Page 73 of From Maybe to Baby

"Did you know their first home game is against the Maple Leafs?" I blurt out. "Not that I checked."

"Uh-huh." I can hear him smirking. "Like a handsome hockey star’s game schedule has anything to do with your writing about a Hawaiian resort that likes kids.”

He has a point.

"You want to write about family activities in San Francisco."

I am so busted. But that doesn’t mean I’m giving up.

"The magazine needs more city content."

"In Jonas Knight's hometown, of course," he scoffs. "Pure coincidence, Alexa. During hockey season."

"I hate you."

He laughs. "You know what the weird thing is? In spite of my giving you crap about it, the article's good. Really good. You found a voice I didn't know you had."

I look at my draft again. At the words that came so easily once I stopped fighting them. At the story of a resort that has me thinking about my own story.

"It's just an angle," I say defensively.

"It's more than that." His voice turns serious. "You're different. Your writing's different. It's like you've found?—"

"Don't say it."

"—something real."

"I'm hanging up now."

"The San Francisco pitch is approved."

I nearly drop my phone. "What?"

"On one condition."

"Here we go."

"Be honest about why you're writing it."

Oh fuck.

"It's just for the article, Ryan" I say, but the words are hollow.

"Sure it is. You know, it's okay to want more than just the next travel assignment."

Ugh. Would he just shut up? Would everyone just shut up?

"I’m good, Ryan, really I am. Everything is under control. I’m still the same Alexa Minty that I have always been."

"And yet here you are, wanting to pitch family content in a hockey town."

"It's called professional growth."

"It's called falling for a hot athlete."

“I gotta go, I think a tidal wave is coming in.” I hang up on him. So professional.

My phone immediately buzzes with texts:

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