Chapter 15
Grace
My plate’s been overfull in the three weeks since my time at Johnson’s house. Three classes, the auction prep, and helping Landon consumes my days.
Landon’s had more drama going on with Rori too, as she decided to end things. My heart has been hurting for him, so I’ve tried to get to his house for dinner every night to keep him company.
Juggling it all is a lot.
On the flip side, being busy has helped me not think about what happened with Johnson at his house. Well, I won’t say I haven’t thought about it at all, but I’ve managed not to over-analyze it.
His hesitation isn’t about you, I’ve told myself repeatedly.
I know he said that maybe something could happen after the season, but how realistic is that? He easily could be dating another woman by then, and even if not, I’m not sure the dynamic with my brother will be any different.
The most difficult part is that I’d acknowledged being open to the possibility of something happening between us. So it’s hard to get that door back closed. Over the objections in my head, my heart is keeping the hope alive that something will evolve eventually, if only I’m patient enough.
The good/bad news is that Johnson is staying “friendly” as he promised, still texting to check on the auction developments.
However, he’s missed all the weekly gala co-chair meetings since the first one. I’m not letting that bother me too much. Between finishing training camp, getting through three pre-season games, and prepping for the first regular season game against Washington, his schedule’s as crazy as mine.
Also, it’s probably best we haven’t seen each other in person. No tension, no awkwardness that way.
Though, there’ll be no missing him for the actual auction. Just stay in business mode that night, I tell myself.
As busy as I have been, there’s daylight on the horizon.
When I wake up today, the last Monday of finals week, the immediate demands for the summer term of school are dwindling.
I’ve submitted all my required papers, and I only have one test and the post-auction report to finish.
Even though the auction is two days away, there’s finally breathing room on my to-do list.
I’m going to go to the Tolliver track again. It’ll only be the third time, and a fun change of pace now that I have some spare room on my schedule.
Once there, I note a significant difference in the activity around the athletic complex.
Now that it’s late August, the Tolliver undergrad fall sports are in full swing, and even the winter sports programs have informal workouts.
Whereas my two runs here in July were quiet, I’m dodging and weaving people on the way to the track.
When I line up to start, I move to lane two.
Two was my lucky number back in school. Whether it was a trick of the mind or true serendipity, every time I was assigned two as my start lane or hip number (the small sticky label we wear on our hip for a race), something good happened.
A win, qualifying for the next round, a personal best—whatever was on the table at that moment.
Since I haven’t been track running, I hadn’t even thought about my lucky number for over a year. I smile at the reconnection now, though.
I begin without any fanfare, and once I’m spinning around the 400 meter loop of the track, I’m able to block out my surroundings.
Almost. I do see a couple of women runners putting in serious times in conjunction with my laps. I assume they’re part of the track and field team, because normies don’t do in mile intervals at the speeds I’m seeing.
None of my business though. I’m here to enjoy the track.
After I finish, I head to where my duffle bag is sitting on the ground, check my pulse (not bad), and sip some water.
“Grace Battle?”
I turn around and see a thirty-something woman in Tolliver gear. A navy t-shirt and grey shorts, both with the school’s logo.
“Yes, that’s me.”
She smiles, looking happy to be right. “Hi, I’m Shelley Page, or ‘Coach Shelley’ as the track team calls me. I recognized you from your college years. You looked great out there.”
From my college years? I don’t want to be rude, so I respond simply. “Thank you.”
She doesn’t budge from her spot, even with my short reply. “What are you doing here at Tolliver? You graduated from Princeton two years ago, right?”
I guess there’s no avoiding this conversation. “I actually go to business school here now. Since last year.”
“Oh, wow. That’s incredible, I had no idea. Are you working with the Fairview Elite Group while you’re here in Florida?” Fairview is one of the pro track and field coaching groups that attracts national and world contenders. Their facility is about an hour away.
Unfortunately, I need to burst her bubble.
“No, I’m not running at that level anymore. Just casually.”
I watch her show a flash of surprise, which she quickly wipes away. “Ah. Okay. Well, it’s great to meet you. I’ll never forget all the showdowns between you and Shantal at the NCAAs.”
Shantal Merit was my main competition in college.
I smile a little at the mention of her name.
We’d built up a friendly rapport at meets after years of battling each other.
Trading off being first and second at most smaller meets, though at the major ones there were other serious competitors challenging me too.
She did end up going pro, but I haven’t let myself check any competition standings.
“Well, great to meet you. I’ll try to stay and watch your practice.” I say the last bit to be polite, since I don’t see myself watching a practice anytime soon.
She nods and walks away, and I have a sad realization.
Shoot, I may not be able to run at this track anymore.
Because I’m not interested in having eyes on me during my runs.
The waning days before the auction have my mind going a mile a minute, but deep down I know we’re ready.
All the donations are collected and waiting to be taken to the gala.
All RSVPs are final, with almost everyone we wanted to come having confirmed.
The hotel event planner has the chef, servers, and facility staff fully prepped.
I also have my dress and shoes pulled aside, so no worries there. Knock on wood, we’re in great shape.
During the last couple of hours, Susie and I have been meeting with Roderick Hayes, a local news anchor who is experienced in running bid auctions for charity events. He and I are going to co-host that part of the night.
Theoretically, I should be nervous about being on stage—it’s definitely not my preference to be the center of attention. But Susie and Roderick keep pumping me up, helping my confidence a ton.
“Just be yourself,” Susie guides me. “You have such a natural charm, don’t worry about putting on any facade.”
“Yes, and leave the jokes to me.” Roderick chuckles. “Although I can’t promise some won’t be cheesy.”
Happily, we’ll have a floor monitor on the stage with all the bid details and transitions for the night. It will be my cheat sheet, worst case.
“My last words of wisdom,” Roderick adds. “No matter what, just smile.”
As I drive home to my condo from the Waves facility, my prevailing feeling is one of calm.
Everything’s organized, everything’s perfect, everything’s ready.
And then as I walk in my door, I see that an unexpected text came in while I was driving.
From Rori Reilly, Landon’s ex-situationship. Wanting to talk.
Okay. This summer they’d agreed on “no labels,” but in reality there were lots of feelings involved.
It’s been three weeks since their breakup, and Landon is just starting to get over it.
At the same time, I know he wishes the breakup had never happened.
So I decide I better see what Rori wants instead of ignoring the message.
I pour myself a small glass of wine and text her back.
GRACE: Yes, I’m free now.
Her call comes right away.
“Hi, Rori.”
“Hi Grace, thanks for talking to me.” Rori and I haven’t spent a lot of quality time together yet, but we’ve had several casual conversations. She’s only twenty, so in theory I should feel a bit of an age gap, but she’s so confident, it always feels like she’s the older one.
Her voice is wavering now, though. “I don’t know what you’re going to think about this, but…I really messed up with Landon.”
“Okay?”
“I cut him off because I was freaking out about a bunch of media stuff at once, and it was really dumb. Immature.”
My default sisterly position is always to have Landon’s back, but the fact that she’s so contrite from the start helps me slow down and listen.
“It’s good that you’re recognizing that. My brother didn’t deserve for you to end things. Especially the way you did.” Which was via text—tell me you’re twenty without telling me you’re twenty.
Her voice cracks. “I know.” She’s quiet for a minute. “I…I really want to apologize to him and see if he’ll give me another chance, but it’s hard to know where to begin. Between our schedules and living across the state from each other…it just feels like I should do this in person.”
I stay quiet, not sure what I think yet.
“So I had an idea. The Waves gala is in a couple of days, right? The one he wanted to take me to?”
I’m starting to guess where she’s headed.
“It is.”
“What if I showed up to that?”
My mind immediately begins clicking through pros and cons as someone who loves Landon. Pro—they find a way to reconcile, and he has the first woman he’s really cared for back in his life. Con—he rejects her apology and maybe has a bad night at the auction.
I start leaning towards one option right away, but I want to pressure test Rori’s mindset more first.
“So I have to ask, if I help you, how do I, or by extension Landon, know that you won’t do this again?”
She lets out a pained sigh. “I know. I’m going to have to build trust again.
But I think…I’ve just needed to do some growing up here.
The media heat, all the pressure on the tour right now—I took it out on him, on the wrong thing.
I see that now, how badly I messed up. I will never do that again, if he gives me another chance. ”
With Rori admitting her mistakes, and the possibility of Landon having a happily ever after far outweighing the risk of him having a bad night at the gala, I make my decision.
“Okay. I’ll help you.”
“Oh my god, thank you. Should I buy a ticket?”
The event is sold out, though I know Susie would find a way for Rori Reilly to attend no matter what. But now that I know Rori will come, I switch from sister mode, and put on my auction-planner hat.
“Actually, I have a different idea.” I share more about the auction, and propose she be a surprise guest at the end, donating signed gear or something.
“How would I get a chance to talk to Landon then?”
She’s right. We would want them to have the opportunity to speak, or the whole thing is pointless. I brainstorm really quickly and come up with another option.
“What about donating a Meet & Greet at the auction plus tennis lessons? I’d just have to figure out a way to make sure he bids, and then you’d have multiple chances to be with him in person if he wins.”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
I share more logistics now that we know the plan, and after hanging up, I text Susie and Roderick with the update. Needless to say, they’re ecstatic at the donation I secured from Rori.
The last part to figure out? How can I make sure Landon bids at all…
It takes me only a minute to realize I need help from the one person I was hoping to keep my distance from.
Shoot.
And then I message Johnson: Can you talk? I have a mission for you during the bidding.
A minute or so later, his response comes in.
JOHNSON: Yes, I’m at your command. Call me.
Here goes nothing. I dial his number.
“Hi, Grace.” The rumble of his voice makes my chest tighten.
Ugh, that’s not going to help me stay focused.
“Hi. Sorry to bug you.”
“No bother at all. What’s my mission?”
My chest squeezes again at the gravel in his tone. God, did I forget how deep his voice was or something? I need him to stop talking.
Blocking out my body’s reaction, I try to stay on track. “So I just spoke to Rori. You’ll have to trust me on this, but she’s genuinely sorry for how she acted with Landon and wants to apologize.”
“Okay…” He sounds uncertain now. Whether it’s related to Rori or because he’s wondering why I’m calling, I’m not sure.
“Long story short, she’s coming to the gala now.”
“Oh, shit.” That reaction I completely understand.
“It’s going to be good. It’s going to be fine.” I explain what she’s donating and why we picked those items. “So you see, I need to make sure Landon actually takes advantage of the chance for time with her, so they can talk.”
He hums into the phone, things now clicking for him.
“You’ll be at the same table as him, I made sure of it, so you guys have fun during dinner. I need help when the bidding starts, though.”
“I have a couple of ideas in mind. One is easy—I win the bid and gift the prizes to him.”
A surge of relief passes through me. “That would work.”
“I’m up for this challenge, I promise, Grace. Leave it to me.”
He asks me a few more questions before we say our goodbyes.
As soon as I hang up, I collapse in a chair. You did it. I survived a phone call with Johnson.
Now I just need to survive being in his presence for the first time in weeks at the auction, and make sure the Landon-Rori situation doesn’t blow up.
Like Roderick said, no matter what happens, I’ll just smile.