A real smile flew across Rowan’s face. “You did it.”

I lifted one shoulder. “It was no big deal. Think he just had to feel comfortable.” I glanced back around at the boxes, the pictures of kids and families on the wall. I listened to the sounds of people working late, someone playing the radio softly. I was feigning being casual about Eddie. Talking to him about what he needed help with had felt important. Knowing this place could help, even a little bit, had warmed my chest. Made me proud. Throughout the meeting with Rex and Harry, they’d kept emphasizing the lifestyle I’d have out there—makeup, lights, being on camera, always having a hot take on some boxer’s skill or lack of.

I’d felt only a hollow, shallow interest that became a spiky panic by the time I’d shaken Rex’s hand and said, “Yeah. I’ll do it.” Maybe it was the greed in Harry’s eyes. Or the fact that it was clear Rex did not, at all, care about the health and well-being of any athlete unless it was giving Game Time bad press.

On Rowan’s computer, he’d stuck a Post-it note that said Every day is your chance to make this city better.

“I fucked up,” I said.

His eyebrows knit together. “With Tabitha?”

I hesitated. “Yes, with Tabitha. But not only that. I took her to family dinner last night. It meant a lot to me, seeing her with my parents like that. Seeing the way they light up around her. When I got the migraine, she stayed and took care of me, and we talked all morning. Like it wasn’t temporary at all. Like Tabitha and I were two people in love, sharing a life together.”

Those eyebrows shot up to his hairline. I knew why.

“But then…” I dropped the ice pack onto the desk, right knee shaking. “Then an investor showed up. Oswald.”

“Fucking asshole,” Rowan muttered.

“He wants to buy Annie’s lot. And it was a mess. And I could feel Tabitha pulling away from me, getting ready to leave. I got angry and overwhelmed. I’d forgotten the meeting Harry had set up with the Game Time producer, but by the time I walked in there I was pissed and powerless, and when he talked about tons of money and having this giant comeback I…”

“Retreated,” Rowan said.

“I was going to go with was a total bastard. I said yes and didn’t tell you. Even though…”

Rowan let me trail off and collect my jumbled thoughts. I rubbed my forehead, rubbed my eyes. When I finally looked up, I couldn’t avoid what I wanted.

“Dean,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what I want or what some slimy producer wants. I’ll miss you like hell, but I’m not gonna be mad if you want that job.” He paused. “Do you want it?”