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I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my desk. “Look, Vanover, we both know you weren’t going to be my assistant forever. You have incredible talents, and yougetpeople like no one else I’ve ever met. You’requalifiedfor this position too, and there will be a training period with Shantel and me as well to prepare you for the C-Suite. It will be hard, but I know you’re up for the challenge. I want you on my team for years to come. So please, take your time to review this, and when you’re ready, say yes.”
“Yes.” He nodded quickly.
“Van! You haven’t even read it yet!” I said.
“Yes.” He came over to me, giving me a sideways hug. “Yes. That’s all.”
“You don’t want to negotiate?” I asked.
“I know you’re fair, Mia. You wouldn’t screw me over.”
I smiled. This was exactly the relationship I was hoping to have with a teammate. “You’re hired. You’ll train your replacement before assuming your new duties.”
He wiped at his eyes. “Thank you, Mia. You have no idea how much this means.”
I grinned at him. “I think I do. Gage recognized the potential in me not too long ago when I was ‘just an assistant.’ I wouldn’t be here without him.”
Vanover nodded. “Is it okay if I take lunch early? My mom will want to hear about this.”
I chuckled. “Of course.”
As he rushed away, I turned to the windows in my office.
Today, it was a cool day with pale yellow sunlight coming through the cloud cover. I stared over the city, feeling like I was truly on top of the world. There would always be mountains to climb, new goals to reach, but for now, I’d let myself enjoy the possibility that lay at my feet.
I felt, deep in my heart, that the best was yet to come.
58
FORD
It had been a year,almost to the day, since I had set foot on a field for a Super Bowl game. And now, as I followed my team onto the spongy turf, a million memories flashed through my mind.
I saw the plays I did wrong last year. The plays I did well. The faces of my teammates realizing it wasn't for us. The confetti falling from the sky.
The odds of us being back for a second year in a row were slim, especially after my injury.
But I had given all of myself to this team. After having to sit out several games, I had trained harder than ever before to be the best quarterback I could possibly be and make sure I saw playing time on this field. My teammates had worked hard too, put in just as many hours to make it here.
For me, today was about more than making a comeback; it was about proving to myself that I could have everything I wanted in life—love, impact, and professional success. Over the last month with Mia, I'd learned that love wasn't an “or.” It was an “and.”
I loved MiaandI wanted to win a championship game.
I loved MiaandI was protecting my body from injury.
I loved MiaandI loved my charity.
The last month had been a dream—trading nights between my place and hers. Enjoying the time we could spend together and making the most of the time we couldn’t. There were stolen kisses, late suppers, times when she slid into bed long after I had gone to sleep, but we made it work in our own way, no longer letting the past dictate our futures.
Just like I wouldn’t let a loss last year convince me we’d lose today.
“Over here,” Milo said. Krew was already standing with him by the bench. We were just about to begin warmup.
I walked over to them, trying not to let the enormity of it all overwhelm me. “Hey,” I said to them.
Milo put an arm on Krew’s back and another on mine, and we huddled our heads together. “Today is our day,” Milo said. “We’ve got each other’s backs, yeah?”
Krew nodded. “We’ve got this.”