Page 57 of The Way We Collide

“Just keep your mind on your business.” I haven’t even gotten to the whole marriage part, mostly because I haven’t thought it through.

If I tell my teammates, it’ll leak to the media, then all my family will know. My throat tightens, considering what will happen if they all know we’re married. They’d do everything in their power to keep us together, and that’s not the plan.

Coach yells our names, and we jog into the weight room. My friend has no idea what I’m dealing with, and to be honest, I’m not sure I do either.

14

Raven

“As you can see we’re just getting off the ground.” Star Corrigan is a petite blonde dressed in high-waisted navy slacks and a cropped, short-sleeved ivory sweater.

Her hair is styled in a stick-straight bob, and her features are sharp. She’s all business, and she looks very much like a fast-talking news reporter. I wish I’d worn something a little more official.

As it is, I’m wearing black jeans and a scoop-neck burgundy sweater. I look like I’m headed to the grocery store instead of to a job interview. Chewing my lip, I’m already planning my next outfit if they actually give me the internship.

“Hendrix has been such a great help,” she continues. “So many of the players only talk to the big guys, but he always stops to give us a word or two. He said he has a soft spot for the little guys… something about his brother-in-law?”

“Yes—Logan Murphy.” I jump in, glad I have something to contribute. “He bought a radio station in Newhope, and he’sworking hard to get it established. He wants it to be a premiere sports hub.”

“Sports is a tough market to break into.” She gives me a wry smile, “But I remember Logan Murphy. He was the star wide receiver for the New Jersey Pirates. He has quite the reputation.”

“It’s true, then he married Hendrix’s little sister Dylan. She’s a friend of mine.”

“And now you’re dating her brother?” Star smiles, but my throat tightens at the question. “Have you two known each other all your lives?”

“Ah, no, actually, we met at Dylan’s wedding.”

She gives me a playful nudge. “Sounds like I need to get off the apps and get invited to more weddings.”

I exhale a laugh, unsure what to say. I don’t know how long we can keep our marriage a secret, and if she finds out, I don’t have a reason for not telling her. Other than we’re planning to end it in three months… which gives me an unexpected pain in my chest.

I have no cause for pain. This was my idea.

She continues talking as we walk through a large room filled with tables and desks. “This is the main newsroom. We only have two full-time reporters, and they work out here.”

I follow her down a narrow hall, past an office with large windows. An older man sits inside it behind a desk, talking on his phone. His dark brown hair is styled like a helmet, and with his thick mustache, he’s giving totalAnchormanvibes.

“Ward Cabrera is the owner and station manager.” She nods in his direction. “I’ll introduce you before you leave.”

“Okay.” My voice is quiet, and I search for something to say. “Have you always worked in news?”

Shaking her head, she exhales a laugh. “I started out trying to be an actress. With a name like Star…”

Her eyes roll, but I disagree. “I like your name. It’s memorable.”

“My mom was a big fan of that old vampire movieTheLost Boys.” Lifting her hand, she cups it around her mouth and stage-whispers, “I look nothing like Jamie Gertz.”

Her confession puts me at ease. “Still, it’s a fun movie.”

“She named my sister Chloë. She claims it was for the perfume, but I suspect it was really for the Kardashian.”

“Isn’t she the favorite sister?”

“I don’t know.” She arches an eyebrow at me. “I like Raven. It’s a great weather name. Aren’t ravens the smartest birds?”

“My mother said she chose it because my hair was almost black when I was born.” I lift a strand. “It lightened up some.”

Looking at the shiny brown lock, I wonder if that was the first time I disappointed her.

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