RAWLEY: I’m going to enjoy those memories too.
AVERY: I bet you are.
AVERY: Ok signing off, I’ll text ya once I’m at the hotel
My grin widens. She wants to talk again later tonight?
I don’t let myself quite believe it, until she sends me a message after I’ve had dinner with my brothers.
AVERY: Made it to the hotel.
AVERY: I feel bad I didn’t say this earlier, but thank you for trusting me with what you shared.
Her gratitude isn’t needed, but it still feels good that she knows I trust her.
RAWLEY: For sure. Thanks for listening :)
RAWLEY: Did you get a nap?
AVERY: Kinda…
We end up chatting about random Surge-related things—her upcoming game and funny stories about her teammates—before she signs off again.
It feels good. And very much that we arenotcut off after all.
I let her take the lead, and she sets a new normal for us this road trip by texting me every day. I try to catch her games in real time as much as I can so I’m able to chat with her about them.
Though, our conversations veer all over the place now. I learn about her favorite movies and shows, her pastimes (she’s learning to cross-stitch), and about her friends from high school and UConn.
With three days left on her road trip, my brothers and I fly out to watch Grace compete at nationals, so that adds a new topic too. She peppers me with questions about the meet, how track works, etc.
By the time we reach my final day in Oregon, and her last road game, I feel confident initiating our texting. A good thing, since I want to share something that will make her laugh.
RAWLEY: Got my “Team Grace” shirt on, check it out.
RAWLEY: [sends JPG]
AVERY: OH MY GOD. Is that a big picture of her head on the shirt?
RAWLEY: Yeah. I had them specially made for Johnson and my brothers too.
AVERY: She’s either going to love them or hate them.
RAWLEY: Probably both.
AVERY:
AVERY: I’m so ready to be home. One more game tonight to go.
RAWLEY: I’m ready for you to be home.
AVERY: You’re back tomorrow? We still good to make plans earlier than the July fourth party?
RAWLEY: Definitely.
I’ve actually been cooking up a master plan over the last couple of days for our next date.
It struck me that during our interview for the magazine she’d talked about exploring the area. And how excited she’d been to start her adult life, living on her own. It seems like between her townhouse issue, our scheduled dates, and her overall obligations, she hasn’t been able to do that much.
