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I shook my head. I’d wondered what I might say to her, whether I’d spend our lunch venting about her boss. “I’m kind of a disaster right now. That’s why I canceled on you before.”
“Would this maybe have any connection to my boss acting like a complete ass for the last couple weeks?”
My heart accelerated against my will, and I wondered if Oliver felt something other than anger at his belief of my betrayal. “It might. I guess you know about things?”
“I figured a few things out before the MLB dealbegan to look like it was going to come through. But he’s reverted back to pre-MLB Oliver. Rob’s worried he’s going to disappear again . . .” she trailed off, maybe thinking better of sharing what had transpired in the executive offices with me.
I dropped my head into my hands. I didn’t want to worry about Oliver. I didn’t want to care how he was doing. He hurt me. He completely destroyed me, if I was honest. “I’m sorry,” I said, knowing Oliver’s mood would make her life harder.
“Are you going to tell me what happened?”
Our sandwiches came, and I stalled, picking at the fries on my plate and trying to figure out what the professional ethics might be of discussing something so personal with Oliver’s secretary. Though, to be truthful, professional ethics had pretty much gone out the window when I’d gotten involved with the CEO.
“Here’s what I know,” Pamela tried, dipping a fry in ketchup and squinting at it before popping it into her mouth. “You and Oliver became involved, and Oliver went from absent to angry, and then from present to completely engaged. He became the guy I knew a year ago—except better. There was something hopeful and fun about him that hadn’t been there before. Before his parents died, he’d gotten really angry and seemed so lost. And then he left. But whatever happened with you guys . . . it made him happy.”
“Until it didn’t,” I offered.
Pamela said nothing, just ate and waited for me to explain.
“I never meant to get involved, I swear,” I began. “Andwhen I met him, he told me his name was Hale. And he looked like some kind of surf bum or something . . . I didn’t even think he belonged here. I couldn’t figure out why he was here.”
Pamela nodded, her mouth full.
“But I was trying to figure out how to make StrokeStat work for MLB and he saw some of the notes I’d made when I was sitting in the coffeehouse. He volunteered to help.”
“He did?” Her eyes widened. “Angry Oliver offered to help? That’s something . . . Last time I saw that version of him, he was throwing things around in the office and yelling at people.”
I nodded, remembering the day I’d gone to see Pamela and sent security up after Oliver instead. “He was pretty friendly, actually—well, after he apologized for being a complete dick. If either of us was really evil at first, it was probably me. But he was kind and smart, and I needed the help. We ended up . . .” I paused, thinking about the day at the pier, about what had happened after in my apartment. “We got involved. I didn’t plan it to happen, I just got caught up.” I shook my head, trying to shake off the warmth that had crept over me, remembering the way Oliver’s eyes burned as he’d looked at me that first time we’d been together.
“So you still had no clue who he really was?”
I shook my head. “Not until the MLB meeting. He kind of sprung it on me, and the MLB people practically fell all over themselves at the meeting when they realized he was the CEO. I was a little lessthrilled.”
“I bet.”
“But I understood why he hadn’t told me up-front.”
Pamela was nodding, and I was surprised how easily the story was pouring out of me.
“And then things just happened so fast. He was sweet to me, so honest . . . and so . . .”
“Hot?” Pamela suggested.
I felt my eyes widen. “Yeah,” I admitted. “There was that.” I smiled as my heart squeezed a bit, remembering the way it had felt to have those dark eyes trained on me, to see that perfect strong mouth opening in pleasure as I rode him, to have the attention of such a powerful and beautiful man focused entirely on me. I shook off the image. “But then something happened.” I shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. “I’m pregnant.”
Pamela inhaled sharply. “Oh shit.”
I shook my head, trying to let her know she didn’t need to feel bad for me. “It’s fine. I mean, no, it isn’t fine, but it’s something I wanted. I mean, eventually.”
“Okay. And Oliver?”
“That’s the thing.” I sat back in the booth and stared out the window for a minute. And then I explained what had happened, how I’d told him, and how he’d decided I lied to him. “But I would never do that,” I assured Pamela, who looked stunned. “I wasn’t using him for his money. I didn’t care at all about that. I got pregnant the old-fashioned way. By accident.”
“I know,” she said. “I can tell you’re not lying. Oh God, what a mess.”
I nodded my agreement, surprised at how nice it felt to have told someone everything. I hadn’t told Delia on Wednesday. I’d told her I still hadn’t spoken to Oliver. I knew she’d be upset for me, and I didn’t want to do that to her. So I’d pretended I was still just upset about the breakup.
“Well,” Pamela said. “Here’s what I think. Not that you’re asking.” She added the last part quickly, raising an eyebrow.
