Shit. I almost forgot. We have a critical meeting with one of our clients today. We recently found out that they’ve been considering switching to another agency, thanks to some stupid reasons that are more about politics than good work. We’re going to have to fight like hell if we want to keep them.
“Meet at your desk in five to go over our talking points?” I say to Tran.
He nods. “You read my mind.”
Later, when the guys from Scott & Sons show up, we get off to a good start. The first half of the presentation goes off without a hitch, and as I watch the expressions on our clients’ faces, I’m hopeful that we’re being convincing enough to make them stay.
But then we get to the part in the presentation when Tran starts talking about our proposed tagline for their rebrand—“When you see the right one, you know.” And when he says those words, they echo in my head. Over and over again.
And I can’t get the words, or Sophia, out of my mind.
“Lucas?”
I snap out of it and realize that everyone in the room is looking at me. I shift from one foot to the other and clear my throat. Tran is done with his part of the presentation. It’s my turn to speak.
“Right,” I say. “Now let’s talk about the future.”
Chapter Three
Sophia
Isee Lucas for less than a minute the next morning when I show up to start my day with Penelope. He’s on his way out, looking distracted and serious—or maybe he’s just avoiding making too much eye contact with me.
Which would make sense, because I’ve got a feeling the desire I feel for him is mutual.
Lucas says goodbye and heads out the door. After he leaves, Penelope tells me to come with her and she leads me up to her room. She showed it off to me yesterday during the tour, but there’s something different about it now. I can’t quite put my finger on it, though.
“Do you like it?” Penelope asks.
“Sorry,” I say. “What am I supposed to be looking at?”
“My animals,” she says. She gestures to her collection of toys. Oh. That’s what’s different. I don’t remember how she had them organized before, but they’re all arranged on top of her dresser now.
“I do,” I say. I walk over to the toys and pick up a small stuffed hippo. “This one’s really cute.”
“My mom gave that to me,” she says. “She died when I was a baby.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that.” My chest aches for her. Ava told me that Penelope’s mom died years ago, but it feels a lot sadder now to hear it straight from Penelope. No little girl should have to speak those words.
“Do you want to play zoo?” Penelope asks.
I blink a few times, warding away tears. “Of course. How do we start?”
“We put the animals around the room. But you have to be really careful to not put enemies next to each other. Like...the elephant can’t be next to the penguin.”
I smile. “I didn’t realize elephants and penguins are enemies.”
“Not all of them are, silly,” says Penelope.
“Right,” I say, stifling a laugh. “Okay. Where should the hippo go?”
“Hmm.” She looks around the room, then points to the bed. “Right there. On the corner.”
“Right here?” I set the hippo down.
“Perfect,” she says.
Penelope and I play zoo for most of the morning. Then, while she reads, I fix us lunch. After we eat, we go out to a nearby park for a few hours and then walk the long way home. By the time Lucas gets home, I’m exhausted. But in a good way.