Page 141 of The Spring in My Heart

“An hour after you.” She sips her drink and then points her glass to the outdoor couch. “I knocked, but you didn’t answer. I fell asleep out here with a glass of wine. I woke up in the middle of the night, all disoriented and shit.”

“I know the feeling. I smacked myself with my phone.” I chuckle.

“We’ve been through hell. Me with shithead Mateo, and you with both your exes.”

I lean back in my chair, letting the sun balm my skin. “Mateo has not been a problem for me for a while. Having to spend the day with him wasn’t stressful as much as it was annoying. Well…yeah, a little stressful since I had to constantly fight to keep my face straight and avoid side-eyeing his flirting.”

“Homeboy was coming on super strong. You did well, though. You were polite but didn’t encourage him. You put him in his place several times, making him want it more.” She laughs at the end.

“I don’t care anymore. And since my contractual duties are fulfilled, I don’t have to give him the time of day anymore.”

She raises her glass. “Samesies. I’m free.”

“What is he going to do without you? Who the hell is going to clean up his messes?”

She shrugs. “Don’t know. I made recommendations. He can take them or not…either way, I. Don’t. Care.”

“I can’t believe he’s going to let you go just like that.”

“It’s not just like that.” She sips. “He and his agent have been nonstop messaging me. Between you, me, and the Positano Ocean, they’ve offered me three times my salary and full autonomy. He keeps swearing he will do better and listen more.”

“That’s a whole lot of money.”

She sighs. “Yeah, still not doing it. I can design any situation for my clients, but that fucker was burning me out.”

No kidding. He has so many messes. “What are you going to do, then?”

“My friend, YES, and I are forming an athlete management agency.”

“Oh, that’s cool. So, you would take on clients and manage them together?”

She nods. “Yeah, each in our own lane but together.”

“And her name is Yes? That doesn’t sound very agent-like.”

She laughs. “Her name is actually Yasmin. YES is an acronym. She’s a shark, and we’ve been consulting each other for our athletes for years. It’s time we offered a one-stop shop for clients.”

“You’re going to do great. Mateo’s loss is her clients’ gain.”

“I hope so.”

“Girl, please, you’re like an Olivia Pope in the business. I’m not even mad at how you kept Mateo’s image intact.” I’m really not bitter. She was doing her job.

She rolls her eyes. “He was the most exhausting job I’ve ever had. I’m not breaking confidence because you were there for all his messes. He’s a fucking trainwreck.”

“Oh yeah.”

“I have to say… Even though it made my life more difficult, I was glad you finally broke up with him for good. You deserved better,” she confides.

“You really thought so?”

“Yes.” She sips her drink. “You were the perfect girlfriend, a publicist’s dream. You gave him credibility because you had your own life, your own followers, and didn’t carry any baggage. You’re the whole package.”

It’s so good to hear people say that. “That reminds me about a conversation with Chase.”

“Chase…” She sighs.

“That’s gross.”

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