A Complete Game (Washington DC Soaring Eagles #3) - Aven Ellis
Chapter One
Daily Dose of Gratitude: Today, I am grateful for my rose tea latte, which is keeping me warm on this chilly spring morning. I’m very grateful I am working on a celebrity photo shoot for Feathers to Paws, the animal rescue group and welfare organization I work for. This calendar is with the Washington Soaring Eagles baseball team, and I know it will be a hit with the fans. Hit. Nice baseball pun, if I do say so myself.
I put down my pen and take another sip of my latte. I’m sitting at a high stool at the window, watching the commuters of Alexandria hurry by to get to work, with a lot of them headed into Washington, DC. This morning is a luxury for me, being able to stop and get my favorite drink in the whole world and spend the morning in contemplation. Usually, I’m in the office by eight-thirty sharp, but because our photo shoot is at Soaring Eagles Park, where the team plays, I don’t have to be on-site until nine.
I watch as the wind blows a woman’s skirt up, causing her to put her hand on it quickly and hold it down as she walks. Then a guy in a suit moves briskly past the window, talking on his phone as he does.
I wonder if they are going to jobs they love. Are they excited to go to work? Passionate about what they do?
I should be in that situation. I finally landed a job as a marketing and social media coordinator for Feathers to Paws, and it’s been my dream from the moment I entered college to find a career working with animals.
Of course, dream number one was to be a vet, but since I’m crap with math and science, that kind of eliminated that.
But I am good with words, so I studied communication. Got my first job in DC doing fundraising for a nonprofit. And now, after two years of trying to do anything with animals, I landed the job with Feathers to Paws.
I pause and take another sip of my tea, relishing the delicate flavor of rosewater that has been added to the Earl Grey, resulting in a wonderfully fragrant latte. I’m working with animals, and that is what matters. There’s room for me to climb, either here or with another organization.
I’m eternally grateful for that.
So why do I not feel as elated as I should?
Guilt eats at me the second the thought crosses my mind. I should be over-the-moon delirious about this job, shouldn’t I?
But somehow, I’m not.
I don’t feel the happiness I thought I would.
And I don’t know why.
“You look so deep in thought.”
I blink. A twenty-something guy in a suit takes a seat next to me.
Oh no. Is this flirting? What do I do? Do I want to do anything? Does he know when I hop off this stool, I’ll be a fun-sized human that is only five feet tall?
“Um, yeah, I was contemplating,” I admit, taking a moment to study him. He’s a regular man, nice navy suit, white shirt, striped tie.
Very DC, I muse.
“I’m Ian,” he says, smiling at me.
“Addison,” I say, smiling back.
“Were you contemplating thoughts of the world?” he asks, taking a sip of his coffee. His eyes move over to my journal. I furrow my brow as his brown eyes shift to the page. To my shock, he leans in closer to me, his arm brushing against mine, and he reads it.
Reads it!
I snap my journal closed, and he shifts his gaze to meet mine.
“You’re grateful for a cup of tea?” he asks, screwing up his face.
I see he has long nose hairs that need to be trimmed and feel victory in this moment.
“You read other people’s journals without an invitation?” I retort.
He says nothing. I can’t stop staring at his nose. Lord, he could braid those nose hairs, eww.
He smirks. “It was open.”
“You’re the type that walks up to someone’s desk and tries to read their computer screen, aren’t you?” I ask as I toss my notebook into my tote bag.
“Typical redhead. Feisty.”
Irritation flares within me. Oh, yes, please tell me every stereotypical thing you’ve ever heard about redheads because nothing charms me more than being told I’m a firecracker ginger.
I pick up my cup and sling my bag over my shoulder. He blinks in surprise.
“Have a lovely day,” I say, smiling at him. “I’m going to go find another spot where my privacy is respected.”