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I smile at Michelle. She’s been a saint since we started working together; she gives compliments when warranted and constructive feedback when necessary. She often believes in me when I don’t. I’ve learned so much from her.
“When is the designer arriving?” I ask.
“I’m not sure yet; I’ll let you know when I know. Raven’s taking care of the ticket this weekend and we’ll take it from there.”
Kylie returns from the bedroom wearing a different fairy shirt.
“Can I have coffee, too?” she asks.
“Sure,” I say and take her cup out of the cabinet, filling it with decaf coffee.
“Coffee at her age?”
“She loves it. She used to sip from David’s cup when she was a toddler.”
Michelle smiles. “I just love the idea of kids taking after their parents.”
I nod and offer Kylie her cup.
“Both hands,” I say, and she takes it. She walks with great concentration to the living room, where I hear the television go on a moment later.
“I should get going,” Michelle says, draining the last of her coffee. “I won’t take up too much of your time. I’m glad you’re on board; I was hoping you’d say yes.”
“Raven has a lot of faith in me.”
“We all do,” Michelle says with a smile. “You should give yourself some credit, too.”
I nod and we walk to the door together.
“Bye, Ky!” Michelle calls out, and we hear giggles from the living room when Kylie shouts her goodbyes. I wave at Michelle when she walks to her car and watch her reverse out of the driveway.
It’s a big thing she’s asking of me. But I’m going to take it as the compliment it is and not allow myself to worry that it will be a way for me to fail. Dianne said I should focus on making myself happy, and I’m going to do just that.
Believing in myself—especially since Michelle and Raven both do—is a good start.
Chapter 3
Mason
The gym’s busy when I walk in, and I find my teammates hogging the weights. Bernie is on his back, bench pressing two hundred pounds. The guys stand in a circle around him, cheering him on.
“What’s going on here?” I ask with a grin when I join them.
“Bernie wants to set a new record,” Darrell says, thick with laughter. “It was either add twenty-five pounds or do a hell of a lot more reps. Either way, he’s about to have his ass handed to him.”
I laugh and shake my head. “Who’s going to take him on?”
“I think I’ll give it a shot.”
The guys keep shouting either insults or encouragement, depending on how close they were to breaking the record themselves. A few place bets on if he’ll make it and how far he’ll go.
I look around the circle and my heart constricts. I’ll miss the guys. We’ve become like a family, training together on the field and in the gym. We’re a part of each other’s lives like siblings—sometimes we love each other and sometimes we hate each other, but no matter what, when we face another team, we stand together.
“I’m going to hit the treadmill,” I say when I get emotional. No fucking way I’m getting teary-eyed around these guys. They’ll take me for a ride if they see me get all choked up because I’m leaving.
“I’ll come with you,” Hank offers next and he leaves the group when I turn away.
“Don’t you have money on him?” I ask.
