Her jaw drops. She is the definition of aghast. “And to think I came all this way to ask you to be my maid of honor.”

  I bark out a laugh, clasping my belly. Truly, that’s hilarious. So damn funny I can’t wait to tell Emerson and Olive and my dad.

  “The answer is no. Let me show you out.” Now my tone isn’t flat, isn’t empty. It’s wickedly amused.

  She’s more selfish than I ever imagined, and I no longer feel small. I no longer feel betrayed by her decision to romance my former fiancé.

  Thank God she took him from me.

  If I’d gone through with that dumb decision, I’d have said I do to the wrong man, a man who wasn’t right for me.

  And if I’d walked down the aisle, I’d never have run into Harlan again. Harlan—the man who makes my heart and body sing.

  There is no convincing, no tricking, no uncertainty with Harlan.

  If my mother hadn’t snagged Silvio, I wouldn’t have found all my own strength—the strength to live entirely differently from her.

  I owe her nothing.

  I owe myself so much more.

  Thank you, universe, for showing me that.

  I stride to the door, yank it open, and sweep out my arm. “I believe we’re done.”

  The second she leaves, I grab my phone, and take the next step—something I should have done a week ago.

  27

  KATIE

  I don’t like to bail on appointments, but I have to. As I snag a Lyft, I call Elliot at my yoga studio.

  “Hey, Ells. I need a favor. Big time.”

  “Anything for you, doll,” he says brightly. “Do you need me to grab you a hot tea or a lemon cookie from Doctor Insomnia’s?”

  “Both sound delish. Get them for yourself and put them on my tab. But actually, I need you to reschedule the videographer. I’m so sorry, and I’ll pay his fee for today, of course. But something came up and I have to take care of it.”

  “Of course, love. Everything okay?”

  I smile, unsure of the answer, but hopeful. “That’s the goal.”

  Then I call Olive to tell her I’m coming to see her, but she doesn’t answer.

  Oh well. I’m going in anyway.

  I’m rarely here at our corporate office in Hayes Valley, but I still know nearly everyone, so I say hi to our employees as I walk through the cubes.

  As I head for Olive’s office, nerves thrum through me.

  Should I have said something to her sooner? Let her in on my plans?

  The nerves take flight as I reach her door, ajar as always. Whether I picked the wrong time or not, I still need to do this.

  Deep breath.

  I’ve got this.

  I rap my knuckles on the wood, peeking around. She’s stretched out on her couch.

  She and Zachary are pointing to his laptop, laughing hard at the screen. “And then it goes like this.” He lifts a hand and mimes swatting something . . . off a counter, maybe?

  Ah, they must be watching cat videos. Olive is addicted to evil cats.

  Olive looks up, laughing still as she waves me in. “You have to see this one. This tuxedo is such an asshole. She knocked over the coffee-maker for literally no reason.”

  Zachary stares at her. “Olive, there’s not no reason. She’s a cat. That’s reason enough.”

  “True, true.”

  I join them on the couch, watching the video of a dastardly cat swatting mugs, vases, shot glasses, and more to the floor in a cacophony of sound and feline destruction. When the demolition is complete, Zachary shuts his laptop, winded from laughter.

  Olive is his twin in chuckling. I’m not sure if this means she’ll be in a better mood to receive my news or if I’m about to burst her bubble.

  Zachary pushes his glasses up his nose then stands, clutching the silver laptop. “I’ve got a conference call, so I better take off. Good to see you, Katie. Don’t be a stranger.” Then he leaves, shutting the door.

  Smart guy.

  Olive sighs happily, then meets my gaze and roams her eyes up and down my frame. “It must be a special day. You’re hardly ever here. Are you going to whisk me off to test that new chocolate shop that just opened today? Because I had plans already to eat my lunch there.”

  “No,” I say, steeling myself to tell her the truth, the full truth, and nothing but. “Listen,” I begin.

  In a nanosecond, she sits up straighter, her expression shifting to intensely serious. “Oh.”

  Images of my mother flicker before my eyes. Her pop-in this morning. Her assumptions. The way she’s lived her life. My deep, potent desire to be the opposite to her. I haven’t entirely been that way these last few days, but I have to be now. If I want to have the life I desire, I can’t operate like her at all. Not one bit. “Mom came by this morning.”

  Olive cringes. “What did she want?”

  “To ask me to be her maid of honor. She’s marrying Silvio.”

  Olive’s jaw clangs to the center of Earth, then back up. “Oh, Katie. I’m so sorry.”

  I shake my head, quickly dismissing any sympathy. “It’s fine. I’m not upset. I don’t care about her or him. But the thing is, I don’t want to be like her. Not at all. And I have been. I haven’t been truthful with you.”

  Confusion crosses her face, lining her brow. “Okay. What do you mean?”

  With my head held high, I begin. “I fell in love with Harlan while working with the Renegades. He’s wonderful and amazing, and I’m going to start seeing him. We were going to wait till the end of the season, and I’ve been looking for a replacement to recommend for the classes I teach them, and I had this whole plan to find someone who they’d want and be impressed with. I was going to finish out the contract and then tell you,” I say, and sadness flickers in my sister’s eyes.

  “You were?” She sounds devastated.

  I’m such an ass for hurting Sassy Yoga. But I have to do this. No matter what.

  “I’m so sorry, Olive. I know it probably seems selfish, and I’m about to tank a deal. But I can’t be this person who’s ridiculously in love with this guy and making plans to be with him and not tell you. And not tell them—Lacey at Wilder Enterprises. I feel like I’m deceiving everyone, and that’s wrong. I hope you can forgive me, but I can’t work with them anymore. And that has to start now.”

  She shakes her head and doesn’t stop shaking it.

  My heart plummets, knowing I’ve disappointed her so terribly. Tears well in my eyes, and a lump forms in my throat.

  “I’m sorry,” I say past the hitch. “I’m sorry I messed up this deal you and Zachary worked so hard for. But I just can’t lead a double life. I need to be honest about this—fully honest. So I’m truly sorry.”

  She gets up, scoots closer, wraps an arm around me.

  Huh.

  That’s not what I expected.

  “Um, I thought you were upset. You were just shaking your head like crazy,” I say, flummoxed.

  She laughs into my hair. “Because I’m so happy for you, you dork.” Then she yanks me in tighter for a hug.

  Second out-of-body experience so far today, and it’s not even noon. But I go with it, hugging her back. “You’re happy for me? You don’t hate me? You don’t think I’m terribly selfish?” I ask against her shoulder as tears slip down my cheeks.

  She shakes her head once again, then breaks the hug but clasps my shoulders. “No. I think this is incredible. I’m happy for you. And telling me takes guts. Being willing to walk away from a deal takes big ovaries. Going after love takes so much courage.”

  Oh, hell. The tears fall even faster. “Really?”

  “Yes, really. You’re not at all like Mom. You’re brave and gutsy, and I think this is fantastic. You could have sneaked around for two more months, but you didn’t.”

  It’s my turn to wince. “Well, we did sneak around yesterday. We had sex at the yoga studio, and then when Mom showed up this morning, I knew I couldn’t wait any longer.”

  She smacks my thigh. “Sex at the studio! Oh my God, you dirty, racy girl. I want to hear how it was.”

  I grin, all hopped up on endorphins again. A tingle races down my chest from the memory. “Amazing,” I say.

  But I’m not only remembering the physical side of our relationship.

  I’m recalling all the emotions.

  And the words.

  And the connection.

  And I can’t wait to share those details with my pack. “He’s a good guy with a big heart, and he’s in love with me too,” I say, feeling all dreamy and warm. “Like, one hundred percent. You and Emerson and Jillian and Skyler have nothing to worry about. He’s worthy.”

  She bounces on the cushion and claps her hands with glee. “Dish. Now. Everything. You’ve been holding back. I demand every swoony and dirty detail.”

  So, I tell her, sharing how we got to know each other better, how we fell for each other over yoga sessions and lunches, over conversations and monkey bread. How all that went down before we smashed into each other again yesterday.

  “Clearly, resistance was futile at that point.” She can’t stop grinning and grabs my hand, squeezes it. “He sounds great. You seem happier than you ever have been. And I know you wanted to see what could happen with him.” Her lips curve into a knowing grin. “Honestly, I had a feeling when you asked about the contract at dinner a couple weeks ago.”

  I tilt my head, grinning. “Yeah, I kinda sensed you did.”

  She rolls her eyes, giving me the most duh of duh looks ever. “Hello! It wasn’t that hard to figure out.”

  “I’ve been researching replacements like crazy. I’ve gone to a ton of classes, and I want to find the perfect person to—hopefully—fulfill the contract. I know the Renegades might say no, and that’s on me. I’ll do whatever you need me to do to find new clients to make up for it. Hell, you can dock my profits until we sort this out.”

  A wild snort emanates from her. “Oh my God. You’re hilarious. Dock your profits? Give me a break. It’s our company. Yours and mine—equal ownership. I’m not docking your profits. We both took on the risks, and I’m not going to punish you.”

  “You’re not?”

  “Did you think I would?” She pokes my chest, then hisses. “Now I am pissed at you.”

  I sigh, but I’m smiling and she is too. “I just want to do right by you and the company.”

  “And you are,” she says, then winks. “But don’t you worry. I’ve got your back.”

  Intrigued, I arch a brow. “What do you mean?”

  “Like I said, I had a feeling this might happen. So I’ve been scouting replacements for you too.”

  I squeal now—full on, through the roof. “Oh my God. You have?”

  She taps her temple. “Sister intuition.”

  “I’ll say.”

  Olive’s not the only one I need to talk to, though. I square my shoulders. “I really want to let Lacey know today. I don’t want to pretend any longer.”

  Olive pops up. “Let’s do it.”

  My sister heads to her desk, calls Wilder Enterprises, and asks for Lacey. They set up a time to meet tomorrow, and Olive says she’ll come with me.

  Funny, how I pictured going it alone—doing this whole fix-my-mess-by-myself thing.

  But my friends and my sister have been by my side all along.

  Especially when Olive settles in next to me and we discuss her options, then mine, reviewing teachers and putting together a new plan. It feels amazing to have this kind of support.

  But then, that’s what we’ve always done—support each other.

  And it feels so damn good to have her here with me today.

  28

  KATIE

  There is someone else who supports me too.

  Who’s a big part of this situation.

  Who’s the very reason for it.

  I ring Harlan, but I don’t expect him to answer. He’s in practice most of the day. Still, I want him to know what’s going on.

  When I reach his voicemail, I end the call and click to text.

  Better to just tell him everything.

  Katie: Hello! Can you say busy day? It’s been one. My mother showed up unexpectedly at my place this morning, and it was kind of eye-opening. She asked me to be her maid of honor at her upcoming wedding. I said no. And I felt great. Amazing. Because I felt nothing for her—no anger, no hurt, no annoyance. I felt lucky to be on the other side. But I also realized, I don’t want to be like her one bit. So, I’m not asking you to change anything, but I don’t want to do this secretly any longer. I told Olive today, and we’re working together to find the best replacement for me to present to Lacey. I know this is all happening sooner than expected, but . . . I didn’t feel right pretending anymore. Especially after yesterday. I am falling for you, and I can’t keep working with the team and you this closely, knowing how I feel. I hope you understand. I’m working at the office with my sister today. Call me or text me or something!

  Before I hit send, I review the message, a new dose of anxiety running through me. Have I stepped out of bounds with Harlan? Assumed too much? Am I going all Lone Ranger?

  But then, I replay what he said in his kitchen as we made monkey bread: whenever it works for you, I’m by your side.

  I need to trust that he meant it. That he’s able to handle this change in plans.

  That’s part of his job—to react to split-second shifts on the field. To his quarterback calling audibles. To getting open when other receivers are swarmed.

  Harlan, I sure hope you’re open to catch this pass I’m lobbing your way.

  But whether he is or not, I need to do this for me.

  This is the right way to live. This makes me happy.

  And I’m doing it.

  My phone is silent the rest of the afternoon as I go for a swim to calm my nerves, then still as Olive and I bring Zachary into the plans and finalize our ideas with him.

  They might also watch a few more cat videos.

  As a big orange cat leaps onto a piano on Zachary’s screen, I check my phone again, hoping for a reply.

  But there isn’t one.

  I swim back into work. We make calls and come up with a pitch that we hope Lacey will love. I try not to stress about hearing from Harlan.

  Besides, there’s time. I’ll surely talk to him tonight, and we’ll be all set before Olive and I see Lacey tomorrow.

  But at four-thirty, my sister sighs a heavy, “Oh.”

  I snap up my gaze from my phone, tension tightening in me. “What is it?”

  She hums thoughtfully at her desk, then raises her face from the screen. “Lacey just emailed me. She says she has an all-day meeting tomorrow, but she lives in Hayes Valley and wants to grab a drink in an hour.”

  My heartbeat races to the moon.

  It’s fine, it’s fine, it’s fine.

  I repeat that over and over.

  I call up my yoga mantras too.

  Yoga and wine and coffee and something. Yoga is how I pretend to be calm . . . and fuck! I’m not calm. I can’t settle down.

  But I need to. I need to trust Harlan meant it when he said he’d be by my side.

  I need to trust I’m not hurting him.

  I take a deep breath, set a hand on my chest, and will my heart to quiet.

  I send him one more message as we leave the office.

  Katie: Hi!!!!! I’m freaking out. Is everything okay?

  But I don’t hear from him as we head to the bar to meet Lacey, and I do my best to be the cool, collected businesswoman I am.

  Or should be.

  When I reach the lobby of our building, I’m anything but cool and collected. Especially not when Harlan walks through the revolving door and straight toward me.

  29

  HARLAN

  That was an exhausting practice.

  But a damn good one. I knock fists with Cooper, then Jones as we leave the field. It’s been a long-ass day of stretching, game film, drills, and playbook review.

  Then lots of time with the receiver’s coach.

  “I feel good and ready for Sunday. You guys?” I ask.

  “Hell, yeah,” Jones says.

  “Bring on New York. If we win, we’ll clinch a playoff post,” Cooper adds.

  “Gee, I hadn’t noticed,” Jones deadpans.

  “Smartass,” Cooper says as we head down the corridor. “The wife is coming, and the kids, and I cannot wait to give her a kiss at the edge of the field once we secure our spot. It’s my lucky tradition, and I won’t break it.”

  “I’ll do the same with my woman,” Jones adds.

  “You two are too cute,” I say, shaking my head in amusement at their romantic antics.

  But inside, my heart squeezes a little harder than I’d like. I want what these guys have. Want it badly.

  Took me long enough to find the woman I want to share those moments with. But I’ve found her, and I can’t wait to start up with her for real.

  In public.

  In the light of every damn day.

  The possibility of that someday, maybe next season, brings a smile to my face.

  “What are you grinning about, chuckles?” Cooper asks when we reach the locker room.

  “Just thinking about games and stuff,” I say. It’s sort of true, and sort of not.

  I hit the shower and get dressed, and once I’m buttoning my shirt, I grab my phone from my locker.

  “See you all tomorrow,” I tell the guys as I take off, powering on my cell as I go.

  Once I’m in the hallway, I order a Lyft, then my notifications light up.

  I check to make sure Danielle’s got Abby as planned.

  Yup. All set.

  Abby even texted me from Danielle’s phone with an I love you!!!!!!!!

  Complete with eight exclamation points and, also, nine heart emojis.

  I write back, telling my girl I love her too, then I find a text from the woman I’m crazy for, and I slide it open.

  Whoa.