Chapter 31
Thirty-One
KAI
My stomach does a complete somersault, which isn’t great because I have half of a crab cake in there.
“Okay, what is it?”
“Sabrina Stevenson would like to speak with you directly,” Professor Murphy continues. “She’s available for a call tomorrow at nine, because she would like to extend the fellowship offer formally, assuming you’re still interested.”
“What?” I grip my phone tighter. “I mean, yes, I’m definitely still interested.”
“Good,” she says. “She mentioned that she values candidates who can handle young, complex personalities in high-profile environments. Her agency carries a strong roster of rookie talent. That’s who you’d probably be working with.”
I glance at Bass, and he’s watching me like he is trying to breathe through my nerves with me.
“Thank you,” I say, and my voice shakes. “Thank you for recommending me.”
“No thank you’s are needed. You earned the recommendation,” Professor Murphy replies. “The timeline is tight, but I’ll have her office reach out via email tonight with the video conference information.”
“Wait, it’s a video call?”
I shouldn’t have had this drink or the second one that’s about to come to our table.
“Yes, did I forget to mention that?”
“It’s fine. I’ll be ready.”
“Congratulations, Kai.”
When the call ends, I stare at my phone for a second, then look up.
“Well?” Bass’s eyes are wide. “Was that the call?”
I nod slowly. “That was it.”
He reaches across the table and grips my hand. “What did she say?”
“Sabrina Stevenson reached out to her. They’re offering me the fellowship.”
Bass freezes, then his whole face shifts, joy and pride and relief rolling over him so hard it makes my chest ache.
“Holy shit!” he exclaims, then he stands up so abruptly the table wobbles. “Holy shit, Kai!”
“Bass,” I hiss, laughing as people look over.
He leans down and kisses me, slow and firm, right there in the restaurant, and the kiss tastes like cognac mixed with a little world domination.
“You did it, baby,” he says against my mouth. “I knew you’d fucking do it.”
“It’s not totally official yet. I have a call with Mrs. Stevenson tomorrow morning,” I tell him, but my voice is weak because I’m smiling too hard.
He sits back down, still grinning. “It’s official if the boss is calling.”
I laugh, then I wipe at my eyes because the tears come anyway.
Bass’s expression softens as he watches me. “Hey.”
“I’m fine,” I insist, trying to control my emotions.
“No,” he says gently. “You’re allowed to be overwhelmed.”
“I’m just not used to so many good things happening at once.” I exhale, thinking about everything it took me to reach this point.
“I get it. You’ve worked your ass off for a really long time.” He nods. He leans in, eyes steady. “But also know this, Kai Vega: good things happen to good people.”
I would have preferred to spend the rest of the night lost in Bass’s arms, but I needed a good night’s sleep in my own bed to be ready for my morning call with Sabrina Stevenson. It’s probably a good thing I did, because the call was fantastic. We clicked right away.
The terms were fair. The offer is for a one-year paid fellowship with the agency, with the chance of full time employement afterwards.
The role is brand new at the company, so I’d have a hand in designing my own workflow.
It’s honestly the perfect scenario. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for someone my age.
There’s only one hitch.
And I hold my breath when I tell it to Bass, who’s come over to my apartment for an after-the-call celebratory brunch. Sue made it for us, then found somewhere to conveniently go to so we’d have the place to ourselves for a few hours.
I love that girl hard.
“The fellowship is in New York City.”
His eyes drop to the floor, then he quickly rebounds. “Well, we knew that was a possibility. That’s where her husband plays ball, and that’s where they live.”
“Right.”
He takes a moment, then says the thing we both already know.
“The New York Rangers aren’t one of the teams interested in me, but remember our deal, Kai. We can make anything work for a year.”
“Right,” is my only response to the truth between us, trying not to completely fall apart.
“Come here, baby.” I fold into his massive embrace. “You have to celebrate success when it comes,” he encourages me. “Right?”
“Since when are you the rational one in this relationship?”
“Since I found a reason to be.”
We clink our glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice together in a celebratory cheer.
Clink.
We’re staring into each other’s eyes, because that seems to be what we do lately when we’re not all over each other, when his phone vibrates on the table.
He glances down, and his face shifts in a way that makes my stomach drop.
“What now?” I ask.
He picks up the phone, and his thumb hovers over the screen like he’s afraid to touch it.
“Your turn,” I say, because my body is already bracing for bad news for some reason. “Answer it.”
He exhales, then answers. “Hello.”
I watch him carefully as he listens, and his posture changes, shoulders squaring, jaw tightening, his eyes going distant like he is suddenly somewhere else.
“Yes, sir,” he says.
He takes a beat.
“Yes.”
Another beat.
He glances at me, and his gaze is so intense it makes my breath catch.
“Yes, I understand,” he says, and his voice is calm, but his fingers are shaking around the phone. “Thank you. Yes, I will.”
He hangs up and stares at the table like it is not real.
“Bass,” I whisper. “What is it?”
He looks up at me slowly, and his eyes are bright, almost stunned.
“It was Vegas,” he says.
My heart stops. “What?”
“The three of us got offers.” He swallows.
“All three of you?”
Three players going pro from the same graduating class is practically unheard of in VCU’s division. It will be a huge deal for the school and an even bigger one for Bass, Neo and Shane.
“Neo’s going to the Devils.”
“So Jersey.”
“Yeah.”
“And Shane?”
“Vegas.”
“And you?” My heart is beating a mile a minute. Uncertain of what he’ll tell me.
“Vegas wants me too.”
I stare at him, completely still. “So you’re staying here?”
“It’s a real good offer too, Kai,” he says, and his voice cracks just slightly. “I’m going to the NHL.”
My breath leaves me in a rush.
My fellowship.
His pro deal.
We’re not in the same city, but suddenly that doesn’t matter as much to me. We both got what we’ve desperately worked for our entire lives. Maybe the universe is finally giving us a break.
I laugh first, because it bursts out of me, wild and disbelieving, and then I stand and walk around the table and straddle his lap. Bass’s hands catch me automatically, locking around my waist. “Kai.”
“I’m so happy for you, Morelli,” I tell him, gripping his face with both hands as I stare into his eyes. “Do you understand that?”
He laughs, breathless. “I’m happy for me too.”
Our kiss is not polite or careful; it’s hungry and relief and laughter all at once. When I finally pull back, his forehead rests against mine.
“One year,” he whispers.
“Three hundred and sixty-five days,” I echo, and my throat tightens so hard I almost cannot speak. “We can do it.”
“Of course, the fuck we can.” He closes his eyes, and when he opens them again, he looks wrecked in the best way. “I told you I was not letting you go.”
I brush my thumb under his eye, and my voice comes out soft. “I was so scared you would.”
He shakes his head. “Never.”
I swallow. “And when you play against Neo, you can stay at my place. New Jersey and New York City are like kissing cousins.”
“That’ll be fun.” Bass’s mouth quirks. “Maybe we should practice now what that might feel like.”
“You want to have a celebratory quickie?” I chuckle.
He sweeps me up into his arms and walks me back to my bedroom as I burst into laughter.
“Or maybe not so quick, Vega.”