Page 96 of Her Game Plan

“Good. Let’s get it squared up first and then reach out,” Chris orders.

I stand, my bright red suit a direct contrast to the black and navy of everyone else’s attire. “Well, now that we’ve established that we pay for production, not projection, I think this meeting is adjourned.”

I walk out the door, no one saying a word as I leave.

***

Fuck. Yes.

I let out an excited scream as soon as my butt hits the driver’s seat in my car. The parking lot is still mostly empty as I throw my car in reverse, speeding back home to tell Callan the—

Shit. No I’m not.

I slow down, not certain where to go. Finley’s almost certainly at practice. Addie is traveling for work today. Sage might be around…

My phone rings, my brother’s name lighting up the car’s screen. I press the button on my steering wheel. “Chris! You crushed it in there!” I yell as soon as he answers. “You were great!”

“You were great, Char. I would’ve let Hugo do whatever he wanted.”

I roll my eyes even though he can’t see it. “You would not.”

“I mean, I was there when he made those decisions.”

“You were never supposed to be micromanaging him. He’s the GM. The only reason I started looking into it was because he was making a decision I felt was wrong.”

Chris laughs. “That, or because he was about to send your boyfriend to Minnesota. Speaking of Callan, why don’t you two come over to our place tonight? We can celebrate with the five of us. I know Kim would love to see you. Plus, it’ll give her something to distract her from how large she is.”

I bite my lip, only stopping when I taste the coppery hint of blood.

“Char?” Chris asks. “Did I lose you?”

“I’m here. I… It would have to just be me.”

There’s a moment of silence before Chris says, “Okay. Is Callan out of town or something?”

I rub the side of my nose, willing the tears not to fall. “No.”

“You want to tell me what’s going on? Because I know we just saved that man’s career with the Stallions, but I will cut him from the team if he’s hurt you.”

I let out a wet chuckle. “I think it might be time I tell you what’s going on.”

Keeping it a much more PG version than when I was with my friends, I tell him about fake dating Callan. How it morphed into more. How I messed up. How I wish he was still going to be around.

“But he is going to be around, Char.” Chris’ voice is gentle as he says it. “He doesn’t seem like the type of guy who holds a grudge. Talk to him.”

I wipe the tears from my cheek. “I can’t just knock on his bedroom door when I get home. I really hurt him. I have to do something to make it up to him.”

“And you don’t think saving his career could be that thing?” I can hear the skepticism in Chris’ tone.

“God, I wish. But Callan, as much as he cares about his career, is going to see this as me protecting the Stallions, rather than me protecting him. And honestly, he might not be wrong. I did this because I think he’s the best player for the team, not because I want to keep him in my life.”

“And I’m going to guess you can’t just buy him a dozen cookies from that bougie shop downtown? Because that’s the only way I can get Kim to forgive me these days—”

“That’s it!” I cut him off. “You’re a genius, Chris. Gotta go. Love you!”

Chapter 38

Charlotte