Carter walks me to my door, and I turn to face him. “Thank you. For everything. For believing in me and not letting me push you away. For—”
He kisses me, cutting off my words. It’s gentle and fierce all at once, a promise and a claim.
“Stop thanking me,” he murmurs against my lips. “This is what love is. Showing up. Fighting. Refusing to quit even when things get hard.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” He rests his forehead against mine. “Now go get ready to destroy everyone who doubted you.”
I laugh despite my nerves. “No pressure or anything.”
“You’ve got this.” He kisses me once more, then steps back. “I’ll be watching. Every second.”
“I know.”
Inside my apartment, I stand in front of my closet for ten minutes, trying to decide what to wear. Professional but not too buttoned-up. Confident but not arrogant. Approachable but not weak.
Finally, I settle on a navy suit, the one I wore for my first day at the Dragons. The one that made me feel like I could take on the world.
I need that feeling today.
I shower, dry my hair, apply makeup with more care than usual. Each step is deliberate, methodical. A ritual to center myself before the battle ahead.
My phone buzzes. Maya.
You better call me before this press conference or I’m showing up at the stadium.
I hit dial.
She answers immediately. “Tell me everything.”
So, I do. The meeting with Carol Martinez. The documents. Jake’s confession. The press conference scheduled for this afternoon.
“Holy shit,” Maya breathes when I finish. “You’re about to clear your name in front of the entire sports world.”
“I’m terrified.”
“Good. Use that fear. Let it make you sharp.” Her voice is fierce. “You’ve done nothing wrong, Liv. Nothing. And today, you’re going to prove it. You’re going to stand up there and show everyone exactly who Olivia Rivers is, a brilliant, professional, ethical woman who refused to be broken by lies.”
Tears sting my eyes. “What if I freeze? What if I say the wrong thing?”
“You won’t. Because you’ve been training for this your entire career. Every press conference you’ve managed, every crisis you’ve handled, this is what it’s all been leading to.”
“That’s dramatic.”
“But true.” She pauses. “And Liv? Carter’s going to be watching. So, when you get nervous, when you feel yourself starting to panic, remember that. Remember you’re doing this for both of you.”
“I will.”
“Good. Now go be the badass I know you are. And call me the second it’s over.”
“I will. I love you, Maya.”
“Love you too. Now go show them what you’re made of.”
I hang up, take one last look in the mirror, and head for the door.
It’s time to take back my life.
