Page 99 of All Signs Point to Malibu

“I know, Ma...but I really do think I have what it takes,” he says.

Finally.

“I was just afraid to take a shot and fail, so I quit before I could mess up. But now... I want to do this. I want to go all in.” His voice is stronger as he continues.

I know the pressure on him from all sides is huge and I feel for him. Choosing what he wants over what his friends are pressuring him to do takes courage and guts at that age. Doing the right thing seems impossible.

I tried for years to live up to my father’s expectations. Cliff did too and it was the toll it took on my brother that made me realize I needed to live my life,myway, for me.

So does Marcus.

“I’m sorry, Coach,” he says approaching me. “The other night...”

I nod and struggle with my sense of compassion for the kid and needing to be the strong authority on this. He broke the rules and walked away. This ticket back can’t be an easy one.

“I get it. I do. But this offer to play is the last shot.” If he messes up this chance again, there’s nothing else I can do. This career in professional sports is only going to get more challenging. There will always be doubt or temptations or times he wants to quit or take an easy road, but if he can stay the course, remembering his passion and drive and love of the sport, he could truly thrive where so many fall short.

He steps closer and lowers his head. “I’m sorry I let you down.”

I reach out and draw him into my chest. I heave a deep sigh as he hugs me. “Just don’t let yourself down. That’s what matters.”

Clutching my coffee cup, I sit at my desk and stare at the viral video with the caption: “Life Coach Steals Groom at Client’s Wedding” with the hashtag #CancelHaileyHarris. The video has gotten over a million views and there’s no doubt in my mind who helped it trend.

I sigh as I sip the coffee. My follower count on social media is dwindling and subscribers to my app have plummeted. Ignoring my DMs has never been so important. I’m sure instead of the usual dick-pics, it’s flooded with hate mail. This video is far-reaching and destroying my career. No one cares to hear the real story behind the kiss and it’s hard to defend myself when my actions hadn’t been pure in the beginning.

My goal was to break up a wedding and I succeeded.

And now I’m living with the consequences.

I reach for my cell phone and dial several potential clients. No one answers. Not that I expect them to.

I scroll through my messages and see the last one I sent to Sonia has been received but no reply. She has every right not to speak to me again, but I’m deeply and truly sorry and I miss her.

Consequences.

Deep down, I always knew this gift of mine would be a detriment—it was just a matter of time. What I didn’t expect was this devastatingly heartbreaking disappointment as I watch everything I’ve built come crashing down and everyone I care about turning away.

A knock sounds on the door. I didn’t hear the gate buzzer and I’m not expecting anyone, so I’m not surprised to see Amelia standing at the door when I open it.

“Hi, dear,” she says, holding a pot of tea. “Thought you could use a friend.”

The words bring another rush of tears to my eyes as I step back to let her enter.

A moment later, in the kitchen, she places a mug of tea in front of me, then takes a seat at the table. “Drink.”

I sip and grimace as a sour taste and unpleasant smell reach me. “What is it?”

“Don’t ask. But it will make you feel better.”

“Is it laced with something because I don’t think there’s enough disgusting tea in the world that could make me feel better right now.” My professional reputation is in shambles and my personal life—whatever there was of one—is crumbling.

And Warren... I can’t erase the disappointed, hurt expression from my mind. I can’t stop thinking about him—about the kiss, about our time together. My chest aches and the feeling in the pit of my stomach keeps growing with each passing day of not hearing from him or seeing him.

I miss him the most.

Amelia sits across from me and touches my hand. “So, you made a mistake...”

“It wasn’t just giving a client the wrong advice. This mistake was life altering.” While bad professional advice would be devastating enough, this had much further reaching impact. “I broke up a couple.”

---