I am focused and you know it.
And my private life is none of your concern, I hired you to do your job, not sabotage my relationships and ruin everything I built for two months with her.
She came as a surprise to me and I said I wasn’t going to date, but I think I will if she accepts me after your “little chat”.
I lost the race because someone was better than me that day and they deserved that win.
I will still win the championship because that is my goal this year and I won’t let it slip away because I met someone.
One last thing, I know you’re looking out for me but understand my boundaries or I will look for a new agent.
I don’t wait for his response, I lock my phone and slide it back into my pocket.
“Hey, kid.” Jim’s voice drifts to me and I freeze. “Wait up.”
I swallow around the lump in my throat. “Hey, Jim, whatcan I do for you?”
“You’re starting to sound like your dad.” We chuckle. “You owe me a favor,” he continues.
If he’s going to tell me I can’t see his daughter this will fucking break me because I’ve never felt this happy, madly in love, or so at home since Blakely Wilder came into my life, and set my world on fire.
“Hey kid, look at me, hold your head high.”
I direct my chin higher, not realizing my gaze fell to the ground. My stomach twists and my chest clenches so tight it fucking hurts to breathe.
His eyes assess mine, boring into my soul as he waits for a moment that feels like a lifetime.
“Make her happy,” his words are like an arrow straight to my heart but they don’t bruise, they reset something inside me.
My eyes widen, “W-what…what are you saying?”
“I have never seen her this happy and in love, trust me I’d know.”
I don’t doubt it. “Really?” but I do need reassurance because I feel like I’m losing her.
He nods. “Meadow, I have known you since you were in diapers, running around and causing trouble that others started.”
That last note makes my eyebrows raise in question.
“Of course, we knew it was Michael. He was the troublemaker when you were kids but then you switched roles at some point but always balanced each other out. Thatwas part of your charm. We didn’t worry about you, because we knew you two would figure it out, and you did.”
His words sink in, and I feel like I can breathe for the first time when I hear Michael’s name.
“I know you miss him, and this pain is still fresh. But let that part heal and surround yourself with love because that’s the best medicine in the end. That’s how you can move on. Spread his love, that’s all he ever wanted since he was a kid.”
“Yeah, he did.” The tears blur my vision as I rise to stand and attack Jim with a hug. “We are so lucky to have all of you in our lives.”
“Kid, don’t make me cry.” He pulls back but leaves his hand on my shoulders, “You both deserve to be happy, and she is my only daughter so if you hurt her I would have to be very creative.” That dead serious expression turns to a wicked smirk and admiration in his eyes.
“I would never dream of it,” I crack a wide smile and the tears dry against my skin.
“I never liked her ex, he was wrong for her but I didn’t want to intervene in her decisions. Her mother would’ve rolled in her grave if I did. She had a concrete rule to learn from past mistakes and become a stronger version of yourself.”
“The weakest moments are those who make us stronger.” I quote. My mom used to say that when I was younger.
I must’ve given him the ‘I heard it before face’ because he immediately responds, “My wife used to say that line all the time and your mom said it to you when she gave you that necklace.” He points to the one around my neck. “Stay safe outthere.” He winks before his tall frame moves toward Blakely’s room and anxiety shoots through me like a heat wave.
The bike roars as I flick the button and exit the parking lot toward the boys who wait for me on the road a mile away.
