running through every possible reason Elena Vance might want to see her, and none

ng, she'd rehearsed at least four different denials, two apologies, and one i

esturing at the chair across from her desk with

were sweating. She

nd something in Mia's chest unclenched so fast it almost hu

n the exact tone that made every guil

rently decided not to pursue whatever that reaction actually me

ctor. Coming to watch the Br

ee seconds to catch up. "Th

e pulling at the corner of her mouth. "I need you prepared for what that means. Reporters. Atte

ll catching up. "So this meeti

doesn't accidentally torch her own opportunity by saying something

ross the desk. "Sample questions. Samp

r form, her expectations for the match, the usual boilerplate a

ng about anything she'd spe

d, unable to keep the r

er again in that same measuring way. "Unless ther

like a trapdoor open

again, heart suddenly h

ling the reaction away for later rather than actually believing it. "Go. You've got practice

sheet, and made it almost to t

rre

rned.

aid, voice softer now, almost warm. "Don't let anything.... anything a

d, and meant it more th

text had arrived the night before, and let herself laugh, short, disbelieving, equal parts relief and exhaustion. All that dread, all tho

ch and found Daniel waiting by the fence, arms crossed, watc

low, urgent. "Wh

id, grinning despite herself. "That's it. Media t

, relief passing across his face so plainly that

said. "Th

ng warm blooming in her chest at the

niel said, like it should've

er." Mia

y allowed, neither one moving away first, the whole morning suddenly fe

esturing vaguely at the growing distan

e sliding into place like a shield he'd almost forg

g into something that felt almost like happiness, almost like the whole

ia was already there, phone in hand, thumb moving fast acros

ding it to, before she slipped the phone into her pocket and jogged