“I’m really sorry, Brooke. It wasn’t that I didn’t like you. I was just looking for an excuse not to do the exclusive.”
“Why would you do that?”
“I don’t want to go through all the media exposure again. I don’t want to tell everyone how scared I am. I don’t want people to see me suffer like I did last time.”
“They won’t hear it from me. I’m here to do whatever you feel comfortable doing. Your private life is your own. If July comes and you don’t feel like doing the race then you don’t do it, but I can assure you there are a lot of people who can’t wait for this exclusive. Don’t rob them of that.”
She thought for a moment and nodded. “Okay, okay. Can we start over?”
“I want to say yes, but I think it’s going to take a little more than scheduling for me to come back to your house. My boss pulled me from the assignment.”
“I’ll work that out. I’m sorry again. I’m…” Her voice trailed off as she dabbed at her eyes. “I’m not a bitch, Brooke, and neither are you.” She laughed.
I chuckled and released the damn breath I’d been holding in.
“No, I’m not a bitch.” I agreed.
“We’re a different category, but people confuse us for being bitches. I was a bitch to you, though. I really was.”
Yes, she had been, but I understood why.
“Since we’re starting over, I think I can brush all that under the rug.”
Her eyes welled with tears again. “You really saw me carry the flag in Atlanta?”
I nodded. “It was the most memorable moment of my life.”
“Mine too. Oh, it was probably the very best, better than winning. It was the moment I really thought I shined.”
“You did.” She definitely had.
“Thank you for reminding me of that day, and for giving me hope. It’ll be great to work with you.”
I felt like a fifty-ton truck had been lifted off my back, and now that it had, I thought of Ryan. This had been his idea, and it worked.
I definitely had to see him and thank him.
I also definitely thought he deserved a little more than a kiss.
