Page 3 of Mine Forever
“Hollywood Hanover.”
My eyes bulge. “Chase Hanover? As in my ex, Chase Hanover?”
Katie picks imaginary lint off her white and pink polka-dotted skirt, her eyes averted. “I was thinking more along the lines of Hollywood Hanover, former major league baseball superstar.”
“No.”
“You know, the elusive Hollywood Hanover that everyone isstilltrying to interview since his retirement a few years ago.”
I roll my eyes. I hate the ridiculous nickname the media gave him. “No. Hard pass,” I say. “Besides, even if we could find him, he wouldn’t do it anyway.”
“Why not?”
I sit with a thump in my chair, tightness spreading across my chest. “The last time I saw Chase was four years ago after the memorial service. We haven’t spoken since.”
“Okay, that happens sometimes. Time passes, etc.”
I shift in my chair. “Yeah, well we didn’t exactly part on great terms.”
That night plays rent free in my head more often than it should. So many emotions filled that night.
“Do you know where he is now?”
“Last I knew he’d moved to Florida. But I don’t know.” I’d made it clear I didn’t want to know since I never returned his calls.
But I have a pretty good idea where he landed, and I know who can tell me.
She rises and shuts the door before coming to sit on the edge of my desk.
“Look, I don’t know what went on between you and Chase, but this is business. It can’t hurt to try. If he says no…” She bobs her head from side to side. “We’ll cross that bridge if we get to it.”
My assistant’s right—this is business. Emotions have no place here. I can’t let a little thing like him being the one that got away interfere with my livelihood.
I can do this.
Ihaveto do this.
Regret knots up in my gut, but time’s running out and so are my choices.
“Okay, fine. I’ll talk to Chase.”
“Good. How can I help?”
“Find me Liz Fallon’s number.”
The more I think about it, the more I warm up to it, and adrenaline courses through my veins.
I rattle off more instructions for her including travel arrangements for first thing in the morning and to rearrange my schedule.
“Call an emergency staff meeting. I’ll talk with the team about the proposal and what’s going on.”
“Will do.” Katie chews her lip, then rubs her nose.
Aw, shit. Her bad news tell. “What is it?”
“You know there’s a tropical storm headed toward Florida, right?”
I type out an email, half listening. “Yeah, I heard about it. But it’s bound to happen. It is October after all and still hurricane season. It’s fine though. It’s still a couple of days away, and they’re predicting it will move out over the Atlantic anyway. It’ll be fine. As long as the Jacksonville airport is open, I’m going and it’ll be fine.”
