Page 168

“Nothing is going on.” Her words are filled with faux innocence.

“Did you ask him already?” Meg shouts in the background.

“Meg! Dammit.”

“Language, Mom,” my sister counters, bursting into laughter. “Michael, hi!”

“Hi,” I say loudly. “Whatever it is, just tell me. We’ll figure it out.”

“I’m applying to schools in New York! If I get in, do you think I could live with you?”

What? “Er⁠—”

“Meghan Thompson, you’re playing on my last damn nerve!” Mom grits out. “Michael, don’t listen to her. It’s all just talk.”

I clear my throat. “Okay. Then do you mind if we talk tomorrow? I really need to leave.”

“Of course. I’m sorry if we interrupted your plans.” She sighs. “Don’t forget to smile and be yourself. You’re amazing.”

My lips kick up on one side involuntarily. “Thanks, Mom.”

I end the call, check the time, and slip my phone into my pocket. Time to get out of here. Being late won’t do me any favors with management.

I breathe in for four counts, holding my breath for seven. As I finally exhale, I count to eight. I repeat the ritual several times, grounding myself. Then, I straighten my shoulders and head out of the apartment.

I’m ready.

The warm August night air hits my face, sending a pleasant thrill down my spine. Summer always reminds me of Santa Clara, of a time in my life when my biggest problem was not knowing how to prove to the boys on the team I was the fastest player, of a time when Isla would beat me every time we raced. Not because I couldn’t beat her, but because I never really wanted to. Watching her win was far more rewarding.

New York hums around me. It buzzes with life, like it always does, fueling my body with the energy I need to keep going.

“Hey, Rhett,” I say as I slide into the back seat of the car waiting outside my building.

Usually, I prefer to drive myself, but on nights like this, it’s all about appearances, not reality, so it’s important to show up with class.

“Sir.” My driver’s blue eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror. “Upper East Side first?”

“Yes, and then downtown.”

With a nod, he pulls away from the curb, heading east.

Emily is waiting at the doors of her building when we pull up. She’s dressed in a dark blue gown with her blonde hair cascading down her shoulders.

As she looks up from her phone, I get out of the car and open the door for her.

“Hey,” I say as she slides into the back seat. The scent of her perfume fills the car. It’s way too sweet, but I think it’s intentional.

“Hi, Michael.” She leans in and plants a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you for doing this. Really.”

Mouth pressed into a flat line, I shift a little closer to my door and buckle up. “Of course.”

As Rhett gets back on the road, Emily smiles, settling back. “My dad says thanks too. He really appreciates you doing this.”

There’s the reminder I need. As badly as I wanted to find a way out of this situation, Pablo was right.

You don’t go back on a promise you made to your team’s GM. If you didn’t want to do it, you should’ve said no right away.

As if I didn’t know that, dammit. But the answer escaped before I’d even considered it.