Page 22 of Winning Match

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Judith

Is this you? You look beautiful!

Gladys

I have the image on my phone too. Judith took a picture of my phone and sent it to you!

Judith

Why are you in a gossip blog?

And who is that handsome man with you?

Did we finally decide to live a real life?

Gladys

I hope so.

I’m giddy!

Dorothy

I’m coming to meet you ladies for coffee. And breakfast, I’m hungry. We have so much to talk about!

Gladys

It’s you, Marlowe. We’re meeting to talk about you!

I snort at the messages. Dorothy must be confused, or her daughter sent her misinformation. There’s no way there’s a picture of me in a blog.

I tap on the image and gasp as the photo appears on screen.

It’s a picture of Gladys’s phone, but on the screen is me and Ale. We’re casually holding hands and I’m gazing at him over my shoulder like he hung the fucking moon. Narrowing my eyes, I try to read the headline of the post beneath the photo but since Judith zoomed in on Gladys’s screen, I can’t make out the words.

Huh? I pull up my internet browser to search for more information but messages from Grandpa come through in the next moment, drawing my attention.

Grandpa

Marlowe, did you see my message about José Costa?

Please arrange for a meeting as soon as possible.

In addition to losing Lawrence Sailing, Brown University also pulled their contract.

Nausea rolls through me. It would break my father’s heart to know that Brown University, his alma mater—my alma mater—will be buying their sailboats and dinghies from another manufacturer.

Tears prick my eyes. Maybe it’s for the best Dad doesn’t know we lost the Brown account. I don’t know how many more setbacks my father can handle.

Grandpa

Try to set up a meeting with Costa. If not, let’s meet as soon as you’re back. We need to drum up some new business as soon as possible.

The university Gerard connected us with didn’t accept our proposal.

I think word is getting around that your dad isn’t himself…

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