“Hi,” I say a little timidly, and she turns to look at me.
“You're back!” she exclaims, and she jumps up and comes over to give me a hug. “I'm so excited to see you here again. I was worried you wouldn't show, and I was hoping we'd get more time together.”
I scrunch up my nose. “Truthfully, it was a little rocky and touch and go at the beginning, but we ended up working things out thanks to your husband.”
She leans in. “I want every detail. My mother-in-law took Sunny off my hands for a while, so I’m hoping to get to know my new gal pal Millie a little better.”
I laugh. “I’d really like that, especially because it looks like I'll be moving here to Vegas, and you're pretty much the only person in town I know besides Archer.”
“You’re moving here?” she gasps.
I nod.
“Yay!” She squeals and hugs me again. “And I promise to fill you in on who’s friendly and who you should avoid.”
I laugh. “Are there people I should avoid?”
“There are peopleIavoid,” she says, leaning in closer like we're sharing secrets. I guess we are. It's nice to feel like I already have a friend.
She sets her hand on her stomach. “I'm starving, and so is this little one. Do you want to grab a bite to eat?”
My jaw slackens. “You're pregnant?”
“I am. I'm about five months along, four to go, and honestly, it's a little easier the second time because you know what to expect. But nothing about pregnancy is easy.”
“Well, that's both terrifying and informative,” I mutter.
She laughs. “Oh, come on. I'm sure you guys have plenty of time before you need to worry about that.”
“I’m sure you’re right about that.” I give her another quick hug, and then we go up to the buffet, where we proceed to completely stuff our mouths full as we wait for the game to begin.
It’s yet another curveball out of left field. I actually have a new friend here, and it’s starting to feel like this was always meant to be.
CHAPTER 52: Archer Bradley
Press Conference
It’s all happening so fast, but I think that’s just how it goes when it’sright.
And this? It’s right.
We win on both Saturday and Sunday, and she flies back to Chicago as planned so she can put in her notice with her apartment and get packed up.
It’s hard saying goodbye at the airport, but I also realize how very much this is the life that we’re both going to have to get used to. Life won’t always be a monthlong vacation in the Bahamas. Reality sets in at some point, distorted as though mine may be.
We have a travel day on Monday, and we head to Colorado for three games there before we travel to San Diego for three games there. Then it’s three home games before my next day off, a travel day to Chicago during Everleigh’s wedding weekend.
And I realize far too late that I completely forgot to invite my date to the wedding. Everleigh has been up myass wanting to know if I’m bringing a date and if I’m coming to her wedding at all, and I suppose having dated a wedding planner for as many years as I did, I’d know the importance of an RSVP.
I text Millie when I get home.
Me:Did you take off yet, or do you have a second to talk?
My phone rings a second later.
“You never want to talk. You’re not a chatty guy,” she says.
“I guess you’ve changed me, Millie. You’re making me do a lot of things I didn’t think I’d ever do.”
