Page 49 of Center Ice

Right? At least, not yet. We never talked about anything past this week. Maybe it was time to change that.

“Thank you, guys. I really appreciate your help. I don’t feel like I’m drowning anymore.”

“Of course. We take care of each other.” Chloe patted my knee. “We’ll let you know when we hear back from Kathleen, and I’ll keep brainstorming. For now, I would only reply to the requests for interviews. Sit on the others until you know where you’re going next.”

She stood and gave me a hug before leaving with Reese.

“I know New York and Los Angeles sound fancy, but you should also consider the cost of living,” Mikey added. “Salt Lake is much cheaper, and the airport is less than twenty minutes away from downtown where most of us live. You’re just a flight away from wherever you need to be.”

“Those are good points,” I admitted. Definitely something to consider.

“Plus, you’d miss me,” Lance said with a wink before getting up. “I’m going to the beach before we have to leave.”

“Me too!” Mikey followed him out leaving me and Jake.

“I don’t want to pressure you, but I can’t say I would mind if you moved to Salt Lake either,” he said with a shy smile. “And my offer still stands. I can change my flight if you want me to stay a while longer with you.”

I still couldn’t believe he would do that for me. I mean, I knew he meant it. I just couldn’t imagine anyone doing that for me.

“I have a lot to think about.” It was all I could give him. I didn’t want to get his hopes up before I decided.

“I understand. I’m here for the next four hours if you want to talk it out.”

I stood and sighed. “I think I need to do this part alone.”

He walked me to the door and hugged me tightly. “We’re leaving at three. Will I see you before then?”

I nodded against his chest. “Of course. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

I left and wandered along the path before heading back to the office. I wanted to offer Maggie some of my beach dresses and sun hats since I wasn’t going to need them anymore. I opened the doors and heard laughter from down the hall. That was Maggie’s laugh. Who was she with? Maybe she had a crush she hadn’t told me about. I crept closer and spotted Amber, the receptionist sitting in front of the desk with Maggie sitting in what used to be my chair.

“You’re so bad!” Amber giggled. “I can’t believe he thought the complaints were real. Who did you say they were from?”

“I just made up names and said they were the aunt or cousin. He doesn’t care who they are, he just said to tell him about anything bad that happened this summer. He’s had it out for her since last summer, all I had to do was provide some evidence that proved his suspicions.”

Was she talking about me? She made up the complaints? Why?

“And now you both have what you want.” Amber laughed. “I still wish that you got that guy on the stage to tell everyone about his baby. That would have gone viral.”

“I know. I thought I timed it right, but she moved too quick. I wanted us to get to him just as he got the mic. Like I tried to intervene, but oops too late.”

My stomach dropped. She’d planned that?

“And the cake! How did she get that fixed in time?”

Maggie sighed. “She’s a witch or something. I swear that thing was destroyed.”

Amber giggled again. “If we had surveillance video of you pushing him, I would die. Like literally die. How funny would that be?”

All the air left my body. She’d been messing with me all summer? Why would she do this to me?

“The fake invoices were the cherry on top though. Thanks for helping me with that.”

Fake invoices?

“Anytime.” Amber blew her a kiss, and I finally turned and quietly ran out.

Was that why Mr. Hernandez thought I was giving things away for free? There were invoices out there saying people owed us?