Chapter Twenty-Eight

There was nowhere to hide in Nashville. Isla drove around, grateful that Addie hadn’t asked questions when she borrowed her car this evening. Tears streamed down her face to the point that she’d had to pull over. She didn’t know what to do, who to talk to, where to go.

Her phone was going crazy on the passenger seat. Leaning back against the headrest, she stared up through the sunroof, wishing the gorgeous stars in the Nashville sky had the answers she needed.

In very little time, she’d fallen not only for the city but several of the people in it. And tonight, she’d told Liam she wasn’t staying. That hadn’t been part of the plan, hers or her father’s. But when she’d looked at him, her heart had squeezed so tightly, she knew she couldn’t live in the same city as him and not ache.

If the team wasn’t an obstacle between them, maybe they could start fresh. But this woman giving up, bowing to her father’s wishes, that wasn’t the woman Liam fell in l— Don’t think it. The woman sitting in this car was not the woman Liam fell for.

Once she no longer owned the team, she wouldn’t feel like she had a reason to be in Nashville.

They’d never promised each other forever. We barely know each other. You can’t jeopardize his career for something that’s barely started. The look in his eyes was all she could see when she closed her own. Thank goodness there’d been an alternate route out of the press room. She hadn’t said the exact words Ethan wrote for her, but she’d done the best she could to give the statement with an emotionless voice.

“You’re making up for it now,” she whispered into the dark. Grabbing a tissue out of her purse, she pulled herself together. Nothing got accomplished through crying.

Putting the car in drive, she navigated the streets Liam had shown her her first full day in Nashville. How did that seem so long ago now?

Winding her way back to the apartment, her head clouded. When she pulled in, she stared at the building that had started to feel like home. She liked Nashville. She liked the life she was creating. The person she was. “Was” being the operative word. Because who the hell are you right now?

Heading up in the elevator, she made a mental list of things she needed to do. Her life was moving in reverse, and it felt weird. It felt uncomfortable, like wearing her clothes backward.

Addie was on the phone when she walked in. Addie, who moved here for you. She was bouncing on the balls of her feet and pointing at the phone while answering whomever was on the other end in a perfectly professional voice.

Isla’s heart cracked a little wider. She wasn’t sure which was worse—the idea of disappointing Addie or Addie being disappointed in her.

“Absolutely. I’ll check the schedule and get back to you.” She hung up and just stared at Isla.

Giving her a two-handed “come here” gesture, Addie said, “Thank me.”

Isla tossed her purse down on the counter. “Excuse me?”

“When I tell you what I’m going to tell you, you’re going to thank me an infinite number of times, so I figure I should give you a head start.”

Despite…everything, Isla smiled. “Thank you.” For all of the things you’ve done to be a friend. A sister. For not hating me for all the trouble and aggravation I’m about to cause. For standing by me. Sharing my dreams.

Addie’s smile dropped. “What’s wrong?”

Swallowing the thick lump in her throat, Isla tried to wave off Addie’s concern. “Tell me your news first.”

Stepping closer, analyzing her like she was running through an Isla-checklist in her brain, Addie gripped her shoulders. “Something is wrong. Tell me.”

So she told her everything. In one long, exhausted, overwrought breath. Or at least, it felt like it, because when she finished, she had no energy left. She’d fortunately cried all her tears earlier and at the moment, she was heading into the numb stage.

During the story, she’d leaned back on the counter, and now she stood straight, expecting Addie, sweet, motherly, Addison, to pull her into one of her super-hugs.

What she didn’t expect was for Addie—currently not so sweet—to grip her arm just above the elbow and pull her into the dining area. The table was littered with Post-it notes, files, pictures, lists, and her friend’s laptop.

“You’re telling me this is all for nothing?” Addie whirled on her, dropping her hand.

She’d never heard this tone before. “You have every right to be mad. I promise, you’ll still have a job. I’ll pay for—”

“You can keep your money. For that matter, you can keep your job. That’s not what this is about. I can’t believe this. Who are you?”

She almost laughed at that. She didn’t know. She’d been so sure she knew and now, she couldn’t even answer the question.

Addie pointed at the table, and Isla saw her hand shake. Isla stepped forward, brow creasing. “Are you feeling okay? You’re shaky.”

Moving to the other side of the table, she slammed her laptop shut. “Am I okay? Let’s see, my mentor, my kickass idol, my best friend just informed me she’s had a personality transplant and will now be leaving things to the boys. I think I’ll pack up our stuff and get us on the first flight back to Colorado. When we get back, I’ll set up some nail appointments, maybe a spa treatment, and we can see about sitting on the board of a goddamn charity. As volunteers!”

Isla shouldn’t have laughed. She didn’t mean to. But Addison mad was like a puppy gone rabid. Her friend had also described what had become Isla’s mother’s life. A life she didn’t begrudge but certainly didn’t admire her mother for.

Addie stopped, hands on her hips, glaring so hard, Isla felt the sting. “I just got off the phone with All Business.” She paused like she needed to catch her breath.

Isla knew the magazine well. Her father’s name and company had been mentioned several times. Even for Isla’s ideas. It was a milestone in the business world—getting your name on the cover.

“Okay,” Isla said, trying to pull Addie back into the conversation.

“They want to do a special issue on women in business. Specifically, they want to feature you and talk about women in the business of sports. Do you know that there’s, like, under a dozen female owners for professional teams? And some of those women are partnered with their spouses. Do you have any idea the ripple effect you have the ability to create by being the owner of a freaking major league team? You knew the value yesterday. You knew it the day before. You’ve known all along you were better than the cookie-cutter box your dad placed you in and now, when you have the chance to break out, to break the damn mold, you’re caving.”

Isla’s breath came in sharp. “He threatened to ruin me professionally. To ruin Liam.”

“He can’t do that. He can make you think he can do it. But look at the kinds of scandals that have existed in politics and business. In sports. You fight back. You play dirty if you have to. Not dirtier than you’re comfortable with, because I get it, at the end of the day he’s your dad, and you’re miles above him on the decency scale. But it’s time to decide, right now, who you are. Are we going home, or are you going to drop the damn gloves and fight?”

Isla thought about what Addie said, about heading home and returning to…what? Her father’s company? Her old life? She thought of Corey and Tommy, both of whom she knew didn’t want to move from Nashville. Corey and his wife had just bought a house. She’d found that out when she’d talked to him about the school partnership. His wife was a lovely woman. Someone she could imagine sitting with in the owner’s box, watching a game.

She thought about Liam, and her heart wanted to burst out of her chest. She thought about the team and the front-of-house people who had welcomed her. The janitors and the security guards. The community. And she thought of the people Bruce bullied, her father walked all over. Her breath whooshed out.

The last time she’d felt this empty, this lost, was the night she’d arrived in this town. She couldn’t even get her family to call her back. Her step-grandmother hadn’t offered her a room to stay in.

She gripped the edge of the counter, feeling overheated.

“Isla? You want some water?”

She nodded, literally holding herself up by leaning against the cool cupboards. Addie passed her a glass of water.

“My phone?”

Addie dug through her purse and passed it to her, glancing down at it. “Whoa.”

Isla took it, took a long swallow of water, and then set the glass down. Her phone buzzed and lit up like a carnival toy. Phone calls, texts, with Liam’s name, Josiah’s, and Jennifer’s were just the ones she could see.

“I’m not alone anymore,” she whispered.

Addie laughed and shoved her shoulder. “You never were, you doofus.”

Isla laughed, her ribs aching with the movement. “Only cowards run away.”

Addie’s eyes glinted, and Isla recognized the challenge. “You see any cowards in this room?”

She met her friend’s gaze. “Hell no.”

“Tell me what to do.”

…

When she arrived, the security guard met her and walked her into the building.

“Real shame to see you go, Ms. Bennett,” he said, opening the door to the stadium offices.

“I appreciate you saying that, Patrick. Thank you. Do you know if my father has arrived?”

“He didn’t leave after the press conference, ma’am. Not usually so much action around here in the off-season,” the guard said with a smile.

“I like to keep things entertaining,” she said.

He barked out a laugh. “Keeps me young, so keep at it. Have a good night.”

“You, too. Thanks for the escort.”

Taking her time, she made her way to the conference room in which she’d first introduced herself to the team. Her father was waiting for her, his suit jacket tossed on a chair. He had a stack of papers in front of him.

“What did you want to talk about?” Her father stretched in the chair, like he belonged there.

Taking a deep breath, she walked to the table. “The terms of the contract. I don’t think you should keep Bruce.”

Folding his hands behind his head, he leaned back as if he was considering her opinion. “Not really your concern. You don’t like the man. What do you care?”

Isla leaned on the desk. “I need his percentage and a higher cut. I’ve changed my mind. I understand that you want me to give you the team, but it isn’t my first choice. I want to be part of this, and you cut me out of your business. Now that I have a chance to prove myself, a chance to do something…special, you’re trying to snatch it away.”

He sighed. Like he was tired of placating her. “I’m not snatching anything away. I’m taking back something that should rightfully be mine.”

She tried to settle her pulse, but her breath was coming unevenly. Calm down or you will blow this, too.

“If Granddad had wanted you to have it, he would have left it to you. And blackmailing me doesn’t erase that truth,” she said.

He stood slowly, deliberately, and leaned on the table. Because she was leaning against it, their faces were close, and she could see the hardness in his eyes ran deep. A shiver racked her spine.

“The truth is, you don’t know one goddamn thing about baseball. The truth is, if you push me, I’ll kill your career and your boyfriend’s. You haven’t got the guts or know-how to run a baseball team. The truth is, I never gave you a bigger piece of my business because you’re soft. Emotional. Weak, like your mother. You think it’s about relationships and connections.” He slammed his hand down. “It’s about being ruthless enough to do what needs to be done. Push me one more time on this, and I’ll tell Bruce, before I find a way to fire him, to make the call and finish the deal to transfer Cruz. He’s washed up anyway.”

Isla stood, the smile feeling foreign on her lips. Probably because ruthless smiles weren’t her thing. Ice settled in her veins, and though he was right about her emotions in most cases, he’d stripped her of them this time.

He wasn’t her father…he was a stranger. She’d connected more easily with Josiah, with Mickey, with Liam’s father, than she ever had with her own. Being born into a family didn’t make a person belong.

“I’ll have Josiah finalize the paperwork. It’ll take a couple of days,” she said.

He raised his hands in the air like he was giving thanks. “Finally. Common sense.” He grabbed his papers, shoved them in his briefcase, the envelope right there for her to see. He took his time putting on his jacket and stopped in front of her on his way out.

“I said you could stay on, but I think it’s better for both of us that you don’t.”

“I don’t plan on working with you, Dad.”

“Good.” He nodded and walked out.

Her heart hammered so hard against her ribs that she felt they might crack. Bending in half, she placed her hands on her knees, let the dizziness pass. Tears threatened, but she wouldn’t cry any more over her father. As Tom Hanks would say, there’s no crying in baseball.

When she heard a noise behind her, she had a smile on her face as she turned. Josiah’s expression was tight, his skin flushed. Jennifer looked…exhilarated.

“That was awesome,” the woman said, coming closer to give Isla a hard hug.

“You got it?” Isla felt shaky but willed herself to keep it together for a little longer. The conference room was outfitted with recording and listening devices so her grandfather could participate in meetings from his office or his home. She’d overlooked it…forgotten about it. Until she’d been wishing someone other than Bruce had been listening in to her earlier conversation with them.

“Every despicable word. Don’t you worry. We’ll take care of this. I look forward to bringing him the papers,” Josiah said.

Weariness washed through her, and she wanted nothing more than to go…home to Liam. But not yet. She had to make sure his career and reputation were safe first. Hopefully, when it was all finished, he’d understand and forgive her. Tonight had been the first step toward standing up for herself, something she’d needed to do for a long time.

Jennifer’s grin was infectious. “We’re going to nail him to the wall.”

Isla laughed. “Just get me my team and get rid of Bruce and I’ll be happy.”

As they walked out together, Isla breathed in the cool air, pushed back the sadness still threatening to overtake her. As she started to slide into her car, Josiah called her name. She looked up, caught his gaze.

“You’re not alone. You maybe have been for most of your life, but you aren’t anymore.”

She nodded because her throat was too thick to speak.

As she drove down the quiet back roads of Nashville, she hoped she was doing the right thing. It bothered her to take this route with her father but he wouldn’t respond to anything other than his own style of business tactics. In the future, as she had in the past, she planned to continue letting her head and her heart guide her decisions.

As much as she was happy to be able to keep the team once everything was brought to light, she already knew, it wouldn’t matter if she lost Liam. She’d promised to trust him and more, she’d promised he could trust her, and she’d let him down. She’d lied, withheld information, and cut him out of a major decision.

She’d almost packed up and left as easily as she’d come. It didn’t matter that her reasons had been valid. She was wrong, and she needed to see him, to make sure he knew that she’d made a lot of mistakes, but taking a chance on him was not one of them.

She couldn’t tell him right away, though. For now, she had to keep things as they were until she was absolutely certain that his personal and professional life would not be impacted by her decisions. When she finally went to him, she planned to tell him how much she cared about him. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be too late.