Page 33 of Hello Quarterback

I twisted the knob, letting myself inside. Unlike my minimalistic condo, their home was full—of love, of life, of people.

Andrew was playing some kind of racing video game in the living room while Cora sat at the table, carefully painting her nails a shimmering shade of orange. Gage was cooking something in the kitchen in a T-shirt and shorts. Photos of their life together lined the walls, along with Andrew’s artwork, progressing from his younger years to more recent works that could have been on display in any art museum.

Andrew said a quick hello, followed by Cora saying, “Hey, Mia.” And then Gage grinned at me from the kitchen. “There’s my favorite CEO.”

“I’m so glad to see you all!” Then I walked toward the kitchen to chat with Gage. Before he was my best friend’s husband, he was my demanding, uptight boss. “It’s crazy to see you not in a suit.”

“Crazy to see you in a Ford Madigan blazer,” he retorted.

My cheeks blushed at the reminder of Ford’s gift. I’d almost forgotten I was wearing it with how comfortable it was.

“I still can’t believe he’s breaking his no dating rule,” Gage said. “He hasn’t had a girlfriend since college.”

Something about that fact made me smile. At least I didn’t have to share Ford with anyone else. I went to sit at the kitchen island while he worked on chopping vegetables—it was nice to see this side of him. He had all the money in the world, but he found comfort, happiness in this. Otherwise he wouldn’t be doing it.

“Where’s your wife?” I asked. “And Tara?”

“Finishing up a bath. Shouldn’t be too long,” he said, going to the fridge and getting me a beer, cracking off the top. “How’s the company treating you?”

I took a sip of the tangy liquid. “Thomas is a shithead,” I said, to which he gave an understanding snort. “I’m worried he’s going to force a vote of no confidence the second he gets a chance.”

Gage’s jaw tightened. “That piece of shit. Do you want me to?—”

“You can’t do anything,” I said. “The last thing we want is the polarization of people picking sides. Nothing brings people together like a common enemy. Right now, all he has is their ears. I don’t want him to have their loyalty too.”

Gage gave me an approving look.

“What?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Just chose the right person for CEO is all.”

I smiled, a sense of relief sweeping over me. Deep down, I knew I was doing a good job, but it sure helped to hear it from someone I trusted and respected. I had my mouth open to thank him when a little ball of energy with wet, brown ringlets rushed up to me. “AUNTIE MIA!”

“Tara,” I said happily, picking up the two-year-old and holding her in front of me. “You are so big!”

She smiled at me, big blue eyes squinting. “I took a shower!”

I hugged her to my chest. “You smell like strawberries!”

Farrah huffed as she sat beside me at the island, half her shirt soaked. “So do I.”

I gasped playfully at Tara. “Did you splash your mommy?”

Tara laughed so gleefully it made me giggle too. Then she squirmed out of my arms, toddling over to Drew in the living room and sitting on his back. Farrah shook her head at them and said, “Come to the bedroom with me so I can change?”

I nodded, then lifted my beer to Gage and followed her back to the room.

While she changed out of her wet clothes into pajamas, she said, “Spill! I need someone to talk to me about something other than Troll dolls, Sephora, or the difference between oil and acrylic paints.”

Laughing, I leaned against the wall by her dresser and said, “Can do.” But when I opened my mouth to tell her what was going on... I couldn’t make the truth come out.

Because honestly? I was embarrassed.

I made my living off being capable. I was either the smartest person in the room or able to hire people who solved the problems I couldn’t. But when it came to Ford, my instincts had been so wrong before that first date.

So, I did something I never did... I lied to my best friend.

“It’s still really new with him,” I said.

---