“Do you love her?” I asked.
Her eyes watered, and she nodded.
“What’s the worst that can happen here?”
“I could get hurt.”
“Aren’t you hurt right now?”
“But I can control this hurt, Hawk. Do you know what would happen if I threw everything into this relationship and she realized that my only personality trait is ‘rich girl’?”
On the surface, Colby had a point. But I understood far more about my sister than even she understood about herself.
“Colby, stop hiding behind that persona. Let someone see who you are; take a risk.”
“She told me I needed to grow up.”
“Do you agree with her?”
“I should probably get a job.”
Colby had a degree in marketing and interned with the team years ago. She impressed the team, but once, she walked up behind other interns, talking about how everything was just handed to her because she was born into the family. And while I heard the same comments and fought to prove myself, Colby heard it and decided she wouldn’t be able to prove herself.
Years later, she used her marketing knowledge to build her influencer platform. What I wouldn’t give to have her on our social media team.
“You should invite her for dessert at least. And meet me at the office next week. I’m ready tohire you.”
She brushed a tear from her cheek. “Do you think I can do it?”
“Colby, I would never lie to you. You have talent. It’s latent because you’re afraid to take something you haven’t earned. Call your girl, grovel, get her over here, and stop being so fucking afraid of failure. If you don’t try, you’ve already failed.”
“Hawk?”
“What?”
“Why are you quoting my motivational posts?”
I laughed before turning serious. “Because you’re great at giving the world advice, but you suck at taking it.”
“What time should I be there next week?”
“8:30 AM on the 2nd.”
“How about 9:00 AM?”
When I didn’t respond, she recanted. “Okay, okay. I’ll be there.”
About an hour later, Colby answered the door and led Haley into the great room. I waited while they made their way around the room. No one in the room seemed surprised.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and the e-mail I had been waiting for had arrived. Three major contracts would be finalized tomorrow, and by the end of the week, our infield would be mostly decided. We just needed to come to terms with Avery before we lost him and were down a catcher.
I questioned my motivation for texting Kendra the update for only a second. But I wanted her to know, not as an employee, but because I was proud of the team we were building this year. Even more proud of the changes I had put through.
“And here’s Hawk. Some people call him JJ, but he swears he outgrew that nickname.”
I took Haley’s hand and studied her. Yes, she was beautiful. That was a given with Colby; she had always been drawn to beautiful people. But together, they both glowed.
We made small talk, and Haley beamed with pride when Colby told her she had decided to take a job with the team. She was a corporate attorney, and I could see how her drive and success might have intimidated my sister—not that Colby wasn’t capable of earning success.
