“Let’s hope I never do.”
“Okay then. Now are you going to get going on making your content? Also, a team from WCVB will be here, and if you want, they’re prepared for you to walk around with their reporter and crew. Figure it can’t hurt to start making network connections, especially if you ever want to move back here someday. Let’s face it, Boston has a lot better sports teams than anywhere in New York.”
That statement causes the room to erupt in applause, along with some “Yankees suck” chants.
Hannah starts laughing. She rises up on her toes and leans in to whisper in my ear, “This is good, but what will you give me for my silence that you used to regularly wear a Yankees baseball hat when you were in college?”
I have to laugh too, though, in this room, that factoidmayactually put my life in danger. “You can have my heart and undying love and devotion.”
I didn’t actually mean to say that, if only so I didn’t scare her away. But the words are out, and I can’t take them back. “Actually you have that anyway. You always will.”
Hannah steps back and looks at me long and hard for a moment. A small smile dances across her lips before she says, “I’ve got work to do, and so do you. Thanks for the opportunity today. I appreciate it.”
And with that, she steps away from me. One of the event coordinators is ushering me to my seat as the doors are about to open, and hundreds of fans are lined up.
The next two hours are organized chaos and frenetic energy. There are squealing sports fanatics, crying kids, and grown men weeping like babies. Picture after picture, signature after signature. They keep saying they’re going to have to shut the line down, but our agents, as a collective group, agree to add another hour to our scheduled session. There are too many fans, and we don’t want to let any of them down. We’re going to grab a bite to eat afterward.
I’m sure I’ll get ribbed endlessly about the stunt I pulled for Hannah, but it was worth it. She was smiling as she went out to explore with the crew from WCVB.
I’ll have to check her ClikClak later to see what kind of content she was able to produce. I hope it goes viral and gets her lots of visibility. After all, that was the plan.
But as I get up to leave, there she is, standing before me.
“You came back,” I say. Then I realize she’s probably looking to talk to some of the other guys at the signing. She’s not here for me.
“Um ... I got so excited I forgot about Carlos. Have you seen him?”
Heaven walks up. “Landon gave him a ride home. He asked me to tell you. Cal, are you ready? We have reservations at The Parish Cafe.”
Right.
I look at Hannah. This could be it. The last time I see her in person. I want to take her into my arms and never let her go. I want to tell her that knowing her has made me a better man. I want to tell her that my life will never be balanced unless she’s in it.
But I can’t do that.
I can’t make this about me and what I want. As long as she’s happy, that’s all that matters.
Even if letting her go rips my heart out. As long as she’s happy.
