had been the same with the internship.

But with nothing in the way, it was harder to hide how shitty of a sister I was.

“The rivalry game is next week.” Next to the World Series, it was the most anticipated game of the year. Or at least it was on the East Coast, where longtime rivals the New York Hawks and the Boston Falcons went head-to-head. The agency had clients on both teams and had gifted me tickets. It wasn’t mandatory to attend, but it would look good if I did. “I should probably go to that . . . And if I visited you, I’d have to bring Genny, and after the last time . . .”

I trailed off, not needing to remind her of the last time I’d visited. Granted, it had been three years ago, and maybe her sons, Grey and Kai, had grown past terrorizing my cat in the bathtub. Genny and I hadn’t recovered. It had taken months before she’d stopped running at the sound of water being turned on.

Thankfully, Auburn dropped the idea of me visiting her heathens. “Actually, I had an idea the other day. I assumed you wouldn’t be able to, but now with your job being up in the air . . . you should go home and run the diner.” I changed my mind—I’d like to talk about the heathens again. “With Mom and Dad both coming to help me, they’re probably going to close it until they go home. You know how they get about letting someone else run it. But if you went, they wouldn’t have to. Plus hunting season started. I bet you could make some real good money, and you’d score brownie points.”

I should’ve accepted her earlier offer. I’d deliver and catch her baby if it meant I didn’t have to return to Wallowpine, let alone face Mom. I was already dreading explaining to her why her twenty-seven-year-old daughter didn’t have a job. And no matter how my sister worded it, Mom wouldn’t be thrilled with me helping with their business. The diner was her dream—not mine.

I hadn’t been home in nine years. I was not breaking that streak.

“I have to go. I’ll call you later.”

I hung up before she could respond, refusing to talk about this right now. Accepting defeat, I sunk into my chair and gathered my things, taking care to grab my wooden star. It was hand carved, a gift Dad had mailed me after I’d graduated this May with my bachelor’s degree in sports management.

He hadn’t attended my graduation, nor given me an explanation for the gift, but I’d felt his pride even with thousands of miles between us. Just the same, I’d feel his disappointment when he realized I’d failed again.

With my desk cleared, I readied myself to do who knew what just as Keelie, the receptionist, walked by and handed me my mail. This could be the last mail I ever received here, and I might’ve felt sorry for myself had I not noticed the return address. I blew out a shaky breath, and for a moment, I was dragged beneath the surface I was tirelessly fighting to stay above.

It was nothing. It was probably a prank from someone from my hometown. But no matter the lies I fed myself, my fingers trembled as I opened and read the letter, the thin thread holding my life together unraveling with each word.

After reading it three times, and accepting it wasn’t going to change, I let out a low curse. Fiery rage and what might’ve been sorrow raced through me, and I didn’t let myself think as I grabbed my phone.

“I’ll do it,” I said as soon as my sister picked up. “Tell Mom and Dad I’ll run the diner for them while they’re away.”

“Wait, what? You’re going to Wallowpine?” Her voice was thick with disbelief, like she never believed she’d live to see the day. “Does he . . . does he know you’re coming home?”

Before I could answer her, Eli sat on the edge of my desk. “You’re heading out, huh?” He shrugged, eyeing my now-empty desk as I told Auburn I’d call her later and hung up. “Did you decide to save us both the time and drop out of the interview?”

“You wish, thumb-sucker.” I gave him a smug look, holding his gaze as I unpacked my things, setting the star back onto my desk. I’d given my entire future to a man once before, and I’d lost it all. I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

I wasn’t going home. I was going back to the life I’d left behind. And it wasn’t to tie up loose ends. It was to cut them off entirely.

I didn’t care if there wasn’t a happy ending.