Page 19 of Big Pitch Energy

“Just breathe and let everything go,” she murmured. “Be present in this moment.”

Present. Right.

I kept breathing, deeper and deeper, feeling the air fill then leave my lungs. There was something electric between Hope and me, a current I could feel pulsing through the room, through me. It was like the space between us was charged with a force I’d never experienced, pulling me closer even when we weren’t touching. In that quiet, steady rhythm of breath, I realized this connection wasn’t just physical, it was something deeper, raw, and undeniable.

And maybe, it was the beginning of something neither of us saw coming.

Hope

I’d just finished foldingthe last of my laundry when Ava knocked on the front door once and let herself in, like she always does.

“Dinner has arrived!” she announced, stepping inside with a tote over her shoulder and a brown paper bag in her hand.

She looked every bit the corporate professional in her charcoal pencil skirt, cream silk blouse, and tailored blazer. Her dark auburn hair was tucked behind her ears, and the delicate pearl earrings that adorned them caught the light when she moved.

“Thanks for grabbing dinner.”

“You are very welcome,” she said as she set the bag on the kitchen table and flashed a snarky grin. “I’ll be right back. I’m gonna change into something more comfortable.”

While Ava disappeared down the hallway, I unpacked our dinner. The containers were still hot and steam escaped as I peeled back the lids. Chicken pad Thai for me, drunken noodles with extra basil for Ava, our standard orders since college.

She returned moments later in full lounge mode…black joggers, a sweatshirt with a faded graphic of Stevie Nicks on the front, and fuzzy purple socks that didn’t match anything else but made her look ridiculously comfortable.

“Ahhh. So much better,” she said. “Do you think Mayor Bigsbee would mind if I started wearing this to work?”

“Probably. I’m guessing she’d rather her communications director wear something more professional.”

“It’s just so unfair. Those clothes aren’t as comfy as these.”

“Can’t argue with that,” I said as I opened the refrigerator. “What do you want to drink? I have wine, beer, sparkling or regular water, and soda.”

“Sparkling water sounds good.”

I grabbed two bottles of San Pellegrino and set them on the table and after filling our plates, we headed to the living room. I curled up in my usual corner of the sofa while Ava settled cross-legged on the other end. Our standard positions for our regular protocol of dinner, girl talk, then a movie we'd both seen enough times to talk through.

“So,” Ava said, pointing her fork at me. “Tell me everything. You said dinner with Sam went well, and that you’d fill me in in person. It’s in-person time.”

I smiled, suddenly self-conscious. Just hearing his name tugged something inside me.

“Before I get to dinner, you should know that he came to the studio Friday to tell me his fastball was better after his second Reiki session.”

“Seriously?” Ava’s eyes widened. “That’s amazing, Hope. Your energy work is helping!”

“Yeah,” I said, “but Sam’s the one doing the work. I’m just helping clear the path.”

I didn’t tell her about the shift I felt in him during our last two sessions. The way something deep inside him seemed to soften and let go. That’s not my story to share. Energetic insight isn’t permission, it’s responsibility. What comes through is sacred, and privacy lives in the silence. I’ll never break the trust I share with my clients, even with my best friend.

“You’re being too modest, as usual.” I shrugged in response and shoved a forkful of pad Thai into my mouth. “And obviously he credits you at least a little since he came to the studio to talk about his breakthrough.”

“Yeah, I guess so. He was so sweet about it and genuinely thankful.”

Ava nodded, chewing thoughtfully.

“He seems like he’s really paying attention. To you, I mean.”

I’m not sure what to say to that, so I decided to fill her in on dinner.

“At dinner, he asked questions about me, real questions.”

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