Page 19 of Power Play

“Hey.” I moved to step past him, but his arm went out.

“I’m Reese. I play with Jason.”

I nodded. “Right, sorry about that night. I’m not normally like that.”

He grinned. “I can’t say anyone blames you. Dumoulin deserved it.”

I cringed as I realized that the team had been filled in.

“Since you’re still in town, you should come to the post-game dinner tonight. It’s at the same place, where …” He hesitated like he was searching for the right words. “Where we all first met.”

“Oh thanks, but I don’t think––”

“Come. It’s the only place downtown where it’s safe to be a Fury fan, and we could use the support here.” His charming smile nearly worked on me. He was clearly the type that was used to getting what he wanted.

“Maybe.” I wasn’t going to commit, but I didn’t want to stand there and argue with him. Now that the team was back, I needed to get to the safety of my room.

“See you later!” He waved and then headed to the elevators where more of his teammates were waiting.

I didn’t want them to think I was following, so I clutched my laptop to my chest and went in the opposite direction. Over the past few days, I’d scoped out a few out-of-the-way sitting areas. Private without being isolated in my room.

I claimed an open seat next to a window facing the sidewalk. I could do some people watching while scouring for any open positions I might have missed.

So far, I received five follow-up emails and two phone interviews. It wasn’t a horrible response rate, but if I wanted to get out of there soon, I needed something more concrete.

I’d extended my reservation through the weekend. That gave me four and a half days to find a job, or at least get an in-person interview. With each application, I hesitated when asked for my address. Was using my parents’ address in Michigan working against me? It wasn’t like I could list a hotel. I didn’t want companies to think I would expect them to pay for my relocation. There wasn’t a great way to express that though.

All of this placed me just shy of disaster territory. Last night, Carrie pressed me again about coming home. She said I could hide out in her house until I collected myself and came up with a plan B. I appreciated her concern, but my pride kept me here. Going home was giving up. I wasn’t there yet. My parents had been so proud back when I told them I was majoring in accounting. They thought I could one day be a CFO or run my own firm. As much as they supported my art, they seemed relieved I was choosing a more traditional career path. They didn’t want the starving artist lifestyle for me, at least that’s what Carrie told me once. I couldn’t go home to face their disappointment. I’d present them with the solution rather than the problem, as Dad always taught me.

I was young, with an impressive résumé for someone just out of college. I was going to find something. It was a matter of time. Too bad time was also working against me.

No more negative thoughts. They weren’t productive. I opened my laptop and picked up where I left off last night.

“Taylor?” a male voice called out.

I dropped my chin to my chest. Of course.

“You’re still here?” Jason stood in front of me with wide eyes.

“I am.” I looked back down to my screen, hoping he would take the hint.

He didn’t. He sat in the chair opposite mine and waited for me to look at him. I could feel him staring but pretended to be super absorbed in what I was doing.

“How’s the job hunting going?”

“It’s going.” Hopefully short answers would signal to him that I was not in the mood for small talk.

“I’m sure you’ll find something perfect soon. They’d be fools not to want you.”

They? That was an ambiguous statement.

I nodded and began filling out the personal information section on the application I was currently working on. I had little to no interest in working in Phoenix but was past the point of being picky.

“I forgot to ask last time, how are your parents? And Carrie?”

So, we were doing this. I shut my laptop and held his gaze. “My parents are fine. Dad still works at the firm, nowhere close to wanting to retire. Mom is still in the booster club, even though we’ve all graduated. Carrie and Rick are good. Kimmy is five, she’s about to go into first grade and they have a son, Carson. He’s two and into everything.” I smile at the thought of the little Tasmanian Devil of destruction.

“That’s good. I’m glad they’re all doing well.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe Kimmy’s already in school.”