The Romantic Pact (Kings of Football)(97)



I sniffle.

I try to suck in the sob that wants to escape, but I’m apparently not quiet enough. “Haze, are you crying?”

A sob wracks my chest. I hate this. I’ve never been one to cry so quickly or for so long. Clearly, nothing my mother did ever hurt this bad. Never sliced through my heart.

“Haze, please talk to me. Work this out with me.”

“Work out what?” I’m able to say, catching my breath. “You left.”

“To give you space. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“I don’t know what I want,” I admit.

“I thought you wanted me,” he says, his voice trailing off, causing me to rev up with another wave of sorrow. When I don’t answer, he says, “I see. I guess I was wrong about how you felt in Germany.”

“I can’t let myself have feelings for you, Crew.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Because—”

“Because why?” he asks. He’s irritated now.

“Because I’m trying to save the farm and you’re trying to get rid of it.”

He sighs. “Hazel, they’re selling. There’s nothing you can do.”

“I can talk to the investors. I can try to convince them of the worth of the farm. I can fight for something that matters to me. Something that should matter to everyone else. It’s not over, and I’ll be damned if I don’t try everything.” I wipe at my eyes. “This was a bad idea. I never should have answered. I should go.”

“No, please don’t go,” Crew says. “Please, let’s talk out the options. If we do sell, you can come stay with me until we figure something out. The boys wouldn’t mind if you spent the semester with me, and they’re all pretty cool.”

“You’re not getting it, Crew. I’m not leaving the farm until someone pulls my body off it.”

“And when they sell, then what? You’re not going to be with me out of spite? You’re going to have to go somewhere, Hazel. Why are you being stubborn?”

“If you think this is me being stubborn, then you don’t know me at all. Goodnight, Crew.” I hang up before he can say anything else, and I power off my phone before turning into my pillow and crying myself to sleep.





“Thank you, Miss Allen, for your well-thought-out presentation,” Davie, one of the investors who’s interested in the farm, says.

“Your passion for the farm is quite unique,” Gary, the other investor, says.

I can feel a but coming. They’re offering me praise, only to shoot me down.

“But”—See? There it is—“even though the farm is a lucrative business, quite profitable, to our surprise, the land is much more valuable to us,” Davie says.

I try to stay calm. I knew going into this they would say that. I gave them the numbers, I laid out the business, now I need to bring the heart.

“This property, this farm, isn’t just a source of income. It’s home. It’s home to many people. Visitors come from all around the state for our fall experience, to cut down their trees for Christmas, to go apple and blueberry picking in the summer. This is more than just a place of income; this is a place where families congregate. They build memories here, traditions. Babies’ first pumpkins are found here, prom pictures are taken here, interest in the earth and agriculture—the backbone of this country—grows here. We offer the chance to drop technology for a day and just have good, unfiltered fun. This farm has hosted weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, family reunions, and baby showers. We aren’t just in the business of making money, but creating memories, and this is truer than ever for me.”

I flip to the last picture of my presentation. It’s the picture of me, Pops, and Crew standing in front of the oak tree.

“This was my home for many years when I didn’t have one. This was my safety net. This was the foundation where I grew into myself and became the woman I am today. Without this farm, without this man by my side, I don’t know where I would be. I ask that you take more time to think about what you’d be stripping down. I ask you that you consider investing in the farm, rather than the strip mall and highway you have planned. I ask that you invest in families, in traditions, in this beautifully wonderful man who spent his entire life turning this farm into a place of solace and beauty.”

Gary glances at Davie and they both let out a deep breath. Gary lays his palms on the table and says, “Miss Allen, I appreciate you taking the time to enlighten us, but I’m sorry. Our decision stands.” He rises from the table with Davie, offers me an apologetic look, and then they walk out of the conference room.

The door clicks shut and I sink down into a chair.

A wave of despair and hopelessness washes over me as I drape my arms over the cold surface of the table in front of me.

It’s done, Pops. I tried my best, but it’s all gone, and I’ll be sorry for the rest of my life that I couldn’t keep your legacy alive.





Crew: My mom said you had a meeting with the investors today. How did it go?

Crew: You can talk to me about it, Haze.

Crew: Please don’t ignore me. I need to hear from you, make sure you’re okay.

Crew: Please, Hazel.

Hazel: It went as well as you think it would.

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