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I burst into laughter at the picture she painted and her description of his personality. Granny and Pops had been married for almost sixty-five years, and they were still besotted with each other. But they still drove each other crazy, much to everyone else’s amusement. Pops had a sailor's mouth and constantly forgot that he wasn’t a “spring chicken” anymore, as Granny put it.
“And he’s a damn coward,” she grumbled.
I raised an eyebrow at that comment but didn’t respond to it. I’d felt that something was off, but now I was sure of it.
“You’re going in another direction,” Gina stated, her expression and tone deadpan.
Van sighed and folded his arms across his chest as he leaned back in his chair. “It was a last-minute change. I know it’s shitty business practice since we’ve all but formally offered you the sponsorship, Wilder. But Chloe is going to be drawing a lot of eyes. She’s young and early in her career, but already one of the top female surfers out there.”
“I get it,” I replied genuinely. I completely understood where his mind was at from a business standpoint. I probably would have made the same decision.
“If we could, we’d sponsor both of you, but we don’t have it in the budget and sponsoring Chloe is a little more economical for our bottom line.”
Gina drummed her fingers on the tabletop a few times, then shrugged. “Well, then I guess this meeting is over.”
“Wait.” I held up my hand to stop her from standing. An idea had taken shape, and it was a perfect solution for everyone. “I have a proposal.”
Granny grinned and rubbed her hands together, “Oh, I do love a good negotiation.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Sorry, this proposal is as is. Take it or leave it.”
She slumped back in her chair with her lips popped out in a pout that looked ridiculous on a woman her age. Even if she did look fifteen years younger than she really was. “Fine.”
“I’ll waive the fee for your sponsorship”—Gina gasped, but I ignored her and plowed ahead—“and be a spokesman for your wax with one condition.”
Van raised an eyebrow but leaned forward, clearly interested. Who wouldn’t be considering I was offering them millions of dollars’ worth of free advertising? “Go on.”
“My only requirement is that it be a joint sponsorship. I want to work with Chloe. Any events, media spots, or whatever else you cook up for advertising and shit, she and I will do them together.”
The room was silent, and I could see on Granny’s and Van’s faces that they were waiting for me to throw in a catch.
“What if—?” Gina piped up, but I shook my head.
“That's the offer. No hidden agenda. Take it or leave it.”
“Why would you do that?” Van asked, scratching his chin.
Granny rolled her eyes and smacked him upside the head. “He’s head over heels, you nincompoop. Something you wouldn’t know anything about, now would you?”
Van was Granny’s baby boy out of five kids and the only one who remained unmarried. It was no secret that Granny was always pushing for more grandkids to spoil and gave Van a lot of grief over it. She and my mother would have a field day if they got together. Although, my mom had let up just a little since my sister married the starting quarterback for the New York Knighthawks and was currently cooking her third kid.
I mentally grinned at the thought of taking Chloe to meet my parents and finally telling my mom that I was going to give her a daughter-in-law as soon as possible. And hopefully, my girl wouldn’t want to wait too long to give her new mother-in-law more grandbabies.
“Not exactly the time for that discussion, Mom,” Van grumbled, regaining my attention.
“So?” I prompted.
Granny jumped to her feet with more oomph than I’d ever seen from a woman in her eighties. “You have a deal!”
I reached across the table, and we shook on it, both of us grinning, while Gina and Van stared at us as if we’d lost our minds.
4
Chloe
Delta’s advice played through my head when I saw Wilder in Spunk Wax’s office. If my dad hadn’t been with me, I probably would have done something completely unprofessional. Maybe even climbed him like a tree. But my dad hadn’t been happy to see him. At all. Not after hearing from Granny and Van that the rumors were true—Spunk Wax was trying to decide between Wilder and me for their upcoming campaign.
I’d felt confident walking out of that meeting, but doubts crept into my head when I spotted Wilder. He was such a huge name in surfing that I couldn’t imagine anyone choosing me over him. Which was why I was shocked with how my conversation with Van went when he called me later that afternoon.
