Page 97 of A Whole New Play

I unwrap the newspaper from the flat object in my hands, careful not to drop it on the ground. I sit in the middle of Carter’s office, unpacking the last two boxes that have been stacked in the unused room for months, desperate for a way to try and take my mind off the incredible potential opportunity that’s just fallen into my lap.

Isn’t this the sort of thing I was looking for? An opportunity to do something exciting?

If I’m going to be working my butt off for a job, it would need to be worth it. And being the CFO of a company could definitely be worth it. Especially if the company takes off.

And from what little I heard Will say, I believe he and his partner are more than determined to see their idea succeed. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance. At the age of twenty-four, I could do something in my career that most accountants never have the chance to do.

Slow down. You still need to interview for the job.

I look down at the picture I just unwrapped. It’s of Carter and Corey Johnson. If I had to guess, they can’t be more than ten years old. They’re sweaty and wearing matching Little League uniforms with dirt stains on the pants. Carter smiles widely at the camera with his arm slung over his best friend’s shoulder. Corey’s smile is more reserved, but there’s no denying he looks happy.

“You know you don’t have to do that.”

I look up. Carter’s hands rest on the top of the door frame as he leans into the office. An inch of toned skin is exposed above the waistband of his shorts.

I wipe my chin to make sure to hide any drool. “Do what?”

Carter was in the middle of helping the twins get ready for bed when I returned from my run half an hour ago. Not wanting to intrude, I came into the office to keep busy.

“Unpack those boxes.” He waves a hand at the stack of picture frames to my side.

I shrug. “I don’t mind.”

He drops his hands and walks towards me. He bends down and picks up a picture of him and his sister from when they were toddlers. His lips twitch as he takes in her floral dress and his matching vest. It’s very nineties.

“I’m sorry about Abby,” he says without meeting my eye.

“Don’t be. With everything she’s gone through, we should have seen it coming.”

“You’re right,” he sighs. “I wish this custody stuff was over already. I think the unknown is affecting Abby and Andy more than I realized.”

I nod. He’s probably right.

“I was worried you were upset,” Carter adds, lifting his gaze. “Your run took longer than usual.”

I take a breath and prepare to tell him about my call with Will, but I hesitate.

I’m not sure why.

Because this job means moving to California which means this relationship will have an end date…

I dismiss the thought.

Carter and I are taking things slow.

I can’t make my life decisions based on our relationship.

That would be foolish.

But I have to admit… that’s exactly what I’m doing.

When Will was telling me about the job, I caught myself wondering if there was a way I could do the job from Texas. Not because I wanted to stay close to family and friends, but because I wanted to stay close to a certain linebacker and his kids.

“What are you thinking about?”

I lift my gaze from where it’d fallen to the picture in my hands. Carter watches me with a furrowed brow.

I swallow the lump in my throat. “A friend from high school called me while I was out.”

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