The next Monday, Cedar nervously made her way to Mrs. Kent’s office for her exit interview. She’d gotten up early and smoothed and sectioned her hair into a messy French braid that curved around her head and laid over her left shoulder. She had changed shirts too. Thinking that the Titan’s polo was a little too obvious, she’d switched to a peach colored cotton blouse. The color did wonders for her ivory skin and apricot lips. One of her undergrad professors had told her, “When you look your best, you do your best.” She wasn’t so sure about that, but she agreed that looking her best raised her confidence.

Her phone rang just as she entered the elevator, and she hurried to answer her mom before she went into the meeting. If not, her mom would call every five minutes until she did answer. “Hi, Mom. How was Cabo?” Her parents had taken a seventh (or was it eighth?) honeymoon to white sands and warm surf.

“The surfing was excellent. How did your little camp thing go?”

Cedar suppressed a sigh. “Smooth—all things considered.”

“I saw the video this morning.”

“Great.” Just great. Even her parents had seen the video of Ariana Sanchez knocking Rennin “The Ghost” Bradley on his backside in front of a group of kids. Their sparring match appeared to be in fun, so the exposure was positive, thank goodness. The fact that the whole incident had happened at her camp and she found out from YouTube had her wondering what else she’d missed. Hopefully nothing big. “I’m itching to get on top of the publicity the viral video could provide for the camp and hook a few new sponsors for next year while there’s still a buzz. Once my job offer comes through, I’ll be able to spend more time on it.”

“How do you plan to do that while you’re still in school?”

“Mom—I graduate in less than a month.”

“Has it been four years already?”

“Two. A master’s takes two years.”

“Yes. Yes. I know. I just can’t help but think of you as that sweet little undergrad we took to Florida for Spring Break.”

“You didn’t take me on Spring Break.”

“We didn’t?”

“No. You two went, and I stayed home and fed the dog.” Was it possible her parents had dementia for the last twenty years? That would explain how two people could forget they had a child as often as her parents forgot.

“I miss Sprinkles.”

“He was a great dog.” If given the choice, Cedar would have stayed home with Sprinkles for Spring Break every year.

“I’m coming,” Mom said to someone on her end of the line. “Honey, your dad says to tell you hello and that he’s looking forward to a ping-pong rematch at Thanksgiving.”

There wasn’t a word for the jagged shard those words drove into her heart. On the surface, they seemed harmless enough—a father looking forward to spending time with his daughter. But, by peeling back just one layer, the real meaning was revealed. Her parents didn’t have time for her. Nor would they make time for her until it was convenient for them, and that meant Thanksgiving. Unable to come up with an appropriate response, Cedar hummed. Her phone beeped. “Mom, I have to go. I have an important meeting in just a few minutes.”

“Don’t work too hard. Life is supposed to be fun. Bye now.”

“Bye.” Cedar slumped against the wall. “Parents are exhausting.” She glanced around to make sure no one was watching her have a parental-induced emotional crash. She still had a few minutes before she needed to report to Mrs. Kent. She should duck into her cubicle and reapply her barely-there lip gloss, but she might run into Darrin, and she couldn’t handle another all-fun and no work adult today.

Instead, she checked email on her phone to make sure she hadn’t missed a reply to the message she’d sent Mrs. Kent this morning. Several emails came in over the weekend thanking the Tiny Titans Football Camp for the improvement in a child’s football skills and for providing the kids an opportunity to meet some of their heroes. She’d compiled the compliments into one document and forwarded it on to Mrs. Kent a couple hours before the offices opened so it would be waiting in her inbox. The job may be hers, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t help Mrs. Kent feel good about the decision to hire her.

Besides the sparring match gone viral, there was one injured knee and a few other scrapes and bruises on Saturday that were easily patched with ointment and Band-Aids. Overall, the parents were happy with the outcome.

There had been one hitch in the system. A hitch in the nice shape of an offensive tackle she’d told off at the end of the day. Hopefully, Teo hadn’t reported her less-than-professional demeanor to Mrs. Kent.

In her defense, Teo Parata was selfish and self-centered. Sure, he had an adorable kid, but that didn’t mean he was adorable. Teo thought he was handsome and charming and irresistible. And no wonder. Instagram had blown up with images of him with two kids hanging from each flexed arm. The man did know how to work with children. He’d drilled them on field safety until they knew his three points to staying safe and could recite them in their sleep.

She arched forward to stretch her lower back. Whenever she’d thought of Teo asking her on a date and acting like he was doing her a favor by gracing her with his invitation, her muscles bunched, and she had to resort to stretching and breathing and picturing large baskets of puppies.

Cedar would be lying if she said it didn’t bother her that Teo garnered so much attention. He swooped in at the last second, nearly putting the camp behind schedule, flashed his pearly white teeth, thrown a few balls, and then picked up his kid and took off while she stayed to make sure the practice field was returned to acceptable Titans standards. Where was Teo Parata when the food allergy special lunch requests came pouring in? Where was Teo Parata when Darrin lost sixty-three sign-up forms? Where was Teo Parata when that boy twisted his knee and needed a hand to hold?

She stopped outside Mrs. Kent’s office door to adjust her blouse and run her fingers through her long hair. The honey-colored highlights around her face had taken some time to get used to, but she liked them now—they were different for her. She felt different after accomplishing something big. And there was one person whom she’d worked closely with, who knew just how many nights Cedar’s car was the last one in the parking lot. Mrs. Kent was the one who had to force her to go home. So this interview may not be just an exit interview; it could also be Cedar’s new hire interview. That was a cheery thought, and she allowed it to grow inside of her until it took over all the negative brain waves associated with Teo Parata.

Smiling came easy then. Cedar tapped lightly on the door before pushing her way inside.

Mrs. Kent turned away from her computer. “Cedar.” She motioned her forward. “Have a seat.” Mrs. Kent was dressed in her usual Titans polo shirt and slacks. Cedar was thankful she’d changed—no sense looking too interested.

Cedar smoothed her pants down as she settled into the padded chair. They exchanged pleasantries, and then Mrs. Kent laid her palms flat on the desk. She must have had a nail appointment the weekend before, because they were freshly painted with a Titans star on the ring fingernail.

“The Titans organization couldn’t be more thrilled with how the camp turned out. You and Darrin—” She coughed on his name as if it had stuck in her throat. “—did an excellent job. I forwarded the emails you sent me this morning to James Knight, and he said you exceeded their expectations and he’s looking to expand the Tiny Titans Camp to allow for more participants next year.”

Cedar’s whole chest swelled with pride. “That’s high praise. Thank you for telling me.”

“You earned it.” Mrs. Kent turned to pull a sheet of heavy cream paper off the printer behind her. “I’ve written a glowing letter of recommendation for you and finished your internship evaluation.” She slipped the paper inside a folder with a Titans star emblazoned on the front. She held the folder out to Cedar, whose smile had frozen in place. “Here you are.”

Cedar leaned forward stiffly. Everything Mrs. Kent had said was glowing and positive, but in all of that, Cedar didn’t hear the words you’re hired. “I’m sorry. Letter of recommendation?”

“Yes.” Mrs. Kent’s cheeks stretched wider.

Cedar spoke before her brain could censor the words. “I thought I’d be working here. If they’re making the camp bigger, we’ll need to start sooner, bring in another sponsor or five. There’s so much to be done.”

Mrs. Kent’s cheeks drooped.

“I’ve already compiled a list of possible rotations for next year. And then there’s the viral video—I’m ready to use that to our advantage.”

The folder sank slowly to the desk. Cedar hadn’t dared accept it, fearing that once she made contact the job would go up in a puff of smoke.

“The higher ups are already working to leverage the video. They’re putting together a publicity stunt of some sort—it’s out of our hands. And, I’ve been instructed to make this a permanent internship position. I’m sorry if you were under the impression that this would transfer into something else, Cedar,” Mrs. Kent said with true sympathy.

“So you weren’t ever planning on hiring me?” Cedar drummed her fingers on the chair. Stupid Darrin. He’d planted that seed in her head, and like a dupe she’d watered it and watched it grow. And, like a bigger dupe, she was smudging her spotless reputation with Mrs. Kent and making her uncomfortable. “I must have misunderstood.” She recovered quickly and, with major effort on her part, reset her smile. “I appreciate all that you’ve done for me, Mrs. Kent. I’ve enjoyed my time with the Titans and learned so much from you.” She stood, extending her hand over the desk.

Mrs. Kent smiled hesitantly. “Let me know where you end up—I’d like to keep in touch.”

“Of course.” They shook hands and said goodbye. Cedar took the cursed folder with her as she exited the office on wooden legs.

Her cubicle wasn’t far, and she managed to make it to her chair before her legs gave out. Darrin’s work space was already cleaned out, and a fine layer of dust had settled on the empty bookshelf. But then, he spent so little time in the office that the dust had probably been there a while, and she’d been too busy to notice. She was really starting to hate her ex-boyfriend. Breaking up with her because she wanted a family one day was bad enough, why did he have to play with her head about the job?

“What now?” She stared at the black computer screen as if the idea would magically appear. She hadn’t applied to other companies, hadn’t even talked to the career counselor at the college, because she’d been sure that she had this job. There were details they would have to hash out, like salary and time off, but she wasn’t worried about those details because she was so excited to plan the next camp.

And now she wouldn’t.

Her head throbbed. She’d been a student for the last two years and had loans to pay off. There wasn’t enough money in her account to pay two months of rent let alone a monthly installment.

“Two minutes,” she muttered. She needed two minutes to mourn the job that could have been. Then she needed three minutes to imagine Darrin in a straightjacket on his way to an insane asylum for horrible ex-boyfriends. Then she would be able to make a plan. With a groan, she put her head on the desk. She’d start with the straightjacket image.

Just when she was getting to the good part where a big guy in white scrubs—who weirdly enough resembled Teo Parata—loaded Darrin into the back of a white van, she heard the department secretary say, “Miss Bell?”

Cedar bolted upright and rubbed at her forehead, hoping she hadn’t been on the desk long enough to leave behind a red mark. She swiveled around and wondered just how good her imagination was, because behind Fern stood Teo. His broad shoulders and massive arms shadowed the petite woman like a mountain shadows a baby pine tree. Akoni was nestled into the crook of his arm.

“Is everything okay?” Fern asked.

“Fine. I’m fine.” Cedar saw something bright pink on her shirt and snatched the post-it away. “What can I help you with?”

Fern smiled. “It appears this gentleman left a diaper bag here last Saturday. He thinks you might know where it is.”

Cedar blinked long and hard. Teo really was standing in her cubicle. Well, not in her cubicle. He would never fit in the small space. But he was here. And she’d chewed him out—to his face. Unless she imagined that too … No, she was pretty sure that had actually happened. “I haven’t seen it since …” She thought back to the hurried diaper change in the executive’s restroom. She’d run in and out as fast as her stupid wedges could move and must have left it behind. “Oh! I think it’s upstairs.”

The phone rang up front and Fern sidestepped towards her desk. “Would you mind showing him the way?”

Cedar waved her off. “Sure.” It wasn’t like she had anything more to do than stash a few folders in her car and leave.

Fern sprinted to the phone and snatched it up. “Thank you for calling …”

Cedar slowly lifted her eyes to Teo’s face, reluctant to look him in the eye after telling him what she really thought of him only a few days ago.

He wasn’t smiling. “Are you still mad at us?”

Cedar stood and plucked at her blouse to make sure it hadn’t accidentally tucked into her skirt. “I was never mad at Akoni.” She brushed the baby’s soft cheek with her finger. His gaze traveled to her face and he lit up with recognition. He reached his hands out for her and she felt like she might be able to smile again.

Teo let Akoni go with her, and she scooped him into her body, curving her shoulders forward in a protective gesture. He jabbered to her for a moment before laying his head on her chest and sighing. Cedar soaked him in and rocked side to side. This was the calm she’d needed.

Teo ruffled Akoni’s hair. “So … the diaper bag?”

“This way.” Cedar thought Akoni had been shy with so many children around on Saturday, and that’s why he didn’t say much, but he was just as contented and silent today. “Is he normally this chill?” She started towards the elevator that would take them up to the executive level. There was a couch and a green fern up there in the ladies room, and she was pretty sure the bag was tucked between the two.

“It’s a family trait. My mom says the Parata men are born with an extra share of good looks and half a share of words.”

Cedar rolled her eyes. “Yeah, and a double share of ego.”

“Hey, my mom said it. Not me.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Really, though, he can be a terror when he wants to be, but he’s most comfortable at home. That’s another Parata trait.”

“What—being a terror? That one I believe.” Cedar was only half teasing, but she managed to keep her tone light.

“I’m a terror on the field, so I guess you’re right,” Teo said with a proud tilt to his head. “He’s taken with you, though. Normally he glues himself to my side.”

Now that she was up close and personal with Teo in the elevator, she could see the benefits of being tucked next to a body like that. And what was that smell? Some kind of designer cologne that was three parts man and one part make my hormones dance. The elevator doors opened, and Cedar rushed out of the small space, grateful her hormones hadn’t said something stupid. She was still mad at Teo but not as mad. The camp hadn’t suffered, and she’d shown Darrin that she was just as capable with a baby on her hip as she was without. Although, she had slept pretty hard over the weekend. She may have been as efficient, but the effort had drained her. Not that she’d let Darrin know. As far as she was concerned, he could see her as Wonder Woman all day long. “It’s this way.”

She paused outside the women’s restroom when she realized Teo wasn’t going to follow her in. “I’ll be right back.” Using her hip, she pushed open the door and headed for the couch. Sure enough, the bag was right where she’d left it. At the sight, memories from Saturday rushed over her. She’d felt so alive running the camp—being the go-to person. She was in the flow, able to handle anything that came her way. “Even you.” She pressed a kiss to Akoni’s head as the weight of her current situation pressed down on her. She sank into the couch and rocked the baby.

Rubbing circles on Akoni’s back, she soaked in the comfort of his trust in her. “We make a good team.” Akoni had smiled at the kids and they’d smiled back. People stopped to talk to him, to tickle his foot or shake his little hand.

“There is no way you’re a terror.” She squeezed his knee, eliciting a giggle. Cedar chuckled. “You’re too cute for your own good—just like your daddy.” She clamped her hand over her mouth. “I shouldn’t have said that,” she whispered. There was no point in noticing how fine-looking Teo Parata was in his button-up plaid shirt and cargo shorts. Sure, he had muscles everywhere, but that didn’t mean he was worth drooling over. In fact, there were enough women out there who would be happy to fan him with palm fronds and feed him protein bars that she didn’t need to jump in the fray. No fray. Stay out of the fray. “Don’t tell your daddy, okay? He doesn’t need one more person feeding his ego.”

Akoni gripped her shirt in his fist.

“Good. I’m glad you agree.” She stood up to make her way out of the room and prayed that the door was thick enough that Teo hadn’t heard a thing.