Page 239 of Out of Bounds

Kassie

The Masterplan

Dark blue balloons were at every column, rows and rows of decorated tables filled the ballroom, and golden Romans helmet centerpieces sat everywhere. They wentaboveand beyond for the ceremony. But the real reason we were there were the donors. If Ryan hadn’t been holding on to my waist, I would’ve been swept up in the crowd,Castawaystyle.

And that’s how it went, greeting the donors, shaking hands, snapping pictures, all while Ryan kept his hand wrapped around my waist, and my heart hammered in my throat.

The actual event wouldn’t start until everyone filed in, but soft music played from overhead. It was magical.

“Hey?” I leaned against him. “You’re doing so good.”

“Mm.”

“No, I’m serious. They love you.”

It was amazing to see his transformation. He didn’t look like he was bored off his ass from listening to people speak to him anymore. The effort was really and truly there. We were introduced to everyone and Ryan was the most cordial one in the room, with his hand firmly on my waist.

It was funny. Months ago I would’ve called anybody an anaconda for doing that. But it wasn’t constricting, I felt safe. I felt good. Whatever they threw at us tonight, didn’t matter, because I had him, right there.

They didn’t sit us with the donors for the night, we got to sit with our buddies, everyone around the table. Ryan and I, King and June, Miles and Cleo, and Adam and a gorgeous girl with jet black hair who kept understandably getting upset when Adam forgot her name over and over again.

I shifted closer to Cleo, keeping my voice low while everyone else talked. “So, I’m saying this a hundred percent officially. I want the contract dissolved. I love him a lot and I’mrealtired of sneaking around all the time.”

“Oh, I’m a genius…” She sighed, pleased. “Everything, according to plan.”

“According to…?” I stared at her. “But the contract…?”

It took me a couple of seconds to piece it together but I gazed at her, stunned, when I finally pieced it together.

“Oh my god, you wanted us to get together.” I shook my head in amazement. “Wait. You’ve known theentiretime? What about the banner? What about UrgentCare?”

“It’s called the Rural Hospital Solution,” she started to explain and stopped herself. “Wait. What about UrgentCare?”

“Uh…”

“Kassie. WhataboutUrgentCare?”

“I—see—”

“That was a two-thousand dollar medical bill, so tell me again, whataboutUrgentCare?”

I couldn’t look Cleo right in the eyes andnotcrush under the pressure so I shook my head. “Not even important. We’re together—Marrs is making money—that’s what’s important.” I hesitated, looking for an out. “So, explain it to me. Howdid the master plan work?”

Cleo narrowed her eyes but sighed. “The idea is this. It’s difficult to staff a rural hospital. What’s the easiest way to keep long term employees? They find someone in the area, get married, have kids—bam—working long term at the same hospital they were supposed to spend a couple of months at.”

I stared at her. “So, you were looking for a fake relationship for Ryan to convince him to stay at Marrs?”

“No, I wasn’t searching,” she admitted. “You kind of just popped up at the dinner and I figured I’d take a shot at it.”

“But…he’s still not staying at Marrs.”

“I gave it my best attempt.” She shrugged. “We sold a ton of jerseys regardless.”

“She had a good instinct for these things,” Miles countered, reaching over for her hand. “All she had to do was push it a little and Ryan took the initiative.”

I hid my smile behind my drink. “Well, he excels at that.”

“He’s the one who pushed for the zoo day.” Cleo grinned.

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