Page 57 of Accidentally Sliding Into A Second Chance

There’sahumofexcitement buzzing through the Smokies’ front office when I walk through the door, coffee in hand.

“You’re here!” Hope runs over to me, relief lining her pretty features. “We have to finish up a few of the details before the‘meet and greet’ after practice today. Travis wants you and David to take some pictures together.”

My head whips in her direction at the last part of her statement, my eyes wide. “Pictures?” My stomach twists—the weight of ‘his wife’ under the spotlight isn’t one I’m comfortable wearing publicly.

“Don’t shoot the messenger!” She shrugs. “He said those are the ones getting the most traction on David’s, and the team’s, accounts. He wants more.”

I roll my eyes and bring my coffee to my lips, taking a huge swig. I need caffeine for this. I’m not sure I can deal with the world pushing me toward the feelings I’m not ready to talk about. I blow out a slow breath.

Hope’s footsteps echo behind me as I place my bag on the desk. “Is there anything else he wants?” I calmly ask as I turn to glance back at her, only to find she’s avoiding making direct eye contact, a smirk on her face. I groan, squeezing the bridge of my nose. “Just spit it out.”

“Emmy.” She huffs out a laugh, then covers her mouth with a hand.

“Emmy?!”

“The fansloveher. They can’t get enough.” She hands me a piece of paper that has a suggestion to change the Smokies’ Mascot. The results are staggering. Emmy is winning by a landslide.

Of course, the organizationwon’tbe changing its mascot, but it will want to ride the wave of opportunity Emmy is giving it. I chew on my bottom lip.

That should be an easy ask, and it’s also in line with David’s wanting to keep Scarlett off his social media.

When I glance back at Hope, she’s holding up a Smokies jersey, with double zeros and a single word above the number, ‘Emmy’.

“Are we being asked to do this?” I take the jersey, a reluctant smile tugging the corner of my lips. Saying the word ‘we’ makes my heart flutter. “Or being told.”

“It’s a strongly worded suggestion.” Hope gives me a sheepish grin. “Can you blame them after the last home game?”

Jade reached out to me after Bark In The Park and let me know it was a huge success! Not only did they raise enough money to keep the rescue operating for a year, but many of the pups found new homes. She also noted that the majority of the applications coming in were for Emmy.

Six weeks ago, David may have jumped at the opportunity to find Emmy a new home. Today though? That wouldn’t happen.

He adores her as much as Scarlett does.

And you do.

A voice whispers in my thoughts, causing my stomach to dip.

“What should I tell them?” Hope asks, interrupting the internal dialogue that’s becoming a daily occurrence.

“Let me see what David thinks first.” I sit in my chair and turn on my computer. “When do they want an answer?”

When Hope doesn’t respond right away, I glance up to find her making a face. “Yesterday?”

Chuckling, I shake my head. I love working with Travis, but when he wants something, he wants it now. “I’ll see what I can do. But there’s no way I can make this happen for today’s event.”

Hope’s expression falls. “I’ll let Travis know.” Her shoulders slump as she turns to walk out of the room.

“I’ll tell him.” She whirls and beams at me, palms pressed together, backing out of the office. “Can you leave the jersey with me?”

“Oh, yeah. Of course.” Hope walks back to my desk and hands over the jersey, a gleam in her eyes. She knows, just like I do, the answer will be yes.

Laying the jersey flat on my desk, I snap a picture and pull up David’s contact. A zing zips through me after I hit send.

My heart leaps when a picture pops up of the laces in his cleats chewed, and I throw my head back and laugh.

When my phone buzzes in my hand, it’s like I’m struck with a bolt of lightning, and every nerve shoots to life. My cheeks pull up.

“You know I put extra laces in that one pocket of your bag, right?”

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