Page 85 of Fall Wherever They May

Nate has been my agent since he took over his father’s sports management firm. He was a buddy from college and referred me to his dad when I was drafted a decade ago. I still consider him a good buddy, but I have half a mind to fire his stupid ass. There’s no telling how many times I’ve told him that one of those women would eventually cause a problem someday.

Plopping down on the bed, I rest my head back on the oversized pillows. I reach inside my jacket pocket and take out the box.My thumb flips the black velvet lid open and close, over and over again. I’m lost in a daze thinking about how this day should have gone. Instead of a day filled with happiness and ending with a token of my promise to love Aspen and Tuck forever, my girl is hurting, and there’s not a damn thing she will let me do to fix it right now.

Sitting up, I come to terms with the fact that a proposal isn’t in the cards for me today. Unzipping my suitcase, I take one last look at the diamond ring before closing the box and tossing it into the side pocket of my luggage. This is so fucked.I pace back and forth in the hotel room, waiting for Aspen to show up. Surely when she said we would talk in private, she meant immediately.

As time slowly passes, I look at my watch; it’s already a quarter after five, and it’s time to head out to meet my dad if we are going to beat traffic, assuming they’re all still going to meet my dad tonight. It’s not surprising that after two rings her phone goes to voicemail. Figures she would press the fuck you button on me right now. If she thinks I’m giving up that easily, she is dead fucking wrong. I head to her hotel suite and knock. Katherine opens the door and steps into the hallway.

“Cal, right now isn’t a good time.”

“I need to explain,” I plead.

Katherine takes my hand in both of hers. “I’m sure there’s a good explanation for all of this, and she will listen.Just go to dinner with your dad and come back when she’s had time to process. Okay?” She pats my cheek. “It’ll all work out in the end, Sweetie; give her a little space. She’s trying to navigate the emotions of being your girlfriend while being your boss and staying professional. This is a tough position for her to be in, and she needs a minute.”

My head drops with my shoulders in defeat. Katherine gives me a hug, and I wrap my arms around her slender frame.She releases me, places a hand on my shoulder, and squeezes. “She loves you, Cal. She’ll come around; just give her a little time.”

Nodding, I turn around and head back down the hall. I pull out my phone and call my dad.

“Hi, son. Are you guys on your way?”

My heart feels like it’s stuck in my throat. What do I tell him? I swallow thickly.

“Dad?” I choke out. Recovering, I mask my emotions with a cough. “I, um . . . I really wanted to see you, but can we take a rain check?”

“Is everything alright?”

“Yeah. Yeah. Everything’s fine. Aspen just had something come up that she can’t get out of. You know how it is.”

“No. That’s fine. I have some things I need to do here anyways, so that actually works out.”

“Can we do lunch tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow’s game day.”

“Exactly. Maybe having lunch with me will soften the blow of us kicking your team’s ass on your own turf.” I chuckle.

“You’re a mess, kid. Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you, Son.”

“Love you too, Dad.”

I press the red dot on my screen, ending, then text Aspen.

Me:I love you, Angel.

As I exit the hotel, I slide the phone into my back pocket. Rain pelts down in sheets, harmonizing with my mood. Stepping out from under the awning, I tilt my head back toward the sky and allow the forceful drops to pour down on me, wishing they could wash away this awful day. Minutes go by before my phone buzzes in my pocket. I duck back under the hotel awning.

Aspen:I love you too.

Drops of water litter my screen from my dripping hair while my fingers fly across the screen.

Me:Can we please talk?

Aspen:Maybe tomorrow. I’m not in a good headspace tonight.

Me:We really should talk about this now.

Aspen:I can’t deal with this shit tonight.

I wait for another text to come through, watching the text bubbles dance across the screen then disappear. Fuck this shit. With my mind made up, I storm back inside the hotel.

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