Consider me curious. What time should I be there?
Bram
6?
It’s a date.
I walk through the back halls like I’m on cloud nine. Not only do I have a date with the hockey player I’ve had a crush on for months, but I also felt something when I was with Max and Ethan.
Ethan is a no brainer; he’s charming and funny. I knew we would get along well. But Max was a wildcard. I knew about his reputation, of course, but the man who would do my stupid video ideas seems nothing like the media has made him out to be.
What I know about Max is mostly second hand from his brother and his Alphas, Alexi and Piper. Plus, I saw what happened on the ice last season when Max and Owen got into it. But the guy who skated around the rink with me with a wide grin and not a care in the world? He seems like someone I might want to get to know.
I’m walking down the hallway with a clipboard pressed against my chest as someone calls my name. I turn and see Liz giving me a worried smile.
“Hey, Liz, is everything alright?”
She takes a deep breath and then suddenly starts sobbing. I rub her back and direct her into the office. I grab a fistful of tissues and hand them to her as she sits down.
Liz is in her late thirties, a pretty brunette Beta with a ton of drive. Helping market the Foxes from the ground up was her biggest dream and accomplishment.
“What’s wrong?” I ask her, and she sniffles before blowing her nose.
“Phillip’s cancer is back,” she says, and I rub her back and wrap my arms around her as she sobs against my shirt.
Liz’s husband has been in remission for two years. I can’t imagine how devastating this must be for the both of them.
“I don’t know how we’re going to make it through this again,” she says between sobs.
“Whatever you need, Liz, I’m here for you.”
“Thank you, Sloane.”
“Seriously. Anything you need,” I reassure her.
“Can you handle the Humane Society ribbon cutting next week? I just can’t,” she says, and I squeeze her tighter.
“Of course. Why don’t you go home for the rest of the day?”
She sniffles. “I’m not ready to talk about it with anyone else yet.”
“Do you want me to tell my dad?”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“No, go home. Take care of yourself and Phillip, that’s the priority.”
She nods, blotting away her smeared mascara as she puts on sunglasses and grabs her purse, hightailing it out of the office. I take a few deep breaths, trying to put myself in her shoes, and I just can’t imagine.
Liz and Phillip are high school sweethearts. They’ve been each other’s everything for the longest time. I can’t imagine what it’s like watching someone you love suffer and trying to be strong for the both of you.
I head directly to my father’s office so that Liz doesn’t get in trouble for leaving without telling anyone.
I knock on his door.
“What?” he barks, not looking up, and I smile to myself.
“Have a second, Dad?” I say, and he immediately looks up and smiles.
