This is the nicest thing someone has done for me since my dad adopted me, and I don’t know what to say to him as we drive back to the hotel. It's too much. Sex is one thing, but this? Finding what makes me happiest and making it happen? First the filming and now this effort to make up for me missing my race. He knows me, and I realize how good it feels to be seen like this. And that makes it sting worse, because I can't be with him, and I hate that. He drapes an arm over my shoulders and plays with my hair, tucking and untucking it from behind my ear. I’m unsettled by how comfortable this feels, and know that I can’t let anyone see. I whisper to him, “What if the driver puts something on social media?”
Ty drops a kiss on my cheek and pulls out his wallet. “I’ve got his business card, and I tipped him well not to. No worries, babe. I’ve been indiscreet with women before, you know.”
I nod. “Yes, Tyrion, I do know. That’s how you wound up with such a specific contract.”
He laughs, but doesn’t move away and eventually I let myself sink into his body like a warm blanket.
“I thought today was just a regular race you were missing, JJ. And that was bad enough. Why didn’t you tell me you were missing nationals,” he asks after a long silence. The truth is that I don’t know. I never considered competing at nationals solo...and Derrick knew that I couldn’t travel with the team, even as an alternate, because I had to be here with the Fury. I’ve been very disappointed that Murdo’s recklessness cost me something I care about so deeply. I think about how I’ll be flying back to a lonely apartment while the team will be out celebrating together, regardless of today’s race outcome.
“I haven’t finished deciding how I feel about it,” I tell him by way of response. When he kisses me, turning my cheek up toward his mouth with his big hand, it’s passionate and soft, pleading and apologetic all at once.
“Juniper,” he whispers against my face. As the car pulls into the hotel drive, I stiffen. There are people everywhere, most with cameras. I leap from the car before it has a chance to come to a complete stop, willing Ty not to shout after me from the open window.
I manage to rush to his room and grab my bag. I can't do this. I can't risk being seen. I've been foolish. I scrawl I'm sorry on the hotel notepad on the desk in Ty's room and scurry out the front door without passing him in the hall. I grab a taxi straight for the airport, texting Matty that I won't be at the meeting and to send me any documents electronically. Matty can handle it, whatever it is. I spend the entire flight home trying to figure out how I’ll deal with all the feelings I shouldn’t have about Tyrion Stag, and then I push all that down inside and pull up other client contracts until I'm bleary-eyed from work.
Monday, Tim calls me into his office. He’s worked out a deal for the baseball pitcher and can jump back in as point person with the NHL contracts. “Well that’s shitty timing,” I tell him, not bothering to hide the frustration in my voice.
“Juniper, I know this has been a lot to dump on you, especially when you are so new. That’s partly why I wanted to talk with you today.” He slides a folder across the desk, and I open it, raising an eyebrow at him in confusion. “I have a meeting with the Cavs,” he says, grinning.
“The Cavs? Like in Cleveland?” He nods. “Tim, that’s two hours away from here. How are we going to service those clients?”
He seems to brush aside my remarks, telling me what an opportunity this is for the firm and what an honor it should be to get considered for such an important contract. "We're going to have to really stretch ourselves to land this fish, Juniper." He asks me to help him prepare for a meeting with their executives next week.
I can't believe he's missing the point like this. Talk about no work-life balance. This is a nightmare. “I will help you prepare for the meeting, but I need you to know that I can’t be involved in case work that takes me to Cleveland. As I said before, I value my free time more than a higher salary--”
“Juniper.” Tim’s voice is sharp. “This is the direction the company is heading. We are expanding. Rapidly. In no small part because of your work here this month! Now get the hell out of here and help me prepare the brief.”
I raise both brows at him and stand. I move to walk out and he spins around in his desk chair. “One other thing.”
Fuck. Does he know? He would have led with it if he knew I was sleeping with his brother…right? I decide to stick with my irritated demeanor. “What now? Wooing a team in Tennessee perhaps?”
“Don’t be a smart-ass, Juniper. That’s not your style. No. The Fury's post-season gala is this Friday. Would you like to go as our representative? You did the bulk of the work, after all.”
I consider this for a moment. A fancy party does sound nice, especially after the stress I’ve been under, but how can I go to a gala and simultaneously prepare for a meeting with a client I don't want our firm to take on? I open my mouth to decline, but Tim starts talking first.
“I’ll have Donna send you the details. It’s black tie. Bring a date.” Tim walks me out of his office and closes the door. I hear him yell through the closed wood, “I want an update on the Cavs strategy tomorrow morning!”
A black tie formal and a major client pitch all in one week. Good thing I don't have a life outside of work. I pull my phone from my pocket and see a series of missed calls from Ty and two texts.
I wish u would talk 2 me
I miss u JJ
I lean against the wall and take some deep breaths. Nothing in my life is recognizable. College and law school were so orderly, if hectic. Rowing practice, studying, chill with Zack. I always knew what to expect. Not one thing has been predictable since that morning I walked in on my live-in boyfriend cheating on me. I don't know if I'm cut out for all this.
On my way back to my office, I pass the kitchen and see my friend Alice in there preparing lunch for the staff. She looks up and I guess she can tell my emotional state from my face, because she rushes into the hall. “Juniper, you look a mess,” she says. I don’t respond, but she tosses her chef coat onto a table. “Come on. Let’s go downstairs for a coffee.”
I can’t tell her about the situation with Ty, but I am able to open up to Alice about my hesitation with this Cleveland deal and convince her to come shopping with me for a formal dress in one of the department stores downtown. “Alice, this isn’t how I imagined my career in law,” I tell her as we wander the aisles of gowns in the formalwear section.
“I always thought I’d be defending the disenfranchised...not bailing out superstar athletes caught with cocaine.”
Alice laughs. “Technically, you didn’t even do that. You’re just following around hockey players and watching them get into fights!”
“Very funny. Do you think this one will make me look too tall?” I explained to her that I thought I’d ask Ben from work to be my date to the gala. He knows a lot of the players and NHL staff from being with the firm, and I’m pretty sure he’s a safe date in terms of not trying anything romantic with me. His sister would have told me if he was into me that way. Ben is about the same height as me, though, so I’ll have to wear flats or risk looking ridiculous at his side.
Alice urges me into a fitting room, and coos when I emerge in a champagne-colored, halter-top dress with a plunging v neckline. “Oh, Juniper! That looks amazing with your hair and your skin tone. That’s the one!” The dress is sateen and shimmers when I move.
“You don’t think the neckline is inappropriate for a work event?” I don’t like how low it plunges. It’s not my style, but Alice clucks her tongue at my concerns. “All right, then. Let’s get out of here so I can finish that damn brief for the client I don’t want so I have time to go to the damn gala.”