Page 22 of Running
I’m about to have Grace’s phone number?
CHAPTER 7
Grace
Professor Carry approved my new project plan last Friday with enthusiasm. The goal of the auction is to raise money for a new community center in one of Orlando’s areas of most need, so there is no question of impact.
“I’m glad you figured it out, Grace. It’ll be a big challenge to run the auction, even if it’s an established event,” she said when I talked to her after class. “I attend the gala every year, so I’ll get to see you in action.”
Once I had the professor’s seal of approval, I emailed Susie and Lara accepting the role, and they wanted me to start right away. Apparently, we’re a couple of weeks behind the normal planning time for donations, because of the shift in the coordinator position.
Today, my first day at the Waves office, coincides with the beginning of training camp, so the building is busy and full of energy. Lara shepherds me through an orientation and some introductions before my first meeting with Susie in two hours.
While I wouldn’t expect the head of PR to be so involved in my onboarding, she gives me a clue as to why early in our meeting.
“It will be wonderful to have a Battle working on the auction,” she observes with a pleased tone. “The gala is huge forpositive publicity, and I don’t want to miss an opportunity to maximize it.”
This isn’t the first time someone has viewed my value through the lens of the last name I share with my brother. So I just absorb her comment and don’t sit with it too long.
As she walks me through the overview she prepared, Lara reminds me of my mom in her demeanor. I stay pretty quiet, letting her be the star of the conversation. I’m polite, and hopefully, charming…but smaller.
I try to digest all the info she’s throwing at me about the auction history, marketing, and logistics, taking extensive notes. It’s rapid fire, and I know I’m going to need to go back over my scribbles to make sure I have it all clear in my head.
By the time she brings Johnson into her office, he’s a welcome sight.
He’s definitely surprised to see me at first, but then he throws a big smile my way, which somehow helps settle me a bit. Maybe because he’s a familiar face? Whatever the reason, his positive energy is a boon this morning.
“Welcome to the team, Little Battle.”
With Lara’s feminine, refined office furniture surrounding us, his tall, athletic frame, clothed in Waves sportswear, should feel out of place. But to me, he feels like the natural fit in here, and her furnishings are the odd ones out.
“Thanks Johnson. It wouldn’t have happened without you.” Which is true. Without Johnson’s suggestion, I’d still be stuck.
I’d debated reaching out to him to thank him, but I didn’t have his contact info, and it felt weird to ask Landon for it. I’m glad I have a chance to do it now that we’re officially working together.
Working together.I guess there’s no avoiding him now.
I’m not sure that I need to, anyway. Everything I’ve learned about him in the last couple of weeks only shows him to be a solid person, despite my longstanding assumptions otherwise. Evenlooking back at what happened two years ago, I find I’m not interested in dwelling on it now.
I’ll let it all go.We can have a fresh start.
The Johnson in this room right now, the one who showed so much interest in helping me last week—I’m open to a second chance to get to know him.
“You’re welcome.” He winks.
“I’ll let you get back to whatever brought you to the executive suites,” Lara says.
“A meeting with Marshall. No bother at all, but I better get to it.”
With a dip of his head toward me to say goodbye, he turns to walk out.
And then my mind glitches for a minute as I’m taking in the rear view.
Because…wow. The way his butt looks in his Waves athletic shorts…okay,yum.
Somewhere in these intervening years, Johnson must have done a lot of work in that area. This reminds me of that scene in the hockey romance where he’s walking to the shower and she?—
GRACE, my mind yells at me. And pop—the spell is broken, and I try to refocus.
