Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9
MIKAEL
I’m thinking about Kenzie as soon as I wake. Why is this happening?
I have a tinge of excitement in my chest as it's been a long time since I met someone new. Most of my dates are women who are friends of a friend or are in our social circle. I just saw her, but I expect to see her soon.
I spend too much time picking out trainers to wear. I'm thinking I want to remain off the grid and purposefully wear something that doesn't have the Maulers logo.
I shave before I dress and head to the kitchen to make a protein shake. I then attend the team meeting, where we review the plays and videos of our last game and hear updates on the next team we're playing.
The meeting adjourns and I head to the park. I don't know why my heart is quirky today. Maybe I'm nervous. Dating women we know has a built-in security factor because we know them from their careers or family connections. Today is more like when I was a rookie in the pros and gained an entirely new set of friends and acquaintances overnight.
My parents kept me humble, but I'm not sure they succeeded. We're all guilty of relying on our names and money to get things we want. Sports cars and vacations are easy to come by. In fact, our cars come with discounts as our name helps the dealerships. Making commercials is fun, and we're rewarded well.
I survey the parking lot. Then, I remember she lives nearby and will probably walk here.
Will she be here on time?
That would be a first. However, she's worth waiting for if she runs late.
I pull my winter coat around me and head to the park, scanning the horizon.
I sigh with relief when I find her walking with Sherlock.
“Mikael,” she states when our eyes meet. I love the way my name rolls off her tongue.
“Hey, Kenzie. It's very cold. Are you warm enough?”
“I think anyone would be hard-pressed to say yes,” she smiles.
“True.” I bend to pet Sherlock. “How are you, buddy?”
The lab wags his tail—the universal happy indicator.
“He likes you,” she says. “Did you like the new cupcakes?”
“Yes. I'm sure I'll have to hit the gym again to work those off!”
“Do you go daily?”
“It's important to me to be in shape.” I pride myself on my work ethic. There are days I don’t feel like a workout but I force myself into the gym.
I glance at Kenzie and her green eyes dance. I’m impressed by the fact she’s not texting or posting on social media. Most women would be snapping pictures and posting them on their accounts.
Sherlock veers off the sidewalk and sniffs the snow-covered ground.
“Come, Sherlock,” she calls. Sherlock looks at her, then me, and decides to follow along as we continue to walk.
“What do you do for fun?” I ask.
“I love movies, books, and yoga. Honestly, I’ve been busy with the shop and I've neglected my workouts. I’ve got a serious question for you.”
“Shoot.”
“The owner wants to sell the shop to me, but I'm afraid to take the jump. I’d love to buy it, but I'm not sure if I can swing it. The shop does well but a business is a risky proposition.”
“Wow. That's a huge decision.” I’m not surprised he wants her to buy it. She’s talented. You should do it. I mean, you’re a go-getter and you work hard. It's in a great location. I can't imagine it not doing well.” She appears to be a go-getter, someone who is driven like me. I admire her work ethic and dedication to her craft.
“That's the argument for buying it. However, I’m freaked over the debt I’d incur to buy it.”
“I see your point,” I nod. “You’re there every day whether you own it or not—so, why not? You might surprise yourself.” Why am I encouraging her? What if it doesn't work as planned? “Everything in life has risks. Like they say, if it was easy, everyone would do it.”
“I'm terrified because my mind races with so many things that could go wrong.” Her face is pensive as we amble along. Sherlock is enjoying the cold air. I’m ending a simple walk in the park and relish the fact that to anyone passing by, we’re just. normal couple walking our dog.
Familiarity in life is comforting. I ponder her situation before I say, “It's a huge decision. Why don’t you flip that sentence to ‘What if everything goes well?’ I don't see how it's different from what you're doing. You work there and know it's a successful business. I think that cuts the risk considerably.”
“True.” I notice that Sherlock's leash is wrapped around her hand twice. I’m sure it’s due to the incident.
Would I take the responsibility if it were me? I would have backers to distribute the risk. I would invest what I could lose, so if it failed, I wouldn't be strapped. However, I've never owned a business outright. I work for a huge franchise. I travel and play my best. It's the same routine every year, but it's all I've ever known. Occasionally, I get endorsements, but I follow a script. My point is that my largest risk in life is picking a life partner. And I’ve been working on that for years.
However, I participate in angel investing. I have an investment manager who brings me opportunities. Albeit, it’s a limited liability for me. I front cash I can afford to risk. I do these deals because I like helping others achieve their dreams. It’s rewarding, and it can be profitable. I believe Kenzie has what it takes to run the shop.
“You could get a partner to go into it with you. You can put in a clause to buy them out after a certain period,” I suggest.
“That's a great idea,” she replies wistfully.
“I'm hungry. Why don't we get a bite to eat?”
“I have to take Sherlock home,” she says.
“I'll follow you.”
“Okay.”
I walk her to her older hatchback and notice it doesn’t have the new safety features. Sherlock readily hops into the backseat, and I open her door for her.
“I'm right around the corner,” she says as she slides behind the wheel.
“Great, here. Give me your number just in case,” I reply, handing her my phone.
“Okay.” She types on the keypad and returns it to me.
“I'll follow you.”
She waits for me to get into my vehicle and puts her car into gear.
What am I doing? This was supposed to be a quick meet and greet.
Dinner?
What does she like to eat?