Chapter 26
A storm raged within me as I walked into my grandparents’ home. Everything Jimmy had said and the reports I’d read weighed on me, and once my phone powered on, the number of notifications was astronomical. Then there was the text from my granddad asking me to go to his house.
Did he think I wouldn’t without being asked?
My sneakered feet pounded on the floor as I crossed the dining room. Grandma was in the kitchen, but I didn’t want to stop and talk for fear I’d burst into tears. I went there to figure out what the hell happened after yesterday’s game. But when Gram wanted something, she made sure she got it. Her spry body moved in front of mine, stopping me in my tracks.
“Sommer, I know that look.” Her gentle hand rose and softly cupped my cheek. “And all I want to say is, Give ’em hell.”
I smiled and nodded. “I plan on it.”
“They’re in the office.”
“They?”
That was when I heard Mason’s voice. I’d never been so infuriated in my life. Rather than stew in the hallway, I threw open the door and barked, “Someone better tell me what the hell is going on. Why on earth would we trade Jimmy Hall?” The question had been directed at both of them, but my eyes were on my granddad’s.
“Why don’t you tell us the real reason you don’t want him traded?” Mason asked with a smarmy look on his face.
“Because he’s the best pitcher in the league?”
“Nice try. How about because you’re sleeping with him?”
I sucked in a sharp breath.
He angled his body toward my grandfather. “Did you know that, Earl? The woman you’re promoting to be my boss is fraternizing with the players. Who else have you slept with?”
“Enough!” my grandfather shouted. “Never, and I mean never, talk to Sommer like that again. My granddaughter can date who she wants when she wants to. And, yes, I did know about her relationship, and it has nothing to do with this.”
Granddad knew? How? My pulse raced straight to my ears. Mason sat there as though he owned the world. As though anything my grandfather said to him didn’t matter. I’d seen him in not-quite-so-tense situations before this, and he’d never looked as calm. Something was up. I just knew it.
Mason picked a tiny piece of lint off his pant leg. “Earl, despite being under contract, I feel it may be best if we part ways. And since the environment is hostile, I’m entitled to full compensation?—”
Granddad cut him off with a loud, “Ha! You’d love that, wouldn’t you, Mason?” He stood from behind his desk, placed his palms on the blotter, and leaned forward. “That won’t happen.”
Regaining his composure, Granddad sat down. I hustled around to his side of the desk, took a stand next to him, and placed my right hand on his shoulder in solidarity. I still had no clue what was about to happen, but regardless of everything, my family came first.
“Care to tell me why you think that? Because I can have my lawyers contact yours.”
“I’d love to tell you. I just got off the phone with Cash Jameson,” Granddad said, and an instant pang hit me square in the sternum. “He was a bit confused as to why we’d want to trade Jimmy Hall. Not because he’s his son, but because he loves this team, and it didn’t make sense to him that, like Sommer said, we’d let our best pitcher go. Smart man.” Mason shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and the leather squeaked beneath him. “Sommer, ask me the terms of the deal.”
“Granddad, what are the terms of the deal?”
“Okay, this is ludicrous,” Mason touted.
“I believe my grandfather was speaking. And last I knew, he was the owner of this team and your boss. It would do you well to shut up and listen to him.”
My grandfather nodded. “The terms were if Mason got Jimmy to go to Omaha next season, then he would get their soon-to-be-vacated VP of player operations position.”
What? Holy shit!
“And Omaha didn’t reach out to him. Mason brokered this deal. It’s a shame it’s null and void.”
Mason’s face could double as a tomato for how red it became. Good, the asshole had it coming. He stood. “You killed the deal?”
“There was no deal. You’re so fond of reading your contract, but you seemed to have missed the part where I sign off on trades. After I spoke with Cash, I called my good friend, Maxwell Sigmond. You know him—he owns the Omaha Braves. It appears that he isn’t a fan of shady dealings either. When I told him that Jimmy Hall wouldn’t be going anywhere, I asked him about what you said to him. And do you know what he told me?”
What? I wanted to say but didn’t.
“He told me that he didn’t make that deal with you. That he never agreed to it. So not only is that nondeal dead, but so is your future here with the Hawks. You’re fired.”
Mason stood up so fast the casters on the chair sent it flying backward. “You’ll regret this, Earl. Do you think this little girl can make the decisions I can?”
“No, I’ll make better ones.” I moved toward him. “I suggest you leave.”
“Yes, we’re done here,” Granddad confirmed.
He shook his head and looked at me. “You’ll be the laughingstock. At least you know how to turn players on. Is that why Hall has been playing so well?”
Before my grandfather could defend me, I reached back and connected my palm with his face. “Get the hell out of my grandparents’ house. You’re done in this business. You think I’ll be the laughingstock? That’s ironic, coming from a man who had to lie to get what he wanted. Omaha didn’t want you—they wanted Jimmy. Just like the Hawks. You can leave now.”
Without a word, he left. “Are you okay, Granddad?”
“Sweetheart, I’m fine. I’m so sorry you had to hear him spew that nonsense. Your slap was impressive.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. Granddad, how did you know that Jimmy and I were dating? I never said anything.”
“It was a hunch. But I’m right, aren’t I?” My solemn nod confirmed his suspicion. “Look, I might be old, but I’m not blind. I saw the way that boy looked at you at the gala. If I were a betting man, I would have put money on you two from the moment you walked into the conference room.”
“The first time we met?” I wanted to laugh, but he looked serious. “How? I couldn’t stand him. And the last thing he wanted was to be tied to a PR person with the last name of Bennett.”
“I’ve been around the block enough times to know when a man is enamored by a woman. And you, my sweet girl, are so special. A man would have to be a fool not to fall for you.”
I stood there and let his words sink in. “None of it matters. It’s over. I messed it up. Thanks to all of this, my report, me not telling him about my promotion ... and I’m not blaming you. That is on me. He doesn’t trust me.” I shrugged. “And what’s a relationship without that? I’m sorry for lying to you too. I just wish everything wasn’t so messed up.”
He pulled me into his arms. The familiar scent of his woody cologne wrapped around me like a cozy blanket. “I love you, Sommer. And I’m so proud of you. Everything will work out.”
Appreciating his love and optimism, I tightened my arms around him. “Thank you, Granddad. I love you too.”
“Now, we have a bit of work to do.”
We spoke for a little bit longer and decided on two things. One, we would hold a press conference in the morning. And two, I needed to speak to my grandmother for boy advice—his words, not mine.
Voices coming from the kitchen put a huge smile on my face. Annie, Lila, Sarah, and Meg were sitting around the table, sipping tea and eating Gram’s famous chocolate chip cookies.
When they spotted me, they all stood and rushed over, enveloping me in a group hug. Words of support came from each of them. I hadn’t called them, but it seems as though Gram had for me.
“I thought you needed girl time,” my sweet grandmother said. “Men ... they’re such simple creatures.”
Sarah nodded. “And your man is fine as hell. It’s no wonder women chased after his ass.” Her face reddened. “Sorry, Gram.”
“Pfft. Honey. I was young once too. And I agree. When we danced at the gala, I felt his arm muscle, and let’s just say I was very happy for my Sommer. And you know what they say about a man who can dance.”
“Ooookay. Enough of that,” I said.
Grandma poured me a cup of hot tea from the carafe and smiled.
“When did you figure it out?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“Sweetheart, anyone could see how that boy felt about you. And I know my girl. I suppose I may have known before you did. I’m sorry you felt as though you needed to hide it. You know that your happiness comes first.”
“I know. It doesn’t matter anyway. I lost him. I’ve never seen him so upset.” I paused, looked down, and mindlessly toyed with the fringe on the place mat. “I told him I loved him.”
Annie placed her hand on my wrist. “Sweetie, what did he say?”
Looking up, I could tell by my friend’s somber expression that mine must have looked the same. “That he doesn’t trust me. Although he did tell me that he loved me. Then he left to go meet someone.”
“If you’re thinking that he went to meet a woman, you’re wrong,” Meg insisted. “He’s at my house. When I left, Ariel had him playing dollies with her. So, yes, he’s with a girl, but she’s a toddler.”
“Holy swoonfest,” Sarah cooed.
Instant relief washed over me, and I couldn’t help but wonder what could have been if I hadn’t kept secrets not only about us but about my job. In retrospect, it felt silly. The weight of regret hung heavy in my heart. Had I just let the one that was meant for me slip away?
Jimmy made my entire body come alive. He could make my heart skip beats with his smile or a simple touch. He cared about people and was a great friend and uncle to Ariel. Every moment we had spent together felt like a dream—something that I’d pictured only in my mind of what being in love would be like.
Was that how he felt when we were together? The happiness that had been so natural no matter how against it I’d been in the beginning. Maybe they were all excuses. From the first day until our last, I’d put up a wall and hadn’t even realized it—or maybe I did. I needed to regain his trust. To do something so grand that even he wouldn’t be able to walk away. And if he did, then maybe we weren’t meant to be together.
“I see those wheels turning. What are you thinking?” Lila asked while my other friends and grandmother looked on.
“He told me he didn’t trust me. I can’t win back his trust overnight, but tomorrow, there’s a press conference. Can you all do me a favor?”
The conspiratorial look in each of their eyes, including my sweet grandma’s, made me smile. “This is what we need to do ...”