He gave me a soft smile. “I can.”
I blew out a breath through tight lips, trying not to cry in front of my friends and colleagues. “Can you step outside with me for a minute?”
“Sure.” Nick patted my back as I stood, ushering me to the door.
“Take your time,” Ali said, then winked and added, “but I am billing by the hour.”
I knew it was a joke, but I was too emotional to respond. Nick and I faced each other in the hallway, his hands a soft grip on my upper arms. I swiped at a tear streaking my cheek.
“What is it, angel?”
My chin wobbled as I suppressed a bigger sob. I sniffed and wiped my cheeks again. “What happens when you decide I’m second best? That I’m not worth it?”
His brow knit. “Is that what you’re afraid is going to happen?”
“Everyone else always has. I’m good enough until I’m not. I’m great on paper and in theory, but I’m not worth it in the long haul.”
“Annie.” His arms surrounded me, my ear in its designated resting place on his shoulder. “That’s not going to happen with me.”
“People change their minds all the time, Nick,” I blubbered. “What if we break up?”
He shrugged. “Then I’ll be invested in the best women’s sportsagency.”
“You can’t . . . we’re mixing business and our personal lives. You can’t just give me that money.”
“I’m notgivingit to you. I’m investing in someone I love and believe in. I’m investing it so you can have the future you want, whether or not I’m part of it in the long haul. I want you to be free.” He watched me a beat longer as I processed everything. “You don’t have to say yes, Annie. I understand if you don’t want me to be a part of it. But I’d also love it If I could support what you’re doing.”
I scowled while stifling a laugh. “You didn’t tell me you were doing this until now?”
Nick snorted. “If I told you earlier, you wouldn’t have even let me show up.”
I gave a soft laugh. “You’re right about that.”
Everyone was inside, waiting to sign off on my future, on my new start with Marcie. Nick presented a red cloth from his pocket, holding it out to me. “Pull.”
I did, giggling as I revealed each color of his magician’s scarf as predicted. I wiped my nose on the red part, took a big breath, and walked back to the door. “Let’s go.”
“All good?” Marcie asked.
I slid into the seat next to her. “Are you going to be okay if we let him in?”
“Absolutely. I wouldn’t have passed him the financials if I didn’t want him here,” Marcie said. “It’s up to you.”
I signed the papers to become a partner of Athlore, to my colleagues’ applause, receiving a line of hugs from my new business partners.
Then it was decision time for The Athena Agency.
The two versions of the operating agreement sat before me. The one on the left had Nick included. The one on the right was with just Guy, Kitty, and Mikey.
Blowing out a shaky breath, I reached for the left one.
Cheers erupted from our friends as I signed and pushed the papers to Marcie. Then she passed them back to me, so I could get them to Nick. Nick signed, beaming, and sent them across the table to Mikey, Kitty, and Guy.
Mikey started a chant of “Kiss! Kiss!” Kitty and Guy joined in seconds later. With a smile on his lips, Nick turned to me. I blushed, not wanting to be affectionate in front of my colleagues.
“Oh, go on,” Dev heckled.
I caved, giving Nick the tiniest peck to qualify as a kiss. Even if we weren’t super-secret anymore, it still felt weird to kiss him at work. “Thank you.”
