Page 61 of Desiring You

Phoebe flopped on the sofa after the last of the guys left. “So, ah, that was intense.”

I grunted as I plopped down next to her, jostling her.

She giggled at the way she flailed around in light of the way I landed. I loved when we could be around each other without all the other garbage. The longer I looked at her, her laughter died out, but her smile remained.

My heart sped up as I angled toward her. “I like seeing you smile.”

The smile reached her eyes. “I like being here. And I think I can help. I want to write an article about Molly.”

I perked up. “Really?”

She nodded. “People already know her, from the bracelets and merchandise when she was sick. They applaud her when she arrives at the games, she’s known to Raptors and Cavaliers fans alike. So, maybe it’s time to get the fans involved. Get the weight of public opinion on her side. If I can find someone to buy it and run it.”

A smirk crept across my face. “Oh, I’m pretty sure Regina Clarke of Clarke Communications will be interested. She only has season tickets to the Cavaliers’ games. This could be a big break for you.”

“Then I better get started!” she said leaping from the sofa. “I have an article to write!”

As much as I wanted to grab her, hold on, and keep her with me, she needed to go and be brilliant. An article all about Molly’s struggles with coaching staff would be just one more way to put pressure on management.

I loved playing hockey. I really did. But I didn’t need it. I had Piercing Tides. If this went the wrong way, I could just concentrate on removing plastic from the ocean full-time again and skate in a league on the weekends.

Which reminded me. I hadn’t heard from Jamarion after the last email I sent. Deciding I was tired of his shit, I cold-called him. Blocking my number, I called his personal cell.

I didn’t give him time to answer when the call connected. “Jamarion.”

He cleared his throat nervously. “Ah, Ransom. Long time no talk. I’ve been meaning to call you.”

I grumbled. “I left you about ten messages in the last three or four weeks.”

I heard him pushing paper in the background. “It’s been busy.”

Leaning forward, I rested my elbows on my thighs. “This is the first time you’ve answered, J, only when you didn’t know it was me. Makes me feel like you’re avoiding me.”

His tone was dismissive. “No, just been in the middle of a project.”

I shoved my hand into my hair with frustration. “Talk to me, J.”

I heard some more shuffling of papers through the phone. “There’s just been a lot of communications with our partners. When less was coming in, I needed to know why.”

I felt like my heart stopped. “What? Less plastic coming in? Since when?”

He sighed. “Last couple months. I sent you a memo.”

Sitting up, I shoved an aggravated hand through my hair. “I read your fucking memo, but you made it sound like it wasn’t enough to screw with production. Is it lowering our production?”

He scoffed. “Of course. Less plastic always means less produced. That’s why we sent Dominic to Bali. He’s looking to pick up some new contracts there. Then he’s headed up north to Iceland. We need to tap all the usual resources to see if we can pick up more and then start searching for new ways to proceed,” he hesitated, “like microplastics.”

I felt a rumble in my throat. “If we have less product, we have less income. You know as well as I do that microplastics require a different type of technology we don’t have. How can we afford the R&D on micro if we don’t have a strong market with macro?”

He hedged. “There are grants and government programs. Or you could chip in.”

I pounded on the table in front of me. “Dammit, we’ve gone over this! Those programs could be there one minute and gone the next. And then what? Then we’re stuck paying for equipment, people, technology, and just eating the cost. It’s too unreliable. We have to get the macros back up before we consider moving to micros. Hell, we know there’s enough plastic in the ocean to keep the company running. Haven’t you seen the latest projections from the Pew Trusts?”

He huffed. “Abysmal as always.”

I stood pacing. “Then where the fuck is the plastic? Use satellite footage and reports from other countries to find the damn stuff. It’s all over the goddamn ocean, so it can’t be that fucking hard to find!”

Sighing, he sounded defeated. “Yeah, well, guess it’s evasive. Don’t know what you want me to do about it.”

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