Page 80 of Offside and Off-Limits
“Look, I would love to answer all of your questions, ladies, but I really do have to go,” I say, stepping away from the table.
“One more tiny question, Clara, for my own peace of mind,” Mary-Ellen calls out.
For her peace of mind? More like for her gossip mill.
But I don’t let her ask. Instead, I say a cheerful, “Bye now!”and fly through the door, the rain instantly dampening my hair as I rush toward my car down the street.
As I close my car door over, I let out a breath. Why didn’t I get Cade to park down the street where busybody neighbors wouldn’t spot him so easily? Mary-Ellen just activated her personal broadcasting system, and I give it approximately six hours before this information reaches every household within a ten-mile radius.
Which gives further impetus to my task this morning.
I reach the office, my dampened hair beginning to curl, and the pumpkin cinnamon bun now too water damaged to offer Veronica. I dump it on my desk, say a quick hello to Millie, and without giving myself the chance to back down, I make my way to Veronica’s office.
“Where’s the fire?” Bailey says as I dash past her desk.
I come to a stop. “I’m going to tell Veronica now.”
“About you know who?”
“I need to.”
“Good luck. I’ll be here if you need me,” Bailey says.
“Thanks.” I stride over to Veronica’s office and clear my throat when I reach her open door.
She looks up at me from her computer screen. “Clara. How are you today? Feeling better?”
“I’m doing great, thanks. I got you a coffee.” I place the cup on her desk, noticing a few drops of rainwater sliding from it and pooling around the rim. “Sorry. It’s raining.”
“Don’t apologize. It’s very thoughtful of you.” She picks up the cup and takes a sip. “Falling for Books?”
“Maple Grounds.”
“Ah.”
“Can we talk?”
“Of course. Is it a door shut or door open kind of conversation?”
“Door shut.” I turn and close the door over as a swoop of nerves zip through me. But I need to have this conversation, andafter my experience just now with the gossipmongers of Maple Falls, it can’t have come a moment too soon.
I sit on the other side of her desk and steel myself.
You’ve got this.
“Veronica, I need to tell you something,” I begin, my pulse thudding, and instantly I wish I had taken up Cade’s offer to be here with me. But I was determined to stand on my own two feet, full of self-righteous ownership of the situation, telling him it was my issue to deal with and not his. He doesn’t have a non-fraternization clause in his contract. I do, and I need to step up—even if right now I wish he was here to lend his support.
“If it’s about the latest metrics for the Hockey 101 series you’ve started, let me tell you, fans are loving your dynamic with Cade. He’s all about fun and you’re the one holding it together like a pro. You bounce off each other so nicely.”
“It works, right?” I’d seen the success of the first video and knew she would be happy with the results. The comments were a mixture of hockey and the inevitable observations about Cade’s and my chemistry. Now that I’m no longer working at ignoring my feelings for him, those comments simply make me smile. “That’s not what I wanted to talk about, though.”
“Oh?”
I take a deep breath and begin. “Let me preface it by saying how much I love this job and how grateful I am to you for giving me this opportunity.”
She frowns. “You're not quitting, are you, Clara?”
“No. Nothing like that.”Although you might fire me when I tell you what I'm about to say.“I came to see you because I need to tell you that although I didn't set out for this to happen, the fact of the matter is I've started a relationship with one of the players.” I hold my breath, waiting for her reply.
