"I don't mean to do that," I say.
"I know you don't." Her voice softens slightly. "You have a degree from a good school. Right?”
“Right.” I nod nervously. “Not the certifications, though. Or any relevant experience whatsoever.”
She squeezes my hand. “You have knowledge these players need. Stop acting like you're lucky anybody lets you in the building. Start believing you belong here. You’re a badass bitch, Scout."
I bark a laugh. "That's easier said than done."
"Most worthwhile things are." She checks her tablet. "I have to meet with Ivy. Keep me posted on your progress. And remember that you're better than you think you are."
She walks away, leaving me standing in the dim hallway with my heart pounding and my stomach churning.
I head back to my office and stare at the proposal. Tuesday. I have less than a week to make this perfect. I'll have to sound confident when I feel like I'm drowning. I'm convincing coaches who barely remember my name that I'm worth listening to.
By the time other staff start arriving, I've rewritten the introduction four times and I hate all of my attempts. My coffee's cold. My back hurts from hunching over the keyboard. My eyes burn.
My phone buzzes. Jessa asking if I want lunch.
Jessa
Want lunch?
Me
Can't. Too much work.
Jessa
You have to eat, Scout.
Me
I'll grab something later.
I don't grab something later. I work through lunch, through the afternoon, through the early evening when mostpeople go home. And I'm still there when the parking lot empties and the building goes quiet around me.
My phone buzzes again. The dating app.
StatMan12
How's it going?
Yoga4Lyfe
Not great. Everything I write sounds terrible.
StatMan12
I'm sure it's not as bad as you think.
Yoga4Lyfe
Maybe.
StatMan12
Take a break.
