Him in my condo kitchen, complaining that there’s no fireplace.
Him taking up too much space in my bed.
Him meeting my mom in Seattle.
The thought makes my stomach flip.
It’s all terrifying, but it’s also thrilling.
The bell above the café door rings, and I glance up automatically.
Zack.
Hand in hand with Sophia.
I bite back a grin. I knew once Zack opened his eyes, he’d figure it out. He just needed a nudge in the right direction.
Sophia is pretending she doesn’t notice the way he keeps glancing at her. Zack is pretending he doesn’t look proud of himself. They ordered together, their shoulders brushing, new and uncertain but very real.
I feel a strange little spark of satisfaction. And for the first time in a long time, I’m not the woman chasing something that doesn’t want to be caught.
I’m the one being chosen.
My laptop pings.
I look down, heart jumping when I see the subject line.
Re: Compliance Discussion–Popovich Matter
I opened it immediately. My eyes scan fast.
They are open to mediation. Joint discussion with Luka’s legal counsel and Legacy PR representation. My breath leaves me in a rush.
This is how we fix this.
I immediately opened a new email.
To: Molly Subject: URGENT–Popovich
Please get in contact with Luka’s lawyer immediately. The Olympic Committee is open to mediation. We need aligned representation before they schedule. This is movement.
I hit send before I could overthink it.
This is good, and it means that we don’t need the VELVT email to get him out of this.
My phone vibrates. Carey is calling…
I step outside into the cold so that the café noise doesn’t bleed into the call.
"Good morning," I say, forcing calm into my voice.
"There are pictures," Carey says without greeting.
My stomach drops.
"What pictures?"
"Of you and Popovich. Holding hands in the village."
