“New York? Wow. How you feel about that?”
“I’m sure I’ll probably go through my fair share of separation anxiety at first, but I think I’ll eventually find my footing there.”
“Yeah, I know you’ll be fine.”
“I have to give them my decision next week, and then I have to find a place and relocate in the next ninety days.”
“I got a boy who’s a licensed realtor out there. I can shoot him your number if you want and have him see what’s available for you.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“I’d do anything for you, Cass.”
I chewed my bottom lip for a second. “I just thought that because of Christmas, and?—"
“I meant everything I said to you that day, but I don’t hate you.”
“I’ma pass him your number. Give him a few days to reach out. Aight?”
“Yeah, um sure. Thanks.”
“No problem.”
“Speaking of real estate…I still have the key to your place, you know?”
“I know. What about it?”
“Nothing…I just didn’t know if you still wanted me to keep it or mail it back to you somehow.”
“If I didn’t want you to have it, I never would’ve given it to you in the first place.”
“So, you want me to just…?” I asked, nervously tightening my hand around the steering wheel.
“Hold onto it, Cass. I ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” he assured me.
The wordsI miss you, Hendrixwanted to jump off my lips so bad, but I wouldn’t let them. Instead, I said, “Cool, well, I’ll let you get back to celebrating. Congrats again.”
“Thanks, Cass. Congrats again to you, too.”
I ended the call and tossed my head back against the headrest. “Fuck,” I mumbled. “I’m really moving to New York,” I whispered to myself, knowing come Monday morning, the job would officially be mine.
eight
. . .
Three months later
Cassidy
“Jameson passes it out to Mitchell, and then back inside to Croft for the step back. It’s Croft for three, and it’s good!”
“Here’s Jackson with the rebound. He’s driving it down the court and to the basket for two.”
“The ball ricochets to Brooks, who passes it to Croft. He’s moving back down the court with such precision. And it’s a slam dunk, baby!”
