Desperately, more than anything, Mitch wanted to agree. But he held his tongue, not wanting to look too eager, and said, “I need some time to think about it.”
“Fair enough,” Cole said. “Take all the time you need.”
Threeweekshadpassedsince Lexie found out about Mitch’s injury, and she was ashamed to admit that her phone had been permanently attached to her hand during that time, as she was constantly scouring the internet for updates on his condition.
She still regularly had to fight off the urge to reach out to him or call his mother since she couldn’t speak to him directly. Georgie Scott had, surprisingly, adored Lexie from the moment she met her, and Lexie had no doubt she would be glad to hear from her, even if things between her and Mitch hadn’t worked out.
But she couldn’t bring herself to make that call. She was still healing; allowing Mitch, or anyone close to him, back into her orbit now would feel like a giant running leap backward. For the sake of her sanity, she had to be strong.
Now, it was a Friday night, and Lexie was at dinner with Berkley, Brent, Cole, and Amelia, a tradition they had adapted in the wake of Mitch’s trade to check in with each other once a week, as long as they were all in town.
It was mid-November, and the few trees dotting the sidewalk outside the restaurant were covered in leaves in shades varying from bright yellow to deep orange, red so vibrant it bordered on pink, and brown, indicating the leaves were seconds away from falling to the pavement below.
Seated around a large circular table in the bustling dining room of an Italian restaurant downtown, the five of them caught up on Lexie’s work, Amelia’s magazine column, Brent and Cole’s season, and Berkley’s struggles to balance both a full-time course load and part-time legal work.
“I keep telling her she should just quit her job completely, but she refuses,” Brent said to the group.
“I don’t understand why you keep asking,” Berkley said with an eye roll. “You know it’s never going to happen.”
“I can’t believe, two years later, you idiots are still having the same argument about money.”
Berkley giggled uncomfortably, and Brent directed a sheepish grin at his lap, chastised. “It’s not about the money so much as it is about the fact that I want to be working. I’m learning a ton from Lippett, and the more experience I have drafting contracts will only benefit me in the long run when it comes time to open my own agency.”
“Will you take me on as a client when you do?” Cole asked her.
“Sure,” Berkley said after swallowing down a large mouthful of wine. “But what’s wrong with your current agent?”
“He’s a nice guy and all,” Cole said, “but he’s kind of a kiss-ass. I need someone who is going to tell it like it is and go to bat for me when I need them to.”
Berkley quirked an eyebrow. “And you think that’s me?”
“Hell yeah I do.”
Berkley smiled, her cheeks turning red. “I’m flattered, Cole.”
Brent cleared his throat. “Hey, Reid?” He said.
“Yeah, bro?”
“Stop hitting on my fiancé.”
The table erupted into laughter, and Cole’s cheeks blushed to match Berkley’s.
“I wasn’t hitting on her,” Cole said quietly. “I’m only trying to help her get her agency off the ground. Why aren’tyouasking her to be your agent?”
Brent and Berkley shared a look, alerting Lexie to the fact that they’d had this conversation before. If Lexie knew anything about Berkley, she knew chances were high that Brent had asked, and Berkley shot him down.
“We don’t want to mix our business and personal lives,” Berkley finally said.
Bingo.
“Besides, I’m happy with my current agent. I’ll let Berkley handle those less fortunate than me,” Brent said with a pointed look at Cole.
Cole opened his mouth to say something but snapped it shut. Finally, he muttered, “I hate that you make more money than me.”
The whole table laughed again, but the mood quickly soured when Amelia asked, “Has anyone heard any news on Mitch?”
Lexie felt as though all of the air was sucked from the room. Brent and Cole looked at each other, and Cole’s eyes widened, as though pleading Brent not to do whatever he was about to do.
