“Doing what, exactly?”
This was a bad idea. Why did she bring it up? “Graphic design. I could do freelance work.”
“Freelancing is not stable in the least, Olivia. I told you when you went to college—”
“Yeah, yeah, I remember. ‘Art isn’t a career.’ I remember everything. But you know what? It makes mehappy.” She paused. Olivia was on a roll now, and everything she ever wanted to say came spilling out. If she got disowned, so be it. “Dad does something that makes him happy. Why shouldn’t I strive for the same thing? And you know what else? I did some research online, and I could be making a lot of money if I go into business for myself. Because you know who needs us?Everyone.Dad probably has a graphic designer on staff, and he doesn’t even realize it. My degree is useful for everything from book covers to menus to advertisements. Literally every business needs it to some degree. And let me tell you, art would be a perfectly viable career without whoring myself out to a soulless station that I grow to hate more every day if I didn’t have to pay the same amount to my student loans as I did my landlord. Yet because I chose graphic design you refused to pay for school like you did for Matt. And he didn’t even declare his major right away!”
Her mother was silent, and Olivia couldn’t tell if that was good or bad. “I just wondered where Dad got the capital or credit to start out, because I don’t have either. And—hold on.” Her phone was beeping with an incoming call from Nadia. Saved by the bell.
“I have to go, I have another call. I’ll text you details about March, okay?” She let out a breath. “Love you.”
“Love you too, dear.” Her mom’s voice was barely audible.
Olivia quickly switched lines on her phone, hoping to shake her bad mood. “What’s up, Nad?”
“Are you watching Jake’s segment?”
“No. Shit, I was on the phone with my mother—”
“Turn it on! Quick!”
Olivia grabbed the remote and turned it on. “What’s going on?”
“Just watch.”
Ali Ng was interviewing Jake at the field, all the little Dragons behind him. “So Jake, any messages for the viewers at home?”
“Just one.” He looked—nervous? But he was in front of cameras every day.
He took his hat off and ran his hands through his hair, then settled it back onto his head. She got closer to the screen. His hat said, “Nerds make better girlfriends.” What the hell?
“One viewer in particular, I hear.” Ali had a rather funny smirk on her face. Olivia didn’t know her except in passing at work, but it looked like she was in on a joke.
He smiled and looked away when Ali said that. His smile was real, honest, and so bright that Olivia’s heart ached. The camera was zoomed in on his face now. She could see a pink flush tinge his cheeks. He was—he wasblushingon television?
“One viewer in particular, yeah.”
The kids were behind Jake on the field, lined up where the cameras could see them. Marie stood with them, she assumed to keep them in line, but they were all very still.
The camera zoomed back out to include Ali. “You know the kids told me about her.”
He shifted his hat on his head again. “You’re not going to get us in trouble at work, are you? I don’t want her mad at me anymore.”
“Wait, she works with us?”
Nodding, he continued, then blew out his cheeks. “I better get this out before I get fined for delay of game.” They shared a chuckle on screen. He took a deep breath, and then he was staring into the camera, and nothing else mattered.
“Olivia, trying to keep us a secret was a mistake, but I’m here to tell you that it won’t happen again. Iloveyou, baby, and as long as it’s what you want, I want to make this work with you.” The last few words sounded strangled.
Someone must have given a signal because the kids raised signs above their heads that spelled out “Jake loves Olivia,” where the “loves” was actually a heart with an “s” after it. Marie stood with them with the J proudly over her head, cackling.
On screen, Ali cooed. “Oh my gosh, the kids!”
“Yeah, they wanted to help.” Jake’s cheeks were red now. Off screen, a referee blew a whistle. “That’s my cue. Thanks for coming out, Ali.”
“My pleasure.” As the camera panned to focus on the reporter, Jake motioned to the kids to come in. “Well folks, our college football anchor has a game to play! Back to you in the studio, Ted.”
Olivia put the TV on mute with a shaky hand. Her heart thumped a staccato rhythm in her chest. He’d laid it all on the line for her. And the hat was the icing on the cake. Tears slipped unbidden down her cheeks, and when someone cleared their throat, she realized Nadia was still on the line.
