Page 23 of Love so Cold

Ineed to recapture my focus and get back to work, but my legs feel leaden. My thoughts keep drifting back to Chestnut—or Avery, rather. Each morning after the first time I ran into her at the coffee shop, I thought maybe it would happen again. But it seemed like it was a one-time visit for her.

She’s been swirling in my mind since that day. She’s got me off-balance, and I don’t like it. I’ve never been so focused on a woman before, even ones I’ve dated. I shake my head. It’s obviously because she’s the leader of the town’s grand resistance against the development. That’s clearly the explanation for my fascination with her.

I sit back at my desk and pull up a blank email. Jenna needs to dig up what she can on Avery. The sooner I understand my opponent, the better.

"Jenna," I start typing, "I need info on Avery Bennett. She’s spearheading the opposition. Her daughter, Olivia, is on the pee-wee team. Find everything you can."

Sent. That’s done.

My eyes flicker to the corner of my screen where the calendar icon is begging for attention.

Clicking it, I see the reminder that makes my stomach drop—first game of the season, 5 pm. A glance at my watch—3:30 pm—and I’m calculating if I can afford to show my face there, or what it might cost me if I don’t. It’s then that my phone decides to ring again.

"Victor Stone."

"Victor, hey, it’s Marty. Coach for the pee-wee league," he says, as if I don’t already know who he is.

"What can I do for you?" I ask, hoping to move the conversation along.

"I know the timing of this isn’t ideal, but my wife just went into labor. I can’t make this evening’s game."

The news is enough to send my day into a further tailspin.

"I didn’t know your wife was pregnant," I admit. I actually didn’t even know that the man was married. Not that it really should have mattered.

"Yep. For nine months now."

"Clearly," I mutter. "If you can’t make the game, we’ll have to forfeit," I say calmly.

"Yeah, sorry about that," Marty responds, not offering a solution. "But, nature, ya know?"

"No, I don’t know," I mutter under my breath. "Well, congratulations," I say. "I guess I have some calls to make."

Hanging up, I dial Jenna immediately, my voice tight as I explain the mess.

"So, we’re going to need a replacement coach. Marty’s apparently married, and this wife of his is going into labor."

Jenna hesitates. "I’m not sure I can get a replacement in an hour, Victor," she says.

I shake my head. "That’s really unacceptable. If we forfeit this game, our entire investment in the team willbe a waste. Not to mention the bad publicity it will bring."

"I totally agree," Jenna says.

"So, then find a replacement."

"It’s not going to be that simple, Victor. I’m in Boston. I’m not connected with the town. I wouldn’t know who to call over there on such short notice, honestly. You’ve been around town a lot lately. Is there anyone you can think of asking?"

"No," I say immediately. "Just because I’ve been around town doesn’t mean I’m making friends."

"Oh, come on, Victor," she says. "That was the whole point. There has to be someone you can think of to fill in."

A moment of silence passes between us. I’m waiting for her to come up with a better solution, but what she says next is by far worse than forfeiting.

"Unless, you think you could step in," she says, her words hanging heavy in the air.

"Never going to happen," I say immediately.

"Victor!" she huffs. "It’s the only thing that makes sense. You won’t even have to do anything, really. It’s just a pee-wee game."

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