Page 29 of Running
I smile at her. “Thank you.”
Suddenly, she breaks eye contact and waves her hand at me. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.” It feels like something she thinks she has to say, though—not what she really believes.
“Friends share things, Grace. It’s okay. Landon knows most of this already, too.” I keep the smile on my face so she knows I’m fine with telling her all this. “It’s nice to…I told you because I wanted to, truly.”
Her demeanor relaxes. “Okay, good.”
It feels like we’ve hit the end of this subject, but I don’t want her to go yet.
So I ask some of the other questions filling my mind.
“Tell me more about why you chose business school. Do you know what you want to do with your degree yet?”
She’s back at ease when she answers, looking cozy on the brown couch. “When I started, my plan was to try to become a sports agent.”
Oh wait, really?“Have you talked to Aiden about that?”
She nods, but not with the enthusiasm I’d expect. “A little. I have an open invitation to intern for him, but I’d have to live in New York.”
Oh yes, that’d be an obstacle for her at the moment. “Why a sports agent? I mean, I can guess…”
“I love sports, and of course, I’ve had exposure to hyper-competitive environments myself. When I synthesized all of myinterests, knowing that I wasn’t going to continue with a pro running career, it seemed to make sense to pursue being an agent.”
Before I can respond, she adds new color to the topic. “Now that I’m a little deeper into the world though, I’m thinking I might be more interested in being a business manager than an agent.”
Ah.“I could see that. Be more of a planner and problem solver than a wheeler-dealer?”
“Yeah, manage athlete’s business interests and help them maximize their opportunities in a less contentious way. My mom—you know what she does for work, right?” I nod. “She keeps pushing me to go to law school, follow in her footsteps. But what her job requires of her is so much like an agent. Using conflict to make the best deal or win in a courtroom. She may not agree, but that’s what it feels like to me anyway.”
“You would be great in a business manager role. I know Landon hasn’t hired one yet, but if you ever want to talk to mine, I can introduce you. Her name is Lily, and she lives right here in Orlando.”
“Maybe.” She nods.
This is the most I’ve ever gotten out of Grace.
Why do I still feel unsatisfied, like there’s so much more of her to unlock?
“I should get going,” she says somewhat abruptly. “I hate to drive in the dark.”
Inhaling deeply, she picks up the bag she brought with her, shoving the items she pulled out back inside.
“Okay.” When she stands, I rise too.
For a beat, we’re still, studying each other. I really want to pull her into a goodbye hug. But…Landon’s sister. Landon’s sister.
I don’t think we should cross that line, if only for my own sanity.
And a moment later, she says farewell and leaves, shutting the door behind her.
I’m left with only the drone of the baseball announcers, a faint hint of lavender, and the lingering feeling of something uncompleted.
CHAPTER 10
Grace
When I got back to Landon’s last night, I was totally unproductive.
The only thing that my mind could carry was the weight of Johnson’s words. His vulnerability.
