Being Zolt by D. L. Raver

said and pinched the bridge of his nose. “There’s only one thing I can think to do for you. One thing I’m hoping won’t be sabotaged. Irelyn, I’m sending you Zolt Hamil. I hope to God he can help you, even if I can’t.”

I gasped at Chris’s words, not believing my ears, and embraced Irelyn tighter.
    What the fuck!
    “I’ll never forget that day on the sidelines during the Cardinal’s playoff game against the Steelers,” Chris continued.
    “Neither will I,” I grumbled into Irelyn’s hair.
    “You were so distraught. At first, I found it irritating when your despair lasted well into the next week. You were a fifteen-year-old girl completely torn up over a man you didn’t even know. You acted as if the two of you had a relationship—some kind of connection based on a fleeting moment. As the years passed, I started to look on it differently, especially when it became clear that day had stayed with you. I couldn’t help wondering if there were something bigger at play. You know me, I’m not a romantic by any means, but something about what happened between you and Zolt struck me.”
    Irelyn and I both drew in a breath at the same time. She turned around and looked at me. The smile and love I saw on her face took my breath away.
    Together we both turned our attention back to the screen to listen to the rest of Chris’s message.
    “So, I did some research on him and found out he had become a lawyer. I went to Dad and convinced him to interview Zolt and bring him here. I knew Dad wanted to bring sports representation into the firm’s repertoire, and the idea of an ex-Arizona-Cardinal-quarterback-turned-lawyer would appeal to him in a big way. I hope that at this very moment, Zolt Hamil is working at the firm and the two of you have reconnected.
    “If you have, if you have feelings for him, and he has them for you, don’t ignore them because of Marcus. I don’t care what he does, Irelyn. Move Heaven and Earth if you have to, but don’t let that monster control you. But I’m afraid I fucked up, yet again. Marcus asked me about Zolt and I stupidly told him Dad hired him. Now, I’m afraid he’ll do something to stop Zolt from coming here.”
    “I’ll talk to Dad again and remind him of the benefits of bringing Zolt into the firm and the possible increased revenue stream. Hopefully, that will be enough to get him to push for Zolt. I have to believe somewhere in his greedy, black heart that our father cares about you enough to do this for you.”
    Chris ran his hands through his hair. “Time is running out for me. This whole situation is so jacked-up that it’s almost laughable. I just hope I’ve done enough for you. The thought that you might end up with Marcus makes me physically ill. I’ll do anything to stop that from happening.”
    Sobs wracked Irelyn’s body, and I held her tight as I could without hurting her. If I was being truthful, I kind of wanted to cry, too. Chris had orchestrated our reunion not having a clue what Irelyn and the memory of that day had meant to me. He’d brought me to the woman I was going to marry. For that, I’d always be grateful.
    “Okay, I need to wrap this up. I need you to do something for me. Get in the Mustang and take her for a long, fast drive.”
    Again, Chris leaned forward. This time he stared hard into the camera as if he were trying to impart something important. “Turn on the stereo, play our song and think of me. I love you, Irelyn; more than you know. I hope you find happiness in whatever you do and whoever you do it with.”
    Chris tapped the keyboard and the screen went blank. I memorized Chris’s instruction about playing their song. It meant something and in Irelyn’s state, she might have missed the reference.
    I shut the laptop, and we sat in silence with my arms around the woman I loved. While she cried, I did my best to soothe her. If the roles had been reversed, and it would have been Brody’s message, I doubt I could have kept it