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“You know, when everything is going well, you have this feeling something bad is bound to happen? Like the universe will turn on you at some point.”
A brief pause. “No?”
“Of course you don’t. You’re Wade Hunter,” I mumble with a muted laugh.
“And you’re Wade Hunter’s girlfriend. That has to mean something to the Universe Entities.”
I muster a weak smile. “I hope you’re right.”
Wade
As I enter the Parisian palace flanked by Taylor, my agent, I’m torn with guilt. We’re meeting representatives from the Real Madrid team for a possible transfer. It’s a big opportunity. Playing for a Spanish or Italian team has been my dream for as long as I can remember. The London Regents offered to renew my contract, but as much as I love my current team, I know I would gain more experience playing for another club. Diversifying my portfolio and all that.
The problem is, everything has changed. And all I can think about as we sit across the table from the Spanish executives is that there is no Roxy in Spain.
“Congratulations again, Wade,” says Jorge, the recruitment coordinator. I’ve met him a couple times before. He’s a small, bulgy bloke who’s built like a rugby man. “It was a good game.”
“Thanks,” I reply, forcing a thin smile.
“Now that the transfer season is finally open, we can make our offer official. Here is the contract. Please, have a look and get back to us as soon as possible.”
“Thank you,” Taylor says. “We’ll be sure to go over it in a timely manner.”
“You’ll find that life in Spain is pretty comfortable,” Jorge goes on. “There’s a lot more sunshine than in the UK,” he jokes.
After a bit more small talk, we all say goodbye and part ways. This meeting was purely a formality, a convenience since we were all here in Paris. They’ve been talking with Taylor for months already.
“So, that’s it.” Taylor rubs his hands together as we’re exiting the hotel lobby. “Real Madrid at last. After beating them last night, you’re joining their ranks in the fall.”
“Yeah,” I utter as the information begins to sink in. “It’s crazy . . . I have to think about it, though.”
“What?” he puffs out. “You’re joking, right?”
I run a hand through my hair, looking off to the side to avoid his gaze. “I don’t know. It’s a big decision.”
He places a hand on my chest, forcing me to stop and look at him. “What are you talking about? This is what you’ve worked for your entire career.”
“I know,” I say, shrugging out of his hold and walking past him. “Still, it’s a big decision. I love my team. We had a great season, and we won the Champions League. Those are things to consider.”
“Sure.” He frowns. “But just because you won together doesn’t mean you have to stay with the Regents. A lot of them will be receiving prestigious offers of their own. You have to think about your career and how you can take it to the next level.”
“What is the next level, though? More fame? More money? Do I really want any of that?” I try to swallow down the sourness that’s sticking to the back of my throat.
“Both, for sure. But also a wider skillset, a new life experience, and more prospects for the future.”
“I don’t know anymore.” I rub the stubble on my jaw a little too hard, as if a genie might pop out to solve all my problems if I rub hard enough.
“Okay,” he says, tucking his hands in his pockets. “I respect that. In the end, the choice is yours. But think long and hard about this, Wade. I’m not saying we won’t receive any other offers—we probably will—but I know Spain and Italy were your goals when we first started working together. Don’t lose sight of that. You’ve worked so hard to be where you are today.”
“I know.” I swallow again, my throat dry and scratchy. He’s right. Everything I’ve done, every game I’ve played since my first pro match, has been toward this goal. And now I can practically taste it. Only it’s not as sweet as I expected. It’s bitter on my tongue.
I’ve known Roxy for only two months. The mere notion of turning down an opportunity I’ve waited my entire life for just to have a shot with her is absolutely mad. But I can’t seem to rule it out. What we have is special. I’m certain I’m in love with Roxy, and I would do anything for her. But what if it doesn’t last? What if she doesn’t feel as strongly, doesn’t love me as much as I love her? Without knowing whether she’s all in, this decision is impossible to make. It’s time I had a conversation with her.
23
Cover Reveal
Roxy
