“Some of you will see familiar names on the list,” he says. “I realize keeping professional and personal relationships separate can be hard, but I expect everyone in this room to adhere to the NDA. If any names are leaked from this list, there will be an investigation and consequences.”
My blood runs cold when I see Blair’s name at the top of the list.
“Some of the names on this list bring in the most revenue. Does the decision to lay them off make sense?” I say.
“We’re merging with the largest sports agency in North America. High-earners are a dime a dozen,” Lance responds.
I realize I’m biting my tongue when I taste the tang of copper. My eyes must reveal the distain I’m feeling right now.
“I hope this isn’t too personal for you. I know you and Blair just reconnected,” Lance says quietly as he leans into me when the CFO takes over the meeting to discuss the financial impact.
“Of course not,” I say.
I don’t appreciate the assumption from Lance that anything personal is going on between Blair and me. Even if there is. I’m not sure how he would even know. This guy is a first-class douche. It’s all a fucking game to him. And I know how to play it, too.
twenty-eight
. . .
BLAIR
I lookat my face in the mirror, surprised I don’t see any dark circles. In fact, I look good, rested, with a fresh flush on my face. It’s probably because I’ve slept so well. I guess multiple orgasms will do that to a girl. Plus, when I sleep, I can pretend that everything is perfect with Wyatt.
My logical brain knows this is a bad idea, but my body does not care. I felt that spark ignite again, like no time had passed. I thought I had made it up in my head, a feeling amplified by heartbreak. It’s stronger now. Years of regret and longing are edging us this time. It’s exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.
I pull my hair into a ponytail, grab my AirPods, and walk out the door. I need to process all this, and only two things help me think: running and Jess.
ME
I’m going for a run.
JESS
I’ll get the wine ready.
I don’t know what I would do without her. She has always known exactly what I need, even before I do.
I’m covered in a sheen of sweat when I arrive at Jess’s place, and she opens the door with a wet hand towel and a glass of chardonnay.
“I’m assuming this is about Wyatt?” she says as she turns back to the kitchen.
“I slept with him.”
I’ve never seen Jess whip around so quickly, and the look on her face makes me laugh so hard I collapse.
“Way to jump right in there. Say more.”
I recap what his father said about me distracting him to the point of ruin and how he mentioned he expected a different plus-one for Wyatt. Then I fast-forward to the part where I left the reception early, but how he showed up on my doorstep after, and then we were naked minutes later.
She sets a bowl of popcorn and a plate of twizzlers next to our glasses of wine. “Please, be specific. Size, creativity, language…” Jess begs me.
I ignore her and confess how comfortable I felt with him. It was obviously different this time, but also not. It felt familiar. Right. I’m desperate to give in to the emotions, but I’m cautious about getting too attached. I can’t help the feeling that I’ve been here before. My mind replaying my track record with men.
“I see your brain trying to figure out how to shut this down.”
“Yep. I have to shut it down, right?”
“Why?” Jess is sipping on her wine and giving me that quizzical look over the rim of her glass. I stepped right into her web, and now we’re going to have to play the “so what, what if” game.
