The truth is, it’s not just my career riding on this, but so much more.
My bestie chuckles over the phone. “That’s why the plan is to ambush him outside of my gym. That way, there are no doors for him to slam in that pretty face of yours.”
“I was speaking figuratively,” I add sarcastically. “Either way, I’ll never know if I don’t try. Right?”
Jade’s voice goes up a notch. “That’s the spirit! Give it the ol’ college try.”
Somedays the thought of being back in college again has its appeal. When Jade and I had no responsibilities other than studying, playing basketball, and attending every frat party on campus. We were a pair to be reckoned with and took life by storm. It was all so easy back then.
Until real life interrupted our fun.
It happened our last year in college together. We had our whole lives planned out. It was going to be perfect. But then my dad was killed in a freak farm accident. My mom was devastated and needed me home because, by that time, my sister Hannah was already married and pregnant with her first-born, my niece Holly.
The burden fell on me to help. I went home every weekend to manage things the best I could, but it wasn’t enough to keep things going. My mom finally gave up and lost the farm.
And we soon lost her from a heart attack.
While all this transpired, I was gone every weekend. Jade was left to her own devices and something terrible happened to her. At least, I think it did. I just don’t know what.
She’s never said a word about it, but that spring, she changed. Her once happy and fun demeanor turned inward and sullen. She became thin and withdrawn, keeping to herself, and no longer going to parties or socializing. Something that was once soft in Jade had hardened behind her eyes.
It tore me apart knowing my best friend was hurting inside but didn’t feel she could open up and share it with me. But I never pushed to find the answer because at twenty-two, having just dealt with the loss of both my parents in less than year, and the loss of our family farm and home, I didn’t have the capacity to handle anything else.
I plugged along, finished my degree, and found the first job I could in the Tri-Cities in the broadcasting field.
Since then, I’d moved into a slightly bigger market in Spokane, where at least we have a few farm teams and good college sports to report on, but it’s still not where I need to be.
Money isn’t what’s driven me into this career. I love sports and reporting. It’s in my blood. But just as I once did for my mom to help save our farm from foreclosure, I do now out of necessity for my sister. I need to find a way to earn more money.
Without any other easy path to promotion, my only option is scoring an exclusive with Marek.
My sister’s life depends on it. She depends on me. My two nieces depend on me, which is why I can’t fail. I’ve got one shot and one shot only.
“I’ve cleared my calendar for next week and requested the time off. Can I crash at your place while I’m in Seattle?”
Jade sniffs at this question. “Do you even have to ask? Of course, you can. What’s mine is yours. But you’ll have to share it with Tubby.”
I groan at the mention of her evil black devil of a dog the size of a rodent who hates me, for some reason. It’s some sort of Chihuahua-terrier mix, and it believes it’s a Pit Bull.
“I’m sure I can put up with him for a few days,” I grouse. “You did declaw him, didn’t you?”
She snorts. “You don’t do that with dogs, silly. Okay, bye now.”
I see her hand flash in front of the camera before she disconnects so quickly, I can’t even get out a curse word.
Tubby problems or not, I now have to prepare myself in the event I can first accidentally bump into Marek as he leaves the club. Then, butter him up and maybe even flirt a little. Lastly, introduce myself as a sports journalist who wants an exclusive without sounding on the edge of desperation.
Yeah, that sounds easy enough.