Page 1 of 4th and Goal (Season of Change #4)

“She is so talented, Conner. You should see her tumbling passes.” I gush, speaking about one of our incoming freshman cheerleaders.

“Daya Moul is Olympic level, but she has no desire to enter the international stage. She wants to be a schoolteacher!” I lean back in my chair, the sounds of the busy restaurant around us filtering back in.

My boyfriend, Conner, mirrors my position across the round table, an indulgent smile on his classically handsome face.

“I did see her in action.” His smile grows. “You showed me the other night. Repeatedly.” He starts laughing while my cheeks heat, but I join him. I did do that, I forgot.

“I’m just really excited.” He takes my right hand in his and squeezes it.

“I know you are, sweetheart. And you should be. You’re doing great work.”

“Thank you.” I sip my wine. I’ve monopolized most of our dinner conversation, so I lean forward slightly and ask him, “How’s work? Have you heard anything else about the promotion?”

“I spoke to one of the managing partners yesterday.” He says, barely concealing his own excitement.

His blue eyes light up and it makes me smile.

This is an adult relationship. It’s not as passionate as my romance books would lead me to believe, but it’s steady, predictable, easy.

We’re both focused on our careers, so we spend time together when our schedules line up.

Our sex life is…satisfactory. He makes sure I orgasm before he grunts, fills the condom, and scurries off the bed to dispose of it.

We kiss goodnight and sleep on our respective sides.

I stop myself from yawning. Jeez, that sounds so much worse than it is.

It sounds boring. Is it supposed to be boring?

Yes. Most married people I know, including my parents, have safe, stable relationships.

Tuesdays is taco night, Thursday is card club, Saturday is a meal out on the town, and everyone’s in bed by 9pm.

While I don’t know about their sex lives, because eww, I do know that my parents love each other.

They lean on one another in tough times and rejoice in the good, they celebrate the wins and hold each other through the losses. That’s how it’s supposed to be, right?

Conner is romantic in his own way. I only have one other relationship to compare it to, but that was the fumblings of youth…8 years ago. Conner buys me flowers; he delivers them to me personally on his lunches. Seems interested in my job, where I work. He’s invested in me.

“And what did he say?” I prompt.

“My promotion is as good as done. I’ve been given a…troublesome client. If I can get them in line, the promotion, raise, and new office are mine.”

My brows furrow. “Get them in line? What does that mean?”

He waves off my concern. “She’s headstrong, thinks she knows more about money management than we do.”

“How so?”

“She’s insistent on investing in certain companies that we do not recommend.”

“It’s her money, though, right? Surely, she should have the final say about where it’s invested?”

His lips tip down in a pitying smile that turns my stomach. “You two would get along. But no. While we certainly take their requests under advisement, if it’s a poor financial decision, we won’t allow the investment to take place.”

I don’t understand. I must be missing something. If someone wanted to invest in a business, with their own money, isn’t it their call to make? Yes, an investment banker would guide them, push them toward sound financial decisions, but it’s still their money.

“Why are her choices unacceptable?”

“They’re…emotional decisions.” I stare at Conner, waiting for him to elaborate. With a sigh, he continues, “She doesn’t want to put any money into one of the most successful stocks on the market, because she disagrees with ‘their culture’.”

My lips turn down in a frown, “Is she racist?”

“No, she thinks the company will go under soon because of their unfair business practices, and lack of diversity.”

“So, the opposite.” I chuckle, then it hits me. “Wait, you want her to invest in a company like this?”

“I know you don’t understand how the market works, sweetheart, but believe me, this is a great company to invest in, with a guaranteed return.

She’s being stubborn, wanting to support women-led startups, inclusive businesses with sustainable initiatives.

She’s a hippy with too much money. I’ll get her in line, and then I’ll get my promotion.

” My stomach sinks at his words. This isn’t a side of him I’ve seen before.

He squeezes my hand again. “And then I’ll finally take you on vacation to celebrate.

” His eyes heat as they roam over my cleavage.

“I’m thinking somewhere warm, I’d love to see you in a bikini. ”

I’m not entirely sure how to respond, and gratefully, don’t have to when a shadow covers our table.

I glance up, expecting the server, and am pleasantly surprised to find Brody Zeigler.

I jump up and throw my arms around him, so happy to see him.

He’s been on vacation with his family for a couple of weeks and I’ve missed seeing him around the athletic complex.

“Brody! When did you get back?” His thick arms wrap around my waist and hold me to him for a few beats, rocking us back and forth as he hums. He’s like a big bear.

But you know, not deadly…at least not to me.

I’ve seen him in action a few times around the stadium and he’s definitely a force to be reckoned with.

And hot! But I would never tell anyone that, let alone him.

That’s incredibly unprofessional. I’ve known him since I was an intern and we’ve become friends over the years. Honestly, one of my best friends.

I work a lot.

“Lilly? Let go of him.” I drop my arms from around his muscular neck and step back, my eyes wide in shock at Conner’s tone. “Thank you.” He grits out, pointedly looking at me, before schooling his expression into something bland and holding his hand out for Brody to shake. “Mr. Zeigler.”

Brody’s dark brows slant, his lips twitching. I bit my own bottom lip to stop from laughing. They’ve met several times, why is Conner being so formal? “Conner.” I snort but cover it with a cough.

I ignore whatever’s going on with Conner, and smile at Brody. “Did you have a good time?”

“We did.” I swallow hard as an unfamiliar female voice cuts in, a tanned slender arm looping through Brody’s.

He has a girlfriend. Of course, he does.

He’s handsome, smart, successful, handsome…

I mentioned that already, didn’t I? Also, I have a boyfriend.

Conner…oh, my God, I’ve forgotten his last name!

“I didn’t know you had…uh…that’s great. Your family always sounds like a lot of fun.”

The woman, beautiful and curvy and confident, grins up at Brody with blindingly perfect teeth. “We are a lot of fun.” Brody shakes his head at her and looks back at me. His smile falters before he barks a laugh.

“My cousin!” He points to the goddess still attached to his arm. “This is my cousin, Zoey. Zoey, this is—”

“Lilly Geddes. PR extraordinaire.” Zoey drops Brody’s arm, pushes him aside and brings me into a hug I’m ill-prepared for.

“Finally! I get to put a face to the name. Not that I haven’t seen your picture before, but not in real life.

You’re gorgeous online, but they don’t do you justice!

” Zoey pushes me back by the shoulders, winks at me and pulls me back in. She’s a hugger. “You’re so tall.”

“Everyone is tall, Zoey, except you.” Brody meets my eyes, his own crinkled from his smile. “We think someone married into the Lollipop Guild at some point in our lineage.” She is short. Probably close to five feet, maybe a couple inches over at most, meanwhile, I’m 5’10” and solid.

“Jolly Green Giant is purported to be a distant cousin of mine.” I joke. Brody, Zoey, and I laugh…Conner does not.

“Uh, Zoey. It’s a pleasure to meet you. This is my boyfriend, Conner.”

Conner frowns at me, before adopting his business persona. “Conner Hughes. Senior Investment Analyst with Lion’s Den Investment Firm.”

My mouth opens before I can think better of it, my head snapping to stare at my boyfriend. “You’re still a junior analyst.” That was the wrong thing to say. Conner’s face reddens alarmingly fast, his jaw clenching, nostrils flaring.

“It’s only a matter of time.” He lifts his wrist to check his watch.

“Speaking of time, I’m afraid we need to finish our meal, I have an early morning meeting.

Nice to see you again, Mr. Zeigler. Enjoy your evening, Zoey.

” He dismisses them just like that. He never said anything about an early meeting.

Was he embarrassed because I called him out? He lied!

I shake my head and plaster on a sweet smile. “Glad to have you back, Zeigler. I’ll see you next week. Nice to meet you, Zoey, you’ll have to swing by the stadium sometime for lunch if you’re in town for a little longer.”

Brody glares at Conner, who’s retaken his seat, then smiles at me. “Good to be back, Lils. I’ll see you in a few days.”

I sit back in my seat, keeping the smile on my face until they’re seated at their own table, thankfully, on the other side of the restaurant. “Conner? What was that?”

He smiles at me and it’s like nothing ever happened. “Oh, you know, a little posturing among men.”

“There’s no need to compete with Brody.”

“I’m well aware.” He responds smugly and I really don’t like it.

“You’re right, we should finish up here. You have that early meeting…on a Saturday. And I’m getting a migraine.” Truthfully, I am. I don’t know what any of this was about, but I didn’t like it. I’ve never seen that side of Conner in all the months we’ve been dating. Perhaps he’s having an off day.

“Are you safe to drive home, sweetheart? Or I can call you a ride?” Not take me home himself?

“I’m ok. I haven’t even finished my first glass of wine.

Thank you for your concern.” In strained silence, we finish eating, though I’ve lost my appetite.

He pays the check, leads me to my car, kisses me on the cheek, and shuts the door.

He waits until I drive away before moving to his own vehicle.

My stomach churns the entire drive home, and it has nothing to do with the wine.