Page 23 of Finding the Forward: Part Two
Huh.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to have this big conversation here in the car. It’s supposed to be about you firing Chet. You don’t need to hire Stu, but it would make things easier.” I continued to rub his back, to calm him down before we had a team strategy meeting.
“I… I’ve been thinking about it ever since Chet sent that text the night I gave Verity the jersey. It seemed so out of line. Honestly, do you think it’s his reputation hurting my career? I sort of thought the big sponsors didn’t like me because, as Kylee once put it, I’man emotionless tank that only melts for Dean.”
“I think there is a distinct possibility Chet gave you a reputation. That he’s spun you a certain way.”
“Butwhy?Why is Chet doing this? He makes money when I do.” Grif frowned.
“Maybe he doesn’t care about the money? Maybe he steers you to sponsors he can control? I have no idea,” I told him. Perhaps Chet just enjoyed being a dick.
Why would Chet have such an issue with Verity? She was one of the nicest people I’d ever met.
“Okay.” Defeat crossed Grif’s face. “While I’m grateful for everything he’s done, you’re right. It’s time to end it with Chet before it hurts us even further.”
Chapter Seven
Verity
“Hey, that tickles.” I laughed as Mercy, Kaiko, and Jack buried me in the sand. It was day three of our West Coast trip. After playing the Pacific Pummelers, we had today off. Tomorrow, we played the Bayside Bludgediers.
So here I was, on the beach, as they made me into a human sandcastle. It wasn’t exactly swimming weather, but it was a beautiful day for January.
My phone beeped. Unfortunately, my arms were both buried. “Who is it?”
Mercy shrugged. “Probably someone commenting on the pictures I posted to your group chats. The guys are fans. So are the siblings.” She looked over to where it sat on a towel and fake winced, dramatically throwing her hand over her face. “Oh, my eyes. Just kidding. Grif didn’t send you sexts. Dean did.”
He would.
I missed my guys. Grif and I talked every day. This morning, he’d had a chai latte and lemon muffin sent to the hotel for me.
It wasn’t quite the same.
“What I’d like to know is why Riley keeps sending you logos for theRockland Theorems?” Mercy scrolled through my phone and made a puzzled face. “What sport is that supposed to be?”
“Boredom. Grace told them how people think Spencer’s actually going to buy the Daredevils. So, the pack has been designing shit and trolling the internet,” I laughed. It was funny that people latched on to that since literally Grif joked about Spencer buying the Royals right after.
My phone rang. I froze. Was I getting mean phone calls now? I craned my neck, sending sand cascading down the side of their creation.
“Don’t move,” Kaiko scolded, as she patted the sand back.
“Verity’s phone. How can I help you?” Mercy answered before I could stop her. Her expression changed from playful to serious. “Of course, Dr. Winters, she’s right here.”
My belly tightened. Was this where they kicked me out because I had no research?
“Sorry.” My hands were all sandy, so I wiped them on the towel and took the call, heart pounding. “Dr. Winters, is everything okay?”
“I was calling to see ifyouwere okay. I know what your research means to you, and that was a devastating blow,” Dr. Winters told me.
“Oh, thank you, I appreciate that.” Though, my body didn’t relax. “Please tell me they caught them?”
“Not yet. Do you have an inventory list? Or better yet, a list of how much it’s going to cost you to replace everything? I’d like to add it to the repair costs so that we’re ready when we catch this person. I’m livid for you–as is everyone else in the department. What a horrible thing to do to someone,” he added.
“The replacement list isn’t finished because I’m trying to figure out the best options. But I have one,” I said tentatively. While I’d ordered a few things, it would cost a lot, and I wasn’t sure if I should ask Creed or Grace for help.
However, I’d asked my brother Hale to dig up my flowers in the public gardens at Marquess and Briar. I gave him money for regular lily bulbs to replace them with.
“Send over what you have. Our department head thinks we can get you a little from the emergency fund because you shouldn’t have to wait for us to catch them,” he told me.
