Page 14 of Her Game Plan

Dad waves away my concern. “No. I’m not crazy enough to have you be the final decision makers in your first few months on the job. I planned to have you run any changes through the number twos at each company for the rest of this calendar year. Come January, you’d shift to making decisions, but we can make everything run through Hugo and Frannie—and ultimately, me—the entire time. To keep things above board.” A playful grin spreads across my dad’s face. “Or you two can get married so things are slightly less messy.”

Sure. Why not? I’m already fake dating one of the top professional quarterbacks in the league. Why not fake marry him as well?

“Hehe.” A terrified laugh squeaks out of me.

“Dad,” Chris admonishes, coming to my rescue like he does every time our dad starts pressuring me to get married. “How would them being married help things, anyway?”

“Sorry, sorry. I just, Callan Devine. Who would’ve guessed it? I knew you secretly loved the team more than you let on.” And it’s in that moment, I see the genius of my subconscious: Steve Langford loves the Stallions; so by dating Callan, I’m not only showing I’m working on building my own family, I’m building it with the most Stallions person possible.

It must be the red power suit.

Dad spends the next few minutes telling us more about the wisdom of his plans, but I’ve checked out. My mind entirely on how I’m going to convince Callan Devine to date me. And then move in with me in the next couple of months. Or maybe I should move in with him? How do real couples decide who has to give up their home? Either way, I’m sure Callan has everything he could ever want, so I’m not sure why he’d want to spend his time fake dating me.

And fuck, it’s going to take time on his part. The Langfords love a good family get-together. Birthday? Family party. Holiday? Family dinner. Random Tuesday night? Family taco night.

When Ulysses finally pokes his head in to let Dad know his next meeting is about to start, I wander out of the door, not paying any attention as my mind tries to work through the self-imposed hurdle before me.

“Charlotte!” Chris’ face is way too close for that volume.

I whack away the fingers he snapped next to my nose. “What? Jeez.”

Chris jabs the button for the elevator. “I’ve been talking to you for the last minute, and you haven’t listened to a word I said.”

“I don’t know if you realized this, but our dad dropped a huge bomb on us. Like, nuclear level. What is he doing? We were always going to split the company. It’s literally been his plan since they found out they were having twins. I’m pretty sure they made us learn to share solely so we’d be ready for this day.”

Chris’ expression is full of pity. “Char, all parents teach their kids to share.”

We both step into the empty elevator. “Not the point. I don’t understand why he’d change his plans now.”

“Because it’s Dad. He’s always done what he wants. Plus, he joined that ranch ride group last summer. Those guys are all obsessed with succession plans that keep the farm together.”

“That’s dumb! This isn’t a farm—or a ranch.”

“I agree.” Chris leans against the wall of the elevator. “But what are we going to do about it?”

“How do we not let it come between us?” I ask, my concern about my relationship with Chris almost as much as for my future.

Chris shrugs, both hands in his pockets. “I don’t know. Though you didn’t tell me about Callan Devine, so maybe something is already between us.”

I wince at the pain in his voice. I would never actually keep something like that from Chris. “It may be less serious than I led Dad to believe.”

He squints. “How much less?”

“Well…” I really draw the word out.

Chris slaps his hands over his ears. “Nope. Don’t tell me. You and Callan have been dating. It’s serious. You’re moving in together. That’s what I know. That’s all I can know. I will fuck it up for you if I know anything else. We both know I’m terrible at secrets. I told you about Marlee when Kim was five weeks pregnant! I was supposed to wait until twelve!”

“We’re very serious,” I confirm. Because the man’s right. He cannot be trusted here. “But we’re good, yeah?”

Chris pulls me into a side hug as the elevator doors open. “We’re good. And no matter what happens with this whole thing with Dad, we’ll still be good. I promise.”

I wrap my arms around his waist. “Me too. We’ll figure it out. Though I’m not giving up. I just… I can’t walk away from the company I always thought I’d be leading.”

His cheek rests on my head. “I know. I can’t either.”

We let go of each other, exiting the elevator into an empty lobby. That was certainly not how I thought my day was going to go, but at least I know I’ll always have my brother.

Now, all I have to do is convince Callan, the hot pro quarterback I’ve spent the last few years annoying for my own amusement, to help me make sure I don’t lose the company I’ve been preparing my entire life to lead.