o: Grumpy

was calm, but the private football p

ting the net echoed sha

ts digging into the grass as he practiced relentlessly. Sweat rolled down

nto the goalpost. He didn't celebrate. He turned, jaw tight, eye

ain?" a voic

didn'

sually. She wore an oversized hoodie and trainers, chewing gum a

ng if you keep doing that," sh

hands on his hips. "Wh

"Wow. Someo

p her phon

him celebrating, him shaking hands with Wendy. His face hardened instantly. H

dramatically.

me," Xander

ing. "Oh my God," she said between

d at her. "I

g her eyes. "You're acting like

," he snapped. "No explanat

er phone, and dusted it off.

ffed. "Not

le block each other for brea

s hair, pacing. "We were

said. "Two week

late with me. She sent voice notes." H

an eyebrow. "

he repeat

ne knows she was your talking

pacing. "Why

ou're Xander Savage. Peop

aw. "How can she

d. "Freya pla

s not

dy said. "That's lite

e grass. "Then why

go?" Wendy softened slightly. "Well, mayb

ph she took of me." He laughed bitterly. "But her a

sense for some

e still going to be frie

easily. "We're not reall

You'll still talk to

out hesitation. "She di

barrass

self by catching feel

ighed. "Look, bro. She blocks people wh

enched. "That doe

reed. "But it

ve. "Try not to b

en

used.

ks to you a

Wendy finished. "G

l for a long moment, then he ran. He charged toward the ball and kicked it with

*

ds folded neatly in her lap. Her camera bag rested at her feet. He

wly, then whisp

otographer and Fashion Stylist at LEGACY, one of

. The receptionist had told her something unusu

own at her hands, then at her portfolio. Inside were her best works

t this," s

room. People straightened, wh

's h

t slamming. A woman walked in, she was tall, elegant, dressed i

O of L

anyone. She walked straight into he

ed hard and s

" someone whi

liant," ano

y would she want to see me personally? She pressed her lips

up. Her sto

t, hair neat, he wasn't smiling as usual. Their eyes

ed past her, straight toward the CE

e?" She leaned

," she muttered under he

portfolio, trying not to care

t's

otball

't h

ea

er head slight

the CE

art sk

ha

ard i

her on

e snapped to the office door Xan

CEO'

around her portfolio. Fe

er heart pounded harder as s