Page 16 of The False Start (Off the Bench)

Selena agrees with a nod. “I don’t know anything about the industry, and it’s not really recession proof, is it? I mean CPG goods are a guarantee.” The plastic packaging for laundry detergent and Lunchables might be recession proof, but I’m determined to make them see gaming is just as stable.

“I assume you’re familiar with the lipstick theory?” I ask. Nods come from all around the table, so I continue.

“The gaming industry has become that for, not just men, but an entire generation. Think about it, if you can’t afford to travel the world, you can build your own with the Civilization game.

The online capability allows these games to provide human interaction in a way they couldn’t before, and the capabilities are only growing.

” I glance around and see Colton smirking at me.

A beat passes but he simply inclines his head towards me, his eyes flicking towards Selena, who’s staring unblinking at me, hanging on every word.

“They have real-time workout games that may replace gym memberships, immersive worlds built after popular fantasy books you can spend weeks getting lost in as you live like your favorite character, and games designed to encourage teamwork. Video games are the future and completely recession proof, if that’s a concern.

Building up that partnership now is mutually beneficial to both sides and especially to Dover Industries.

” I conclude my speech and glance to Colton.

He’s grinning which tells me, once again, I’ve secured the deal.

I smile to myself, knowing this could be the one that clinches the promotion to partner.

Shahir sighs. “We’ll draw up the paperwork in the morning.” Selena nods in agreement and we toast to a new partnership.

I’m in my Austin hotel room after getting the sign-off from Dover Industries the night before we fly home, exhausted. The deal is a go, and the clients are getting along spectacularly. I collapse on my bed staring at my phone.

I’d started several messages to Cal over the last couple days but deleted every single one of them.

I take a leap of faith that my grandmother would applaud me for and call him.

He answers after two rings.

“Lila?”

“Hey.”

“Everything okay?” It’s loud wherever he is, and I hesitate before answering.

“Yeah, just getting ready to fly home tomorrow.” And I hadn’t heard from you. But that sounds needy, even in my own head. Let alone to a man who isn’t even mine.

“Oh, right. How was the trip?”

“It was good, they both signed the deal.”

“That’s great.”

There are a few beats of awkward silence before he breaks it.

“So, what’s up?”

“I—nothing I just thought I’d check in.”

“Oh.” It’s not just in my head that he sounds disappointed. “Well thanks, I think?”

“No . . . sorry, I just, I think we should talk. I don’t like how we left brunch.”

“Are you still with him, Lila?”

I pause. “Yes,” I whisper. “I mean I think so, I don’t know. I’m not sure, we didn’t really talk about what we are now.”

“Then there really isn’t anything to talk about. It’s fine. I’m your friend, but not his, he made that clear.” He breathes a laugh. “Not that I’d want to be.”

“Right,” I clear my throat. “So, we’re good?”

“We’re good.”

“I’m beat, and need to be up early, so I’m going to head to bed, but I’ll see you around?”

“Yep, talk to you later.”

I hang up and should feel better, but then, why do I have a mountain-sized lump in my throat?

I’m finally back in the office on Monday, my feet still sore from painting Kayla’s nursery all day on Saturday.

And now I can’t stop staring at the article Sadie shoved under my nose.

Her band had been hired to play for some big event, and they were featured in the article, but it’s the first page that has my full attention.

The accompanying photo worth significantly more than the typical thousand words, at least to me.

MORGAN EVENT RAISES RECORD HIGH DONATION FOR LAURIE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

The photo beneath shows several beautiful people, all dressed to the nines in black tuxes and silk dresses, but my eyes are drawn to a couple in the front right.

Cal is holding a tumbler of amber liquid and smiling down at a gorgeous brunette draped on his arm.

She has a sappy look plastered on her face as she looks up at him, and I have the sudden urge to throw the phone across the office.

The closeness with which they’re touching, that’s not two strangers who just met.

They know each other, probably well, intimately even.

She looks somewhat familiar, though I can’t place her face.

My thumbs hover over my text thread with Katie.

If anyone would know—other than Cal, obviously, but I’m not dumb enough to ask him—it’s my gold-mine-of-information best friend.

I hesitate before hitting send, thinking through the conversations following for once in my life.

I text myself the link to the article online and screenshot her face before running it through a reverse image search on Google.

Several photos come up almost immediately, and I feel slightly dizzy.

Victoria Winston.

Of course I recognize her. She’s a model approaching Heidi Klum-level fame.

My skin is hot despite the cool weather outside blowing in from my open windows.

My watch buzzes, drawing my attention away from the article and reminding me that I have about ten minutes before our weekly update meeting with James.

I seriously regret not stopping for coffee this morning when I could really use a mood booster in the form of a pumpkin cold brew right about now.

With my biggest client now reassured that they are a priority, and their supply chain locked down after our trip last week, my inbox stays manageable and the rest of the day going smoothly. It works out well considering I can’t stop thinking about the article in the Tribune.

There’s only one thing to do when you can’t stop thinking about someone you shouldn’t think about at all and his clearly hotter-than-you girlfriend.

Drinks tonight?

Katie

Say less

Meet you at 6?

See you then!

I smile to myself as I slide my phone back into my bag for the last hour of work. No one is there for you like your best friend.

“So, how was work today?” Katie asks once we’re settled in a booth with our martinis in front of us.

“Work was fine.” I shrug, taking a sip of my cosmo.

“Drinks on a Monday? I was sure Colton must have been acting up again.”

“He’s actually been on his best behavior since we’ve been working together.” She looks at me like she doesn’t believe me. “That’s not why I needed a drink.”

Katie sits up straighter in the cushy booth. “Spill.”

I laugh. “Did you know he had a girlfriend?”

“Colton? Why would I know that?”

I shake my head. “Not Colton, Cal.”

“He doesn’t have a girlfriend,” she says automatically.

“I thought you might say that.” I pull out my phone, the article already loaded and hand it to her.

Her mouth drops open as she stares. “That’s Victoria Winston.”

“No shit.”

“Sorry, it’s just, I didn’t even realize she was in Chicago. I assumed she still lived in New York.”

“To be honest, I’ve never actually thought about her, but sure.” Something about Katie’s response was strange. “Do you know her?”

“You don’t actually think they’re together, right? And she was a few years behind us, but her family would be at events for our school.”

“Look at how they’re standing.” I clear my throat and point. “He’s touching her so casually and she’s looking up at him like that.”

“Yeah, that does seem more than friendly,” she says. “If their families are friendly though . . .”

“She’s like ten years younger.”

Katie shrugs. “He’s never mentioned a girl. And we’re not that old, she’s max like six years younger. Maybe seven.”

“Never?” I shake my head. “He’s never even on his phone much when we’re all together, but athletes don’t exactly have the best reputation.”

“You’d think he would have brought her around at some point. Was she at his party last week?”

“No.” He definitely wouldn’t have acted like he had if his girlfriend was there. There’s a strange slimy feeling that creeps into my gut.

“Hmmm . . .” Katie trails off, sipping her dirty martini.

I down the rest of my drink, trying to keep that weird feeling at bay.

“So, anyway, I just needed to dish, but I should really get going, I have an early client call in the morning.”

“The one from last week?”

“No, it’s actually a new exploratory call with a tech start-up out of Denver,” I say pulling on my jacket as I stand from the table.

She gulps the rest of her drink. “Well good luck, hang on one sec we can walk out together.”

I fiddle with my phone for the minute it takes her to get her coat on and her bag and we walk out of the bar.

“You sure you’re doing okay?” she asks, a serious look in her eye.

I pause. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You know you’re allowed to be not okay even if you don’t have a reason, right?”

I’m actually floored for a moment. I can’t think of a single thing to say as a lump forms in the back of my throat.

“What?” she asks, tossing her hair. “I can be philosophical every so often. That minor in college wasn’t for nothing.”

I laugh, forgetting her temper tantrums over those couple graduate-level philosophy courses she’d taken and a weight lifts off my shoulders.

“You’re right. And Katie?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks.” I smile, pulling her in for a hug.

“Anytime babe. Text me when you’re home, ‘kay?”

“I will.” I turn heading toward my apartment. The walk is nice this time of night, the city alive enough that I’ll never feel alone but quiet after the frenzied, crowded streets of rush hour commuting. It clears my head.

It’s good that Cal has a girlfriend, or whatever she is to him.

It makes it less messy. Just one night between friends that almost got out of control thanks to outside influence and too much alcohol.

No, this is better. I can—and should—focus on Dennis, or at least on myself.

The last few months might have been rocky, but we can get through it, right?

We always do.