Crown's Chance at Love

by Mayra Statham

  “Oh no, Robert would kill me if I bought a whole table. His production company would be buying it. There is only one itty bitty catch. His partner Tony Garibaldi needs a little… how do you say… charming or is it coaxing?”

  “Wait what?” I ask trying not to laugh. Holly is starting to sound like the blonde version of Lucille O’Ball.

  “Robert thinks the company buying a table will be good for company morale. Not to mention great exposure to the press, especially with the new movie about to release. But Tony doesn’t completely agree. He’s almost there just a little hesitant. So I was thinking a nice laid back BBQ, a little swimming for the kids, the guys grilling, and the way you can sell ice to Eskimos you could totally talk him into it. Ergo he would go ahead and give in and give the go ahead to buy the table.”

  “Holly…”

  “His daughter is around Chris’ age, cutest thing you have ever seen! They are going to be at the BBQ! Don’t worry I will personally call and tell Mike not to get his panties in a wad if you think he is going to get jealous,” she says smiling.

  My face must have given me away because suddenly she grabs my hand as the smile on her face falls and a worried expression drapes over her face.

  “Shit. What happened?”

  “Nothing…” I say, my lip starting to tremble. I bite down and take a deep breath. I had done such a good job at keeping my emotions at bay, but suddenly I feel like I’m about to break down. Only making it worse by doing it in front of Holly! Ugh!

  “Holly, Mike and I aren’t seeing one another anymore.” There I had said it… out loud and it had only taken me four days. My heart hurts even though I am trying to stay mad. She frowns, “So I get it if you don’t want us over… you know I mean… I get that he is your friend.”

  “AND? Look Sabrina. I genuinely like you! I think of you and me as friends. Real friends, and I think you know that in the circles I run that’s tough to find. Helping you with the committee on the Gala has been tough but I am glad it had a silver lining. That being, us becoming friends. So… what did the big idiot do?” she asks calmly, but I can see worry in her eyes.

  I shake my head, because at the end of the day they’re close. It didn’t feel right to air our dirty laundry to her. It wouldn’t be fair to put her in the middle. Plus I’m glad she sees me as a friend; no way I could ever tell her what had happened. It was way too embarrassing. I have to keep it together.

  “Nothing. We just ended. It’s okay. I mean sometimes these things don’t work out you know? I thought we were good, but when I think about it now… I mean I don’t even know what I was thinking to be honest with you. I blame it on being completely stupid when it comes to dating… Only thing is I haven’t told the kids yet, so if you don’t mind when we go over…” God I am rambling. I know I am rambling, yet I can’t stop. But Holly being Holly, she steps in.

  “Oh of course not. I won’t say anything.” she says with a sad smile.

  “So hey on the bright side, I can charm Mr. Garibaldi’s pants off without worrying about anyone’s panties getting in a wad,” I say smiling and she laughs.

  “That is true,” she says then the same worried look falls on her pretty eyes, but just as quickly she mischievously smirks. “Trust me honey when you see him, you will agree that they are definitely a pair of pants to charming off if you know what I mean,” she says winking and I laugh, and it feels so good to laugh.

  “I think I am taking a break from men for a while,” I say trying to smile and she smiles.

  “You okay though, like for real?” she asks, and I find it incredibly endearing of her. Yeah, surprisingly Holly Montgomery is definitely friend material.

  I shrug, “I will be.” Trying to smile I continue, “so tell me the details of this BBQ, and what do you want me to bring?”

  We finish talking and agree that I take dessert, and she leaves my office. I take a few phone calls, and by the time I look at the clock, somehow it’s already seven. Nick had called me earlier saying that he was at the house and not to worry because he had everything under control. I thanked him profusely promising to bring him a dessert.

  The office is quiet, with everyone leaving, including my assistant Kate, who I had had to plead with to go and leave work early. She’s a good kid and had picked up a lot of slack, so I needed to make sure she was kept happy. As I’m standing up packing my things, my office phone rings, and without thinking about how late it is I answer.

  “Ritz Events how can I help you?”

  “Hi this is Jackson Galloway from Perk Events I was wondering if I could please speak with Sabrina Miller.”

  “This is her. How can I help you Mr. Galloway?”

  “I am sorry to be calling so late. I was actually expecting to leave you a voicemail. Burning the midnight oil?” he asks. His voice is nice and friendly and I laugh.

  “You could say that. How can I help you?”

  “I don’t know if you have heard of us… Perk is based out of Seattle, Washington. We have been hearing great things about you and we were wondering if you might be interested in coming out to meet us.”

  “To meet you? I’m sorry I’m a little confused?” I ask as I sit in my chair staring out the window.

  “We have a position that is going to be opening at the beginning of the year. A VP position and we would like to interview you. We would of course fly you out, and pick up the costs of your stay. We are highly interested Sabrina.”

  “In Seattle?”

  “I know you are probably thinking that we wouldn’t have the same clientele you do, but you would be surprised. We have heard wonderful things about you, and we know that you are in the midst of planning a Breast Cancer event correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “How about we fly you out that Monday after?”

  “Mr. Galloway…”

  “Please call me Jack. Look. If you don’t mind, we have done our research on you. A headhunter highly recommended you. I probably shouldn’t be saying this but you are our first choice on a list of five. I understand you are a single mom, three kids, right?

  “Yes,” I say probably sounding as surprised as I feel at how much he knows about me.

  “I can’t give too many details of what we are willing to offer over the phone, but let me tell you it would be completely worth your while. Fewer hours, you would able to be home more, choose the events that you would want to take on, and there are wonderful schools out here for the kids. I am also allowed to mention that there is a pretty hefty sign on bonus as well and we would be willing to pick up the moving costs as well, and like I just mentioned those are only a few of the details I am allowed to mention over the phone,” he says seriously.

  Holy smokes… Seattle? What did I have to lose with an interview?

  “Okay. Email me the itinerary, I will see you then,” I say. We end the phone call and I sit back on my chair staring out the window.

  A blur of cars on the street pass through the darkness that starts to settle over Colorado Blvd. Everyone rushing by. Could I leave California? I missed the pace of living we had in Berkley; being back in Pasadena, everything had been rushing from one thing to another… would Seattle offer a slower pace?

  Does my sudden desire to see Washington have anything to do with Mike? Does it matter? It is an extraordinary offer I can’t deny. I had been taking on a lot more lately at Ritz, and the commission was great, but I wasn’t a partner with Laney. I close my eyes, and take a deep breath, as something in the pit of my stomach sets in. I miss Mike, completely and utterly miss that big jerk. He would be the perfect person to be a sounding board for this.

  Mike

  It’s late Thursday night and I am sitting on my rooftop in the dark of night with a scotch in hand as I look out at… shit I am not even looking at anything, not really. I see my pool, and all the things out here, but that’s not what my mind sees. No, my mind sees her in that fucking sweet pink bikini top and cut off shorts showcasing her damn tan legs, making her ass look even
more incredible, as she stands by the grill waving at the kids and me in the pool as we try to splash her.

  I look over to the porch swing and see us cuddling there together, my arms wrapped around her, the warmth of her skin on mine warming me up in a way I hadn’t even known was possible. My fucking arms ache to feel her in them.

  It’s been four fucking days.

  I haven’t seen her, heard her voice, nothing. Not that I expect to hear from her. I keep looking at my phone re-reading our texts. Looking at the pictures in my phone, her beautiful face smiling back at me, I miss her so bad it literally hurts. I miss the kids too. I wonder who will be taking the boys to the game on Sunday. I wonder what Penny will look like at her recital tomorrow. Had they even noticed I hadn’t been around? What had she told them?

  I had driven by their house tonight on my way home. A rental car was in the driveway, probably Nick’s, Sabrina’s SUV wasn’t.

  Nick had flown in. He was probably taking the boys to the game, and damn if that doesn’t irritate me.

  I wonder if she’s working. Was she throwing herself into her work instead of being home relaxing. I fucking ruined it all, I think as I down my scotch. I close my eyes feeling the burn down my throat, and lean my head back as I think about her.

  Her beautiful face, creamy skin, gold flecked chocolate brown eyes. Everything about her embossed into my damn brain. Then I remember. I remember how she had looked four days ago, when I fucked it all up and I open my eyes.

  I broke her heart, I’m a fucking bastard. I stand to refill my glass as my phone rings.

  Holly Calling, and for some fucking reason I decide to answer.

  “Hello,” I say seriously.

  “Hey Doll,” she says. Something is off in her voice.

  “What’s going on Holly?”

  “Funny… That’s what I was calling to ask you…” She’s hinting at something. Holly and her damn games.

  “I’m good,” I say a little too harshly.

  “Really?” she asks full of curiosity.

  “Yeah. Look Holly is there a reason for this call?”

  “No, just wanted to see if you wanted to come out Saturday. BBQ at my house. A couple of friends, nothing fancy.”

  “What time?” I ask rubbing my face.

  “3 p.m.” she says.

  “I’ll try to make it.”

  “Okay, good. I’ll talk to you later, one of the boys just got out of bed.” And she hangs up.

  ***

  Sabrina

  Day five without Mike, if I have to be honest, isn’t that bad. But it might have to do with the fact that I have been running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off. Not only juggling work and taking the kids to school, but also having to head to three different sports stores to buy the boys and Nick jerseys, all because of fucking Mike.

  He had said he would take care of picking up the jerseys, and he hadn’t because, well he had ended us. Once I finally found the correct jerseys in the right sizes, I decided to take the rest of the day. I left work early and helped Penny get ready for her recital, treating her out to get her nails painted and hair done. It had been fun.

  ***

  I breathe in deeply as I look at Nick and the boys, smiling at how handsome all three look in their suits as we find seats in the auditorium of the Pasadena Performing Arts Center. Mark gets up to take Chris to the bathroom and Nick and I are left alone sitting down watching everyone get comfortable around us.

  “So we going to talk about it?” he asks as he looks at me and I look at him and I sigh.

  I knew it was coming. I knew he was giving me my space yesterday when we watched TV and ate ice cream on the couch once I got home from work as I told him about my job offer.

  “Not if we don’t have to,” I say trying to avoid a conversation about Mike.

  “They know something is up, you know that right?” he asks with a scowl on his face.

  Nick was mad. I wasn’t sure if he was mad at me or at Mike, but an unhappy Nick is a difficult Nick to deal with.

  I look at the curtain move and I see Penny’s face peek through searching around as she frowns.

  “She’s looking for him. She said he promised her he would be here,” Nick says raising an eyebrow at me.

  “He won’t be here Nick,” I sigh. ” Look,” I start to say as I look at Nick’s handsome face, “It’s over. It wasn’t going to work out, simple as that. I know I have to tell the kids. I am planning on talking to them…” he frowns as his hand covers mine.

  “What happened?” he asks and I lean my head on his shoulder.

  “Nothing… it just wasn’t going to work out, it’s better this way,” I mumble out trying not to let myself cry.

  “Was it your choice?” he asks and when I don’t say anything he shifts so that I lift my head off his shoulder and look at him. “Sabrina… did you end it?”

  I shake my head and look away because I feel the tears about to come pouring down. So much for day five being good, I think to myself. I feel him squeeze my hand; it was his way of trying to show me his support.

  “That guy’s a bigger fucking idiot that I thought,” I hear him say as we see the boys come back and sit down.

  He acts like nothing is wrong, but I see Mark frown and I can feel anger radiating off of Nick. I had enough men in my life, two little mini alpha males in the making and an alpha male as a best friend, I have no idea what I was thinking getting involved with Mike. But even with all the hurt and pain that had been in my heart these last five days, I couldn’t manage to even think about regretting what we had shared these last five months.

  Penny danced beautifully and her solo went off without a hitch. She was so graceful and practically floated on stage. At the end of the performance she looks up and smiles brightly as she bows, her eyes looking out to the far end of the auditorium. I look back but it is so crowded I can’t see anything. My silly little heart had almost thought that maybe Mike had kept his promise of being here.

  I knew Sean would have adored seeing his little girl up there, but I knew, in a way, he had. I was so proud of my girl. I knew by the look on her face that she was a little sad that Mike hadn’t been there, as she tries to make the best out of the boys and Nick fawning over her. She even blushes when we hand her a bouquet of pink roses.

  But it was in her eyes and the way they roamed the room that made me so angry at Michael Crown. At him and at myself. I should have known better. Penny had been hoping he was there. She didn’t ask about him, neither of the boys had either. If I ever dated again, I knew I wouldn’t be introducing them to anyone until I knew for sure it was something stable. Something real. You thought it had been, I thought and sighed.

  Afterward, Nick took us to dinner and ice cream. He stayed at the house in the guest room like he always did when he was in town. I was utterly thankful for my best friend.

  ***

  Mike

  I stood in the back of the auditorium in a dark corner. Luckily since I had gotten there late, I didn’t look like a creepy man in the corner. The auditorium is full of families, and I spot her quickly in the seats. Sabrina is sitting next to Nick and they are talking. My arms ache to get close enough to touch her, hold her, to caress her wrists. I want her to look at me. I want to go over there and beg her to forgive me. But I won’t.

  She looks so beautiful, my eyes hurt to look at her. Her dark hair is up in a pretty high ponytail, her bangs swooping to one side. She is wearing a pretty bright blue dress, with little cap sleeves, and if I knew her like I knew I did, she is probably wearing some hot heels. She is visibly upset as she sits and talks to Nick, then leans into him, her head falling on his shoulder. Something in me wants to beat the shit out of him for touching her. He says something and she smiles. My heart hurts wishing I was the one making her smile. Why hadn’t I just told her how I felt? Because you aren’t good enough for her, she would figure that out sooner or later.

  Penny keeps looking out to the crowd and frowning. Sh
e’s looking for me. I had promised her I’d be here to see her dance. To her she would think that I broke my promise. I hadn’t planned on coming tonight, but I couldn’t seem to stay away. My eyes got teary as I watched her dance. She had such a natural talent, graceful and light footed, almost floating on stage. Her solo had gone off without a hitch, and I couldn’t have been prouder, not even if she was my own flesh and blood. As it ended I almost thought she saw me when she smiled brightly as she took a bow. I doubt she did. I left right after her performance avoiding bumping into any of them. It would be better if they thought I was a complete selfish bastard.

  Sabrina

  Holly’s home is beautiful. It’s a huge Mediterranean style home in the Hollywood Hills that’s in a gated community. For all I know Brad Pitt could totally be her neighbor. The kids are all swimming and having fun, and I am with her and a few of the wives from employees of Robert and this Tony guy’s company. They are all excited about the press junket for the new movie, that I find out not only has Chris Evans in it, but also Channing Tatum. Everyone is very nice and friendly, and I feel like I fit right in. It is nice to make new friends.

  I’m sitting at a table facing towards the pool when I see the cutest little girl, maybe about four or five years old run over and hug Holly. She has little curly brown pigtails, and is all ready for the pool in a pretty ladybug swimsuit. Just as she leaves Holly’s embrace, Holly turns and the little girl immediately runs over and jumps into the pool. I stand, my stomach plummeting to the floor, about to jump in after her. She comes up and is swimming like a fish and I put my hand at my chest.

  “She freaks me out when she does that too, and I know what a good swimmer she is,” a deep voice says behind me.

  I turn to face one of the sexiest men I have ever seen. He is around my age, maybe a couple of years younger. I am almost sure his face would be in the dictionary next to tall, dark, and handsome. I must look like an idiot silently drooling over him.