Page 35 of Reality With You (Arden Beach #1)

D ylan’s attention waned as the commissioner droned on about the yacht he’d rented for his recent two-month vacation in the Mediterranean.

He’d politely listened to Bud Walden go on about it for the last ten minutes, and while Dylan was relieved the conversation wasn’t focused on him, the anticipation of its inevitable shift in that direction had his blood hopping.

He wished he had something to take the edge off. Something—anything—to ease the pressure cooker in his chest. He avoided looking at the glass of scotch in Bud’s hand and the champagne flutes held by the other board members.

Dylan’s gaze wandered past the commissioner’s shoulder, only to land on another guest holding a glass of whiskey. Dylan followed it as the man raised it to his mouth to take a sip. His own hand twitched at his side, clenching and flexing.

“You own one, don’t you, Ed?” Bud asked.

“I did,” Eddie replied. “I recently sold it.”

“Ah. Wish I’d known. I’m in the market for one.” Bud cocked his head, pausing a moment. “Word on the grapevine is you’re considering selling something else.”

Dylan’s attention snapped to Bud, while the commissioner and the other two board members focused on Eddie.

“I presume you mean the rumors about selling the team,” Eddie said, unflustered.

“There have been rumblings,” remarked Barbara Callaghan-Spencer, a grocery chain heiress who took her father’s spot on the league’s board when he recently retired. Diamonds hung from her ears, matching the ones circling her neck.

“I assure you, I’d tell you something if there was something to tell.

I’m too excited for what the team has in store, especially when Dylan returns next season.

” Eddie put his hand on Dylan’s shoulder, smiling.

The ease with which Eddie conveyed unwavering confidence when Dylan knew what was really going on was one of his most impressive talents.

He needed to work on own bullshitting skills.

“Your injury was pretty bad. Are you sure you’ll be ready by then?” asked Clifford Boucher, a technology mogul after whom the observatory in that very museum was named.

“I do, sir,” Dylan said, projecting Eddie’s confidence.

“Whether he’s ready physically isn’t the most important issue,” Barbara stated.

She pinned her icy gaze on him. “You’ve had questionable behavior since you were signed to the minors.

That was, what, almost seven years ago? Why should we believe anything has actually changed since spring training, and this miraculous turnaround isn’t just …

temporary?” The little smile on her face was devoid of warmth.

Everyone’s attention deferred to Dylan.

“Because I hadn’t accepted that I had a problem until the accident,” Dylan answered earnestly.

He didn’t need to bullshit his way through this one.

“I was in denial, but that was a rude awakening. I couldn’t ignore the truth anymore.

I was putting the work into the game but not myself.

Now I am. That’s what’s different.” He held her gaze even as she regarded him with incredulity.

“And I respect your skepticism. Trust is earned. I’m doing everything I can to deserve the league’s, the team’s, and the public’s trust again.

If I get a second chance—” Dylan’s focus swept over each board member in turn “— I promise, I won’t take it for granted. ”

Barbara’s lips gently curled, a condescending gleam in her eye. “They’ve trained you well.”

The suggestion he was insincere was a slap in the face. Dylan dropped his eyes to his sparkling water, biting his derisive smile through the inside of his cheek.

“Baseball is a family sport,” Barbara said, addressing the others.

“It’s supposed to uplift people and represent the backbone of what this country stands for.

I think we’ve strayed too far from that, and it’s high time we returned to our core values.

” She fixed her attention on Dylan again.

“Our players should be role models, not cautionary tales.”

She may as well have shoved his face into the ground and stepped over him. Frustration burned up his neck. He didn’t know what to say without making it worse.

“Heroes who have fallen and had the strength to get back up are more inspiring than those who pretend to be perfect,” a different female voice interjected.

Everyone’s attention turned to Savannah Carmichael, the tall, gazelle-like brunette who appeared at Dylan’s side.

“We’ve all made mistakes. Most of us are just lucky we don’t have to live them out in the public eye.

” Savannah smiled at Barbara. “I mean, imagine if your affair with your husband when he was still married to his pregnant first wife had been splashed all over the news, Mrs. Spencer. I doubt the public would’ve been very forgiving. ”

Bud nearly choked on a sip of scotch, giving a gentle pound to his chest as he coughed while Clifford and Eddie stifled smiles. Meanwhile, Barbara bristled, her eyes shooting daggers at the young Carmichael.

“Dylan is exactly the modern role model we need,” Savannah said, addressing the men with calm authority.

“Someone who takes responsibility for their mistakes and doesn’t let them define them.

” The earnestness in her eyes as she looked at Dylan touched him.

The list of those willing to champion him was short these days.

He didn’t take those who did for granted.

“That’s what the game teaches us, right?

When you strike out, you try again. And you keep trying until you win. That’s how legends are made.”

Eddie smiled proudly at his daughter while Bud and Clifford appeared to ponder her statement. Barbara, meanwhile, remained a statue.

“She’s right,” Eddie agreed.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to steal Dylan,” Savannah said, linking her arm through his. “We haven’t seen each other since last Christmas, and knowing us, I probably won’t see him again until the next one.”

“I’ll catch up with you in a bit,” her father said, eying both of them.

As they strolled away from the group, Dylan whispered in her ear, “Thanks for saving my ass, Sav.”

“No need to thank me. Having an excuse to insult Barbara Spencer made my night. She needs to find a new husband to steal. Maybe then she’d be a fraction less miserable.”

They slowly wound through the crowd, keeping their voices low. “You ever considered going into politics?”

“I am in politics. It’s called business.”

Dylan released a dark chuckle. “Yeah, I’m realizing that’s another name for pro sports, too. At least you like it.”

“ Like is a strong word. I’m … accustomed to it,” Savannah said breezily. “And, like you pointed out, very good at it.”

“The apple didn’t fall far from the empire.”

“Ditto.”

Dylan cast her a sideways glance. In her heels, they were the same height. “Have you ever considered doing something else?”

“You mean, walk away from CE?” she asked, referring to Carmichael Enterprises. Off his affirmative look, she canted her head, scrutinizing him. “Please tell me you haven’t had anything to drink.”

“Just five glasses of whiskey and a few shots.” He threw her a look as she dismissively turned away. “I’m serious. Are you happy about moving back? Joining the company.”

Savannah’s arm seemed to tense slightly against his, though her expression remained unbothered, exactly like her father’s. “I’ve been preparing for this my whole life. Of course, I’m ready.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Savannah appraised him now. They were roughly the same age, but she’d always possessed a poise and gravity that felt worlds ahead.

“We’re two of the luckiest people in this room.

We’ve had to work hard, but the opportunities were always there waiting for us.

We didn’t have to fight just to get a foot in the door. I won’t ever take that for granted.”

Dylan couldn’t argue with that. He felt that gratitude in his bones.

“And it’s an honor to be part of something so special,” she added. “To carry on something bigger than me.”

He smirked. “Spoken like a true politician.”

Savannah slid a glare his way, though the corner of her mouth quirked up. Up ahead, his father and sister were engaged in conversation by a different window into the aquarium than the one he’d left them. He searched the space around them, but Lennon wasn’t there.

“Sometimes, I daydream about it, though,” Savannah admitted, pulling his attention back to her.

“I wonder what it would be like to be able to choose a different future, something entirely my own. Who I might have been in a different life.” Her eyes went distant, somewhere only she could see.

After a moment, she met his gaze. “But everyone does that. We always think the grass is greener on some other imaginary side, but it’s a fantasy. I’m choosing to water what’s real.”

A handful of paces away from Rhett and Erin, Dylan came to a stop. He guided Savannah into a hug. “You’re a good one, Sav.”

“ Ew , don’t tell anyone else that. You’ll ruin my reputation.” Savannah hugged him back. Quietly, she added, “So are you.”

Dylan smiled before they parted. As they approached his father and sister, he said, “Look who I found.”

Savannah lifted an eyebrow. “Look who you found? How quickly my valiant gesture has been forgotten.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Must be all those balls you’ve taken to the head affecting your short-term memory.”

“More like selective memory,” Erin remarked. “Seems to be a defect in the male DNA.”

Rhett and Dylan exchanged a look. “Don’t say anything, son.”

“Trust me, I wasn’t planning to.”

“At least you can train them,” Erin said with a wink.

Savannah hugged them both. “Now, there’s a face I haven’t seen in a while,” she said over Rhett’s shoulder, her attention latching onto Lennon. Relief settled over Dylan.

As Lennon joined them, something seemed off. She looked shaken, even as she smiled. “Hey, Savannah.”

“You look fucking amazing.” Savannah’s dark eyes traveled the length of Lennon’s gown.

“So do you, as always.”

“I heard you’ve been living in New York. Are you back for good?”

“Yeah. Well, while the show is filming, anyway.”

“What show?”

Lennon glanced at Dylan, who jumped in with the question, “Eddie hasn’t told you?”

“Are you kidding? My father’s the worst with gossip,” Savannah remarked. “They’re not trainable in everything.”

Dylan cleared his throat. “Lennon and I are doing a reality show together.” His attention bounced to his father for a second, who looked away, disapproval sharp in his eyes. It sliced across Dylan’s ribs.

Savannah observed him like she was waiting for the punchline. “Are you messing with me?”

“They’re not,” Erin confirmed with a bounce of her eyebrows.

Savannah’s eyes widened slightly. The corner of her red lips lifted in a small smile. “Oh—you have to tell me everything.”

“Good evening,” an elegant female voice said over the speakers. “At this time, we ask you to please take your seats in the Brenner Hall. The ceremony will begin in five minutes.”

“Immediately after the ceremony, you’re catching me up to speed,” Savannah amended.

“Should I mention they’re here filming?” Dylan asked.

“I’m going to kill my father.”

“At least wait until after he receives his lifetime achievement award,” Dylan suggested.