Page 85 of Escorting the CEO
I caught a glimmer of something in her expression—hopefulness?— but she slid her mask back into place before I could decipher it.
“Because we need all the luck we can get.”
“Fair.” She finally smiled. “I’m going to turn in. I’ll see you at the ceremony, Rhodes.”
“See you at the ceremony, Rory.”
We sounded like business partners. Which we were.
Fuck.
I headed to my guest suite with an odd mix of emotions. On the one hand, I was mentally holding my breath, steeling myself. Rory had neither been warm nor open with me during dinner. She was composed, staged, and appropriate.
But on the other hand, I felt an unreasonable spark of hope. I didn’t know how Rory felt, but I noticed a change in myself.
I’d done so very many things wrong in my life. Professionally, I was about to take over Barrington Enterprises to actualize my greatest ambition. But my personal life was still a desert, barren and downright inhospitable to growth.
Rory was an oasis. The feelings she’d stoked in me might be perilous—her very goodness might be a mirage. And she might have decided I wasn’t worth falling for.
But for once, I was going to take a risk.
I’ll have some ofthat,Cousin Andrew said.
I’ll have what he’s having.It was right in front of me, even though I might have messed it up for good.
There was only one way to find out.
I closed my door, stripped out of my suit, and turned on the television. Then I fired off a quick text to Rory.
It’s Game 3. We’re up 2-0.
I already have it on.
I’m sorry about a lot of things.
Not the least of which is that you’re a Mets fan.
She didn’t respond for a full minute. And then:
Well, I am. So is my Grammy.
Being a Mets fan actually taught me a lot.
We know we aren’t defeated when we lose. It’s when we stop trying!
So take that, Evil Empire.
I read her text once. Twice. Three times.
Then I turned off the television and the light.
The sooner I got to sleep, the sooner it would be tomorrow.
RECITE
RORY
I wasup before the sun rose. I pulled back the curtains, watching daylight break over the mountains. It was so beautiful. I cracked the window, letting in the fresh air and the early morning chirps of the birds. The sounds soothed me.
