Page 6 of Wild Hit
I rest my chin on my fist. “I have a random question for you two.”
“Is it about work?” Hope’s eyes light up. “Please tell me it is, there’s only so much cringe I’m able to tolerate in a single day.”
She better brace, then.
“I know it’s very early to ask this, but I’m just curious…” I stretch the pause by taking a sip from my drink. The bittersweet taste is apropos. “If you end up marrying your beaus, will you change your last names or not?”
Hope freezes. “Whoa, I was genuinely not expecting that.”
“Me neither.” Rose swirls her cup to mix the milk and the coffee, humming under her throat as she ponders. “Hmm, I think I might keep my last name Mena, if only to protect Logan.”
We both stare at her and I prompt, “What do you mean?”
“It might keep weirdoes off him if I appear as Rosalina Mena on the screens once I’m officially part of the broadcasting team.”
I snap my fingers. “That’s the spirit.”
Meanwhile, Hope clears her throat and ducks to speak at her straw. “Is it bad if I would want everyone to know that Cade has an owner?”
“No.” Rose laughs. “Maybe that’s the right answer for you two.”
I lean back, staring at them with wonder. They don’t realize how special they are, or how blessed their circumstances. That they found men who would fight stalkers and bad exes to protect them, and whom they would do anything in return for, is nothing short of a miracle.
Meanwhile, here I am, with a form printed and tucked in a manila folder at my desk to change my last name again to my dad’s—arguably the worst specimen of the male species that I’ve encountered.
I’m not strictly of either camp, that every woman has to keeporchange her last name. I think it should be their choice, based on circumstances like this. I wish I had a choice right now too, but I made a deal that I can’t walk back without destroying Hope and Rose’s happily ever afters.
Sharper than her fairytale princess persona would lead anyone to think, Rosalina turns to me. “Why do you ask?”
“Just curious.” I shrug to downplay my interest.
Every line of Rose’s gorgeous face tells me she doesn’t believe for a second that that’s all there is, but she chooses not to press further.
Hope checks her watch. “Well, I better go dig my elbow into someone’s hamstring or something.”
A snort escapes from my throat and turns into a laugh.
“And I better go edit footage of professional baseball players acting like children,” Rose announces, pushing her chair back to stand up.
“You have the best job.” Hope chuckles.
I also get up and tag along as we walk out. “What are we doing for dinner? Tacos?” I ask before we all veer in different directions.
“Oh, sorry.” Rose gives me a sheepish look. “Since it’s a rest day, I was planning on going to the South Korean BBQ place with Logan.”
“And Cade and I are making dinner together at his place,” Hope adds.
I guess I don’t do a very good job at masking how bummed I am because I earn apologies and hugs. Sighing, I wave them off and turn the opposite way, toward the back offices where there’s a corner reserved for communications and public relations. That’s where I work, and also where unpleasant things await at my desk.
Once I get there, I push away the manila folder I’ve been trying to ignore for months and fire my laptop back up.
Dad’s growing impatient. There’s only so many times I can use the excuse that government bureaucracy is slow when I haven’t actually submitted the forms yet. This morning I got a text from him basically ordering me to attend a gala with him tomorrowor else. He probably suspects that I’m dragging my feet and is going to change tactics into a more direct approach.
Nagging me for an entire night.
Ugh, one of my desk plants is showing some signs of sadness, just like my soul. I spritz some water on the little pot, wishing I could fix myself that easily.
I hadn’t truly noticed how liberating it was to not be among the so-called high society all these years, if only going by the growing pit in my stomach. I wonder if I should make up some excuse like being on my period—I’m not—or having a severe case of diarrhea—can be arranged.
