Fourth Down (Portland Pioneers 1)

“Hey yourself,” he says. “How’s Portland?”

“I love it.” Although, after Julius left the other night, not so much. I don’t know why I expected him to spend the night, but I did. I wanted to move from the couch to my bedroom and make love to him again. But when I asked him to come to bed, he told me he had to leave. “Why do I sense hesitation in your voice?”

I glance up and look at my reflection. There are bags under my eyes, something I will have to hide with a copious amount of concealer and foundation. These are from a lack of sleep and energy. I didn’t run yesterday or today because my mind is hosting its own marathon, and I couldn’t drag my sorry ass out of bed.

“You don’t,” I tell Camden. “Just surprised to hear your voice.”

“Well, when you didn’t text me back right away, I started to worry. Then, before too much panic set in, I figured you were busy and had an erratic schedule being the new person on set. However, it’s been a few days, and I’m starting to worry. Is everything okay?”

I close my eyes and drop my head toward my chest. Camden has always been preceptive, except when it came to our relationship. He always knew when something bothered me but had the hardest time figuring out why we were breaking up when we meshed so well.

“Everything is good. I was at a cocktail party when your text came in, and honestly, I just forgot to respond when I got home that night.”

“Party with the bigwigs?” he asks with a hint of humor in his voice.

“Peyton Westbury,” I tell him. “We’ve grown close since I moved here, and she and her husband have me over often.”

“See, I knew Portland would be good for you. How’s the rain?”

I look around my walled-in dressing room, wishing I could see the outside. “It’s been raining for days, but I honestly don’t mind it. It’s better than snow.”

“And what’s Portland like?”

“The fall has been beautiful. When I arrived, everything was still in bloom. My apartment is right on the waterfront, and there’s a paved path for people to use—lots of green space, food vendors, and a ton of artists. Portland has a great vibe. I stay close to my apartment. I’ve walked to work a few times, but like with any city, there needs to be a massive clean-up.”

“So, about this job?”

“Yeah, what can you tell me about it?” While this would be my dream job, when I received his text message the other night, I wasn’t interested because I let my feelings for Julius cloud my judgement, but now . . . Now, I feel like I need to do what’s best for my career and ignore my heart. It was a mistake getting involved with a recently separated man. Camden goes on to tell me about the job. The most enticing part is I’d be working with him. We’d travel to most of the locations together, setting up on opposite sides of the cities we’re in to give viewers a broad scope of whatever weather phenomenon is happening. The only thing he can’t tell me is what I’d be paid, which I knew. Camden would not know that.

“What do you think?”

“I think,” I say, then pause to inhale. “It’s exactly what I’ve dreamed of.”

“Yes!” I imagine Camden doing some sort of fist bump when he says this. His enthusiasm makes me smile.

“I’ll send my resume over in a few minutes. Thank you, Cam.”

“Of course. When I saw the posting, I told my boss that I knew the right person for the job. I swear, it’s yours if you want it.”

“I do want it, although I hate to leave here. Leon has been so amazing to me, but I also don’t want to pass up the opportunity.”

“I know what you mean,” Camden says. “But I think Leon would understand if you took a national job. These don’t come along too often.”

I agree with him, and after a few more minutes of chatter, we hang up. I chance another look in the mirror and notice there’s some life to my face. My cheeks are pinker, and my eyes seem brighter. The bags are still beacons though, reminding me why I feel the way I do.

After hanging up with Camden, I send my resume off without any hesitation. I’d hate to leave Leon after everything he’s done for me, but Cam is right—a job like this doesn’t come along very often, and I need to seize the opportunity presented. Being a national weather correspondent is what I want. I want to be where the storms are, standing in the parking lot while a category four pushes toward the mainland.

I head over to Lisette’s office and ask her to come to my dressing room, telling her I need some assistance with my make-up. She comes over and tells me to sit, and starts working on my face.