“Woohoo! Pay up, boys,” Iris hollers as Trevor, Kyle, and Jonah slap twenty-dollar bills against her palm. “Winnie! Dinner’s on me tonight.”
Winston’s wife is even better than I could’ve imagined. The former softball phenom would have probably won the whole tournament if it weren’t for her husband, who doesn’t have an athletic bone in his body.
I rush across the field to meet Cade, and he hoists me into the air, spinning me in circles.
“Nice game, partner. How are you feeling about that win?”
“Damn good. Might have to keep you around, baseball boy.” I laugh against his lips, but my attention is stolen by the hoard of khaki shorts moving toward the pavilion, and Winston’s encouragement comes to the front of my mind. “Now it’s time for another win.”
Once in the shade, I grab a water bottle and ease into Cade’s sturdy side as Winston takes his spot at the front.
“Gather around everyone,” Winston booms. “I know we all came out here for the free food and beer, but we need to talk about work for a bit. Over the last few months, the intermediate agent position has been open. It has been tough, but the senior agents and myself have worked diligently to choose who will best fill the position Levi left behind.”
Trevor boos. “Screw him!”
“Agreed, but it’s been nice to dive a bit deeper into the Permian’s junior agents. I’m so impressed by everyone who submitted their lettersof intent. I wish I had multiple positions because choosing one applicant was difficult.”
My hand finds Cade’s, and he gives it the perfect squeeze.I’m here.
“I’d like to announce Permian’s new intermediate agent. When I say the name of the individual, please help me give this phenomenal employee the celebration they deserve.”
There are only four junior agents, which means there’s a twenty-five percent chance the job is mine, but I don’t feel deterred by those odds. I’ve worked my ass off for this position. I have the most clients out of us, and I’ve given them and Permian every ounce of my blood, sweat, and tears since the moment I got here.
And today, I’ll earn their respect.
“Get on up here and accept your promotion!”
I step forward instinctively, but a tight grip on my hand pulls me back. When I look up to see why Cade stopped me, his eyes are full of a desperate kind of grief.
“I’m sorry, Shay,” he whispers. “I’m so sorry.”
“For?” I ask, but as the question leaves my mouth, I turn and spot Jonah at the front. He looks as if he won the lottery, and even though I want to be upset, I can’t help but think of the joy he must be feeling.
The joy I thought I’d get to feel.
I don’t flinch when the celebratory bottles of champagne start to pop. They’re mostly drowned out by the roar of blood in my ears.
“Shay,” Cade tries, but I don’t give him the chance.
“I need to go.” I step back. “I’m going to run to the restroom.”
“Let me go with you. Please, baby.”
No. He can’t watch what’s about to happen.
“It’s okay. I’ll be back.”
I march away from the pavilion without another word. My pace doesn’t slow as I make it to the sidewalk, cross the street, burst through the front doors of Permian, and run up four flights of stairs.
Tears threaten to fall as I step into my office, but they vanish at the sight of my laptop still on, sticky notes with plans scattered around, and papers strewn across my desk. I spent the whole morning before the BBQ crafting a new game plan. I’d add Simon Godfrey to my team and keep building my roster.
I’ve spent so long dedicating all my time and energy to this job.
To Permian.
Nobody’s owed a job, but damn, I worked so hard for it.
Instead of crying, I pack everything into my bag. I’m finally going to use some of that paid time off I’ve been sitting on. I need to breathe in some air that doesn’t flow from a Permian Sports Agency vent.
