Page 2 of Face Off

“I have to go to work today.”

Her bottom lip trembled. Oh boy. Here it was. “I want Grammy!”

And there was the knife to my heart. She wanted my ex-mother-in-law. Her favorite person on earth, who hadn’t seen or spoken to Sadie since the divorce was finalized four months ago. The woman that used to take Sadie two or three times a week to play or shop or bake had disappeared from her life, but Sadie wouldn’t let her go. She’d told me she was respecting her son’s wishes, putting distance between herself and us, but it didn’t seem fair. Sadie was the one suffering.

“Grammy isn’t here.” She was back in Colorado with her loser son.

“I want her!” The tears started, and I knew it would all go downhill from here if I didn’t get her out and distracted in the next few seconds.

“Let’s just go see.” I lifted her out of her booster and grabbed her backpack before shutting the door and heading up to the building.

“No!” she cried while pushing away from me.

“Welcome to Beehive Early Learning,” The woman at the front desk took in the situation and immediately came around the desk. She looked young, maybe twenty, with brown hair cut into a bob and freckles across her nose. “You must be our new friend, Sadie.”

Sadie wiped the back of her hand across her face and nodded.

“I’m Marcy, and I’m going to be one of your teachers. I’m so happy to meet you.” The angel then pointed over her shoulder, through the large windows, into a large play area. “Most of your classmates are already here and would love to meet you. Do you want to meet them, Sadie?”

To my shock, Sadie nodded and pushed against me, so I sat her on the ground. She reached out for Marcy’s hand, and together, they walked to the door that led into the playroom.

Marcy looked back at me and pointed to the desk. “Set it there,” she whispered and glanced down at the backpack I was holding.

I nodded and watched them go into the other room. A little girl with long red hair ran over to Sadie, smiled, and said something, then they ran off together to a corner set up with coloring books and crayons. She didn’t look back for me once, and it was all I could ask for.

I put her bag down on the counter, then turned and hurried back to my car. At this rate, I’d be about five minutes late, but that was the best I was going to get. I put the address into my phone’s navigation, praying it was correct, and started to pull out of the lot.

A few blocks later, I almost turned onto my new office’s street when a little silver car flew through a red light and nearly hit me. It took about five seconds for my heart rate to return to normal. What was wrong with this morning? It was like the universe was out to get me or trying to prevent me from starting my new job.

Finally, I pulled into the parking garage and found an open spot. Before I got out, I flipped down the visor and checked my makeup. No black streaks or smudges. I wasn’t used to wearing so much, but that would have to change quickly. Working from home had several perks—being able to wear sweats, leave my hair in a top knot, and have pimple patches on my face was at the top of the list. But all good things must come to an end.

My mommy blog had supported me through the hardest time of my life. I was able to make just enough to support myself and Sadie, but over the last six months, that income dwindled until I had no choice but to look for a more stable position.

I grabbed my purse, binder, and a small box of examples my new manager asked me to bring. With my arms full, I closed my car door with my hip and hurried toward the elevator on the opposite end of the row. I tried to tug down the hem of my button-up, but my attempt made little difference. When I glanced back up, a large man in black joggers that hugged his muscular legs and a black T-shirt that stretched tight across his broad shoulders got there first and stepped through the doors.

“Hold it!” I yelled, certain he would since I was only a few yards away. “Please!”

He kept his head down and outright ignored me.

“Rude,” I called when the doors closed just as I reached them. I had no idea how long it would take to come back to the garage, so I glanced around for another option. A door to the stairwell was propped open so I started up. It was only two or three levels. At least, I hoped so.

By the time I got to the third floor, which was actually five floors above the garage, I was panting and had sweat dripping down my back. I flung open the door and stepped out to see the same man standing in front of the elevators, still staring at the ground. He was ruggedly handsome with thick brown hair that looked like he ran his hand through it all day long and a beard that few men could pull off without looking like a lumberjack. His shoulders rose as he sucked in a deep breath and then marched forward, completely oblivious to the death glare I gave him.

How self-absorbed could you be?

I walked up to the woman sitting at the front desk and smiled, nearly sagging against the high counter. “Hi, I’m here to meet with Chloe Murray.”

The woman glanced up and grinned. “You must be Holly. Come on back. I’ll show you where her office is.”

“Thanks.” I peeked at the office around me, and my nerves settled as I strode behind her. This was just a normal workplace with normal people. The fact that it was the front office of the Utah Fury was irrelevant. I was here to work, and besides maybe a free T-shirt or mug with their logo, I doubted I’d have anything to do with the team.

“You can set your things down here.” The receptionist stopped at an empty desk, and I gladly unloaded my arms.

“Thanks.” I smiled and readjusted my shirt again. I’d had another outfit planned, but Sadie spilled chocolate milk on the silk top, so I grabbed a backup which, as I was quickly finding out, didn’t fit properly.

“Hi, Chloe. I’ve got Holly here for you.” She stopped next to the open door and smiled at me once more before heading back to her desk.

“Holly! Come in!” Chloe was more stunning in person than she was over video calls, with thick brown hair and a smile that made you feel like she knew something you didn’t.