AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Saturday,” I remind her. “Be nice to Willa, please? She is picking up my slack because she cares about you. So be kind, regardless of what you think of our relationship.”
It’s the first time I’ve brought this up since our original discussion. I can’t leave without making it clear that she doesn’t get to treat Willa the way she’s treating me. It’s not fair, especially when Willa is putting so much of her own life aside.
“You think I wouldn’t be kind,” she asks, her nose wrinkling in concern, or maybe distaste.
“You’ve always been before,” I reassure. “But you haven’t been that great to me lately. I’m just reminding you that she doesn’t deserve that sort of treatment.”
She looks down at her plate, not saying anything as she eats her waffles. I don’t deserve her treatment either, but I’ll take the brunt anyway. It’s my job, I guess. We have a big roadblock to get past, I have to believe we will. At least she isn’t rushing off and slamming doors this morning. For as much as I don’t know Callie, I do know she’s not hateful.
Her views on sexuality aren’t anything she formed herself. They’re taught. They’re doctrine told to her by our parents, the small community we grew up in, and the church we were forced to attend. She can learn that life doesn’t have to be so rigid.
After breakfast, we both pack up the things we need before I walk her down to the street to meet her friend.
“Love you, Cal,” I tell her, pulling her in for a big hug.
“I love you, too, Z.” She may sound a little sad, and I wish I could change that for her. All I can do is press a kiss to the top of her head and squeeze her a little tighter.
“See you in a few days, I’ll call.”
“Okay, good luck.”
With that, she’s off to school and I’m off to end my season. First stop is Los Angeles, then two days off in Houston before our final game.
On the flight to California, I handle some long overdue business. First, I send a message to Isla and then I email the Human Resource contact. I can’t predict if Callie is going to change her opinion of my lifestyle. Nor how long that might take. Yet, in the same way I’m not compromising by giving up either of the people in my love life, I’m not compromising who I am for her benefit. I love her for who she is, and she’s going to have to do the same. She’s stuck with me, whether she likes who I am or not.
I’ll give Callie everything I have. In return, she’s going to have to at least respect me and the decisions I make for myself.
Just as I send off my last email, something hits the side of my head and falls into the aisle of the plane. Looking down, I see a foam bolt from a Nerf gun.
Motherfucking Wallin.
“Shots fired!”
“It’s on, fucker,” I say, grabbing my own nerf gun from the empty seat next to me. He started this nonsense a few road trips back. A childish game that takes over the cabin for a handful of minutes but eases some of the strain from traveling. Most of the team has embraced it.
When it finally settles down and most everyone has lost all their ammo under the seats, I feel lighter than I have in days.
25
Damian
Alexander:
I know you’re supposed to be flying home, maybe you want to change your plans? Four Seasons Houston Room 514
I’ve never agreed to anything so quickly. The text came in before I woke up this morning, my last in New Orleans. My trip has been good, exactly what I needed. It forced me out of spinning around in my own head.
Seeing Fig, Brie, Cookie, and Delilah was grounding. I remember who I am again, that I’m more than the sum of my childhood. More than my anxieties constantly tell me I am. Being with people that love me for who I am, knowing all they do about me, it was a reminder. A much needed one.
I had dinner at Fig’s parents’ house. Shopped the vintage stores with Cookie before we had an impromptu baby shower for Brie. Walked City Park with Delilah, followed by Pimm’s Cups at her favorite new bar. Even had dinner with Delilah’s grumpy partner, Pope.
The etouffee and gumbo may have helped my attitude some, too.
It was a taste of the good things from my childhood. The parts I loved about my upbringing. Seattle may be my home now, but New Orleans will always hold a special place in my heart. Maybe it will forever be the place I come to check myself, to reset, to gain some perspective on my life.
Opting to drive to Houston, I rented a car first thing this morning. The drive isn’t bad, and it is less than six hours. Giving me plenty of time to build up the anticipation of seeing Alexander, privately, and at his last game of the season. But not so long as to be exhausting.
The stretch between New Orleans and Lafayette has always been one of my favorites to drive. I had a grandmother in Lafayette as a child and we made the trip often enough. I’d entertain myself by making up stories while driving through the bayou. Sometimes it was about our car breaking down and being overtaken by gators while we waited for rescue. Other times it was more mystical, and I was stolen from my parents by legendary creatures that lived in the swamps. My favorite creature was the Rougarou who resembles a werewolf; he’d kidnap me, and I’d be rescued by Alligator Annie. This area is very conducive to stimulation of the imagination, besides it being a gorgeous landscape.
