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“I’m here for whatever you need.”He glances at my empty cocktail glass.“Would you like another drink?”
“Yes, please.”
While he’s at the bar, I check my emails to make sure nothing urgent has come in that I need to attend to.I reply to a few before getting stuck on one from Mace Hawkins.I’ve been working with him for a few weeks now and while I like him, I don’t like dealing with the problems his soon-to-be ex-wife has caused.Mace has emailed through a new problem that’s reared its ugly head and I feel exhausted by the entire situation as I read the email.
“You look like you want to throw that phone across the room,” Callan says when he comes back to the table with our drinks.
I glance up at him.“That’s because I do.And I can’t say I’ve ever wanted to do that before.”
He reaches for my phone and gently takes it out of my hand before placing it face down on the table.“Take a break, Liv.God knows you deserve it.”
“I honestly wish I could, but social media makes it so I can’t.”I reach for my phone.“I’m really sorry, but I have to take care of something that can’t wait.”
His features cloud.“Slade?”
For the life of me, I can’t figure out exactly what Callan has against Slade.He took a dislike to him very quickly when I first worked with the guy late last year, and his dislike only seems to be intensifying.
“No, it’s Mace Hawkins.Gossip accounts have posted stories overnight about his wife trying to sleep with some of his teammates since they broke up.The stories have hinted that this has driven a wedge between Mace and the team.This is on top of the other stuff he’s dealing with because of Katie’s drama with Penelope.”I sigh because I struggle to wrap my head around this kind of high-school-style drama.His team’s general manager has told him to fix the problem and he wants me to get to the bottom of it so we can put a stop to it.This means I’m going to have to wade into the drama, which has me questioning crisis management as a career.Going back to straight law is looking more appealing every day.
“I thought the stuff between Katie and Penny was sorted out.Didn’t Katie give Penny’s diamonds back?”
“She did, but it doesn’t seem to have settled Penelope’s beef with Katie.I think that’s what I have to get to the bottom of if I’m going to have any hope of helping Mace.He just wants to get on with his life and get back to being on good terms with his team.”
“And you think I’m crazy for not wanting a relationship.This is the kind of shit I’m avoiding.”
I refrain from rolling my eyes.“This type of problem isn’t usual in a relationship and you know it.”Callan’s got baggage a mile long thanks to his parents’ marriage.We’ve discussed it at length many times and I’ve gently suggested he work through this in therapy.He’d rather stab his eyes with a hot, sharp stick than go to therapy.
“Don’t be so sure of that, Ace.Some of the things I’ve heard guys say they’ve had to deal with when a relationship goes sour blows my mind.”
A waiter walks past with a platter of cheeses and I lean across Callan and motion to get the man’s attention.Once he’s on his way over, I lean back and say, “What kinds of things?I think you’re making this up.”
“What, so I can win this argument?”
The waiter joins us and I fill a small plate with an assortment of cheeses to share.Once he leaves, I place the plate on the table between us and carry on the conversation.“Yes!Your competitive streak knows no bounds.”I pick up a piece of cheese and offer it to Callan.“Try this and tell me if it tastes any good.”
He takes the cheese as he says, “I’m not making this up.Marc told me last week that Tina vandalized his car after they broke up.That was right before she sent movers to their condo and took all their belongings.”Pointing at his mouth, he says, “This cheese is good.It’s got that sharp bite to it that you love.”
“Ooh.”I pop the other piece of the same cheese into my mouth.“Let’s be real about those two, though.They’re not an example of a healthy relationship.”
“Healthy relationships don’t seem to exist, Liv.”
“That’s not true.Look at Bradford and Kristen.That’s one of the healthiest relationships I’ve ever seen.”
“That’s fair, but again, not the norm.”
“A relationship is what you make it.You can’t convince me otherwise.”I select another piece of cheese.“You don’t win this argument.”
He grins.“Says you.”
This time, I do roll my eyes.Then, I stand.“I’m pretty sure we’ll still be arguing over this when we’re old.I wonder if you’ll be sad and lonely then because you were stubborn and didn’t try new things like relationships.”
He keeps grinning.“I won’t be sad or lonely, Ace.I’ll still have you keeping me company while arguing with me over things like this.”
A few minutes later, I’m on the phone with Mace and seriously contemplating leaving crisis management behind.But then, I admit to myself that’s only because this particular crisis involves Penelope Rush, and if there’s one woman I wish I’d never heard of or met, it’s Penelope.
“So, wait,” I say after he details what he’s learned today, “this all stems from a comment Penelope made to Katie about why you two broke up?”Apparently, Penelope told Katie “It’s no wonder Mace is done with you.Have you seen the size of your ass lately?”Katie then swiped her diamonds in a fit of anger and hurt.Penelope wasn’t satisfied when she gave them back and went on to start spreading lies about Katie sleeping with Mace’s teammates.
He releases a frustrated breath.“Yeah, but it’s not true.I didn’t leave Katie because she put on weight.We broke up because I’m a dickhead and cheated on her.”
