Whats up? Bruce said. Why did you make me fly all the way out here?
Ive got some plans and I need you to make them happen, he said.
Plans? What kind of plans?
I want to play in Chicago next season.
What? No, I dont think thats going to happen. Youre a marquee player and the Rays-
Im a marquee player with a bad shoulder, Max reminded him. I might not come back.
Still, if they trade you, theyre going to expect a draft pick and some major money. There isnt a team out there wholl bite unless you finish the season strong.
But if I tell them Im going to retire if they dont trade me, they might think differently.
Bruce leaned forward, concern etched deeply into his expression. Youre thinking about retiring?
Its an option. I might not have a choice if the shoulder doesnt come back. This can work, Max said. We have the advantage. We just have to play it right.
If you recover completely, you could play another five or six years. I thought you liked playing for the Rays.
I do. Theyre a great team. But I have other reasons for wanting to play for Chicago. You do what it takes to get me there, all right?
You have to at least consider other offers, Bruce said. If the Rays give you the best offer, then you have to take it.
No, I dont. Id retire. Im looking at the end of my career, Bruce. And for once, I want to make a decision that doesnt involve money. I want to make a decision because my heart tells me its right.
Bruce frowned. Is this about a girl?
No! Max replied. Well, yeah, I guess it is. But whats wrong with that? Ive made enough money to keep both of us comfortable for the rest of our lives. Ive invested well. Now, I want to do something that would make me happy.
Bruce sighed. I suppose I can put out some feelers and see what theyd be willing to do, he said. But youre tying my hands. Im supposed to get you the best deal and this wont be it.
Do your magic. If Im playing next year, I want to play in Chicago. Max got to his feet. Now that we have the rest of my life settled, do you want to do some fishing? I havent had the boat out in months. And its much cooler on the water.
Bruce nodded. Sure. What are we going to fish for?
Well figure that out when we get there, Max said with a shrug.
His agent chuckled. What is wrong with you? Where is the Max Morgan I know and love? Im not used to seeing you sorelaxed.
Im getting ready to live the rest of my life, Max said. Ive got new priorities. He pulled the door open and Bruce walked through. Im thinking I might even get married. Maybe start a family.
I dont know, Bruce said. With this kind of attitude, how are you ever going to find someone to marry? Youre not going to have a job and youll be hanging around the house all day. Once you stop working out, youre going to put on some weight. And if you stop with the women, youre going to lose all your charm. Who would marry that?
I have someone in mind, Max said. I just need some time to convince her. But I cant do that if Im living in Florida.
What are you going to do with this house?
I dont know. Maybe keep it as a vacation home. I need to have somewhere to escape to during those Chicago winters. And this place has a pool with a very high privacy fence.
Bruce frowned. What the hell does that have to do with anything?
Nothing, Max said with a chuckle. At least nothing he wanted to discuss with his agent. His mind wandered back to the night he and Angela had spent skinny-dipping in the lake. Really, it didnt matter where they lived.
He could be happy in her little one-bedroom flat in Wicker Park. As long as she crawled into bed with him at night and woke up in his arms in the morning, Max would be content. One more thing. I need you to keep this quiet, Max said. No press speculation, no interviews about why Im thinking of moving. When its done, we can talk, but not until then.
I dont know. Everyone is already wondering whats going to happen with you. Itll be difficult to keep the press out of it.
Max chuckled, clapping Bruce on the shoulder. His life was falling into place. He was only missing one thing-the girl. I know you can handle it. Thats why I pay you the big bucks, right?
9
WHAT IS THIS? Ceci stared at the manila envelope Angela was holding out to her across the table.
Theyd had a leisurely lunch, sitting at an outdoor café, but Angela had been anxious to get back to business. Its an early wedding present, she said with a smile.
Ceci laughed, then rolled her eyes. Will and I are not getting married tomorrow. We havent even set a date yet. Or agreed on a concept. Will wants to elope to Vegas. And Im beginning to think I look really fat in white, so Im pushing for the beach in September. Kind of a hippie-retro wedding.
Open it, Angela said.
Ceci pulled the legal papers out and frowned. Are we being sued?
Im turning the Web site over to you, Angela said. Its all yours.
What?
You can have it all, Ceci. I cant do this anymore. I want to believe I can fall in love. I did fall in love for a little while. But this Web site is just a reminder of how wrong I was.
That doesnt mean you have to give up every thing weve worked for. Ceci stared at the papers in disbelief.
I need to move on, Angela said. I have a couple of job prospects. The neighborhood business association is looking for a director and I applied for the job.
Ive also got a freelance offer to write a relationship column for a womens magazine.
But you could do those things and still work here.
I cant do this on my own, Angie. I dont want to. I love coming to work with you. Its fun. Who am I going to walk with in the morning? Who am I going to have coffee with? And all our lunches and late dinners.
Whom, Angela said.
Stop! Im serious.
None of that will change, Angela said. Im not going anywhere. If I work for the neighborhood association, their office is in our building, just up the stairs.
Youre thinking about him, arent you, Ceci said.
Youre thinking you might leave Chicago and move to Florida. Thats it, isnt it? We cant have coffee if youre in Florida!
Angela took a quick sip of her lemonade. Im not going to Florida. Max and I arent going to work this out. Hell soon forget all about me. Im here to stay and Ill always be your best friend.
What about the book?
It was a bad idea. I was completely wrong about my thesis, but my editor says it will still sell. So, Im putting your name on the cover.
Mine?
You were my coauthor and youve helped me with a lot of the research. You can do all the press for it and promote the site. Itll be fun. Besides, you like doing that stuff much more than I do.
This is about Max, isnt it, Ceci said. Are you doing this because you still love him?
This is about Max, isnt it, Ceci said. Are you doing this because you still love him?
No, Im doing this because he might still love me, Angela said. If he does and he comes back, then I dont want anything to get between us.
Are you sure about this? Ceci asked.
I am. Its time to be more optimistic, Ceci. Youve always been optimistic about love and look where you are. Youre about to marry Will and start a wonderful new life.
Ceci stared down at the papers, a dejected look on her face. I wasnt going to mention this, but we had a call last month from someone who wanted to buy the site. He wasnt offering much and I figured you wouldnt want to sell, but it would be enough to start up a new business for both of us. We work so well together. Between the two of us, we could come up with a really great idea.
Well talk about it, Angela said. For now, Im going to keep my options open.
Ceci jumped up and leaned over the table, throwing her arms around Angela and giving her a fierce hug. I hope things turn out with Max. I really like him.
And if they dont turn out, then there will be another guy, Angela said. Optimism. Im thinking positively. There will be another guy. Im sure of it. Because for every woman, there is the perfect man waiting for hersomewhere. I just have to find him.
They were still hugging each other when Will walked up to the table. He grinned. This is the second time Ive caught you two in a passionate embrace. Should I be worried?
Angela laughed. You caught us. If youre going to marry Ceci, you get me in the deal. Were best friends and Im not going anywhere. Isnt that every mans fantasy?
I can live with that, Will teased. Although were going to need a bigger bed.
Stop, Ceci said. Im not sharing my husband with anyone, not even my best friend. How did you know we were here?
Its a nice day, you love the chicken salad at the place, and I saw you when I drove by, Will said.
Sit, Angela said.
I dont have time. I have to get back to work, but I came here to tell Angela something. Something big. Really big. He lowered his voice. This is a secret.
Well, not really a secret, since I heard it on the radio, but more like a rumor. Max Morgan may be coming back to Chicago to play for the Sox.
Angelas jaw dropped and she stared at Will, not certain she heard him right. He can just leave his team and come here?
No, there are all sorts of restrictions. Hes a free agent at the end of this season. And because of his value to the team, they might not want to let him go.
But, if the Rays release him or trade him because of his injury, he could end up back here in Chicago.
Ceci clapped her hands. He needs to come here.
It would be perfect. Like destiny.
Karma, Angela said. She wasnt sure what to do with the news. In her heart, she wanted to believe she was the reason for his move back to Chicago. But they hadnt really talked about a future together and Max wouldnt make a move like that unless he was sure, would he?
Maybe Max had mastered what Angela still struggled with-optimism. Maybe he was certain theyd be able to work things out once he was back in Chicago. I should call him, Angela murmured. Im going to go home and think about this. Its a lot to take in. She smiled. Are you sure you heard right, Will?
Will nodded. Oh, and you might want to try him on his cell phone because the guy on the radio mentioned that Max is in town and was seen having dinner with a couple Sox players last night.
Angelas heart fell. He was in town and he hadnt bothered to call. If he was doing this for her, wouldnt he have contacted her the moment his plane landed? Wouldnt he have rushed over and dragged her off to the bedroom before doing anything else?