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“You’re lucky the agency loves you, or I’d have you fired before your first day.” His voice travels around the corner.
“Yeah, yeah. Go put together my TV stand,” I holler.
* * *
The rest of the weekend is spent unpacking every box. I don’t have a lot, but somehow between Vermont and here, it multiplied.
I hang up more clothes and decide to call Devin. While I organize my books on the shelf Leo and Shep put together, I decide to wait. I make up my mind to text him as I hang pictures on the bare walls. And I turn off my phone and vow to leave it that way while doing dishes.
On Saturday and Sunday he had games. I turned them on, riveted to the screen. Saturday, he didn’t play well, never making it on base, but on Sunday, he soared. Not only did he get a hit in the first inning, but he scored his first run when the DH came up after him and hit a home run. I cried when his cleat hit home plate, scoring the first run of the game, and laughed through the tears as he pumped his fist and exchanged high-fives with his new teammates. Dad’s the only person who knows I watched, and that’s because he watched, too. He sent a text not two minutes after Devin’s run when the broadcast cut to commercial between innings.
Dad: Are you good?
Novie: Crew told you?
Dad: He did. He bragged to all the guys on his team too.
Novie: I’m not surprised. And I’m so freaking proud of him Dad. Is that okay?
Dad: Of course it is. Whatever makes you happy, baby girl.
Monday morning, I take care with my appearance for my first official day at TSG. Mom and I went shopping for a few new professional outfits before I left home, so I pair my black stiletto heels with a plaid pencil pants suit, throwing on a solid white bustier rather than the typical button-down blouse for a bit of flair.
Moving from California to Vermont to Miami is a fashion culture shock that’ll take getting used to. I’ve gone from beach casual to comfy neutrals to color, color, color. And skin! I’m not a prude. I lived near the beach, but the amount of beautifully bronzed skin I’ve seen in my first three days reminds this northern girl she needs some serious sun therapy. Thankfully, it’s only mid-August, and I have plenty of beach time left. Opting to leave my hair down and curled, I meet my reflection, feeling confident and ready to take on the day.
With a green smoothie in hand, Leo meets me by his car in the parking deck of our building so we can ride in together. Just for today to get me settled and help with my first day jitters.
“Hey, cuz. You get the rest of your stuff unpacked?”
“No thanks to you for bowing out after pizza,” I tease. “But you can make it up to me. I have a huge favor to ask of you.”
“Already asking for more favors.” He offers a ribbing grin. “All right. Let’s hear it.”
“Would it be possible for you to get a player’s address for me?”
Yes, fate has delivered another slap in the face. Devin just happens to be represented by an agent at the agency where I’m working. The signs are almost a joke at this point.Why are we so bad at following them?
“By player, you mean Hawthorne?”
I should have known that he wasn’t oblivious just because he made no mention of Devin Saturday. My cousins are a gossip train. Eight kids within six years of each other, we’re close. So, of course, he knows. Leo was at my wedding. He knows who Devin is. He’s met Willa and Archer and… “I didn’t know he would be here when I took the job. I didn’t move here for him.”
“But you want to know where he’s staying while playing for the Sharks?” He gives me a look over the top of his shiny sports car before slipping inside.
“Is that bad? You know I’m not a crazy stalker. You know we have history.” I sink into the tan leather seat.
“Geez. Chill, Novie. I’m not going to call security on you for asking. I can get you the information, but why don’t you call or text him yourself?”
“Honestly?” My fingers rub the bracelet charm I haven’t taken off since Dev returned it. “I don’t know what I’d say. It’s not like we were an actual couple, but the best way to describe our last conversation would be to say we broke up.”
“You know, I overheard you talking to Mari about him when we went to that bar in Katajanokka over the holidays. I didn’t like the place you were in that week. Mentally. None of us did.” Leo reaches across the console and squeezes my shoulder. “Maybe you shouldn’t reconnect with him.”
My December blues. Not my best month. “That wasn’t Dev, Leo. Anders was pushing me to talk, and I still felt so much guilt about the wedding. The only problem Devin and I have is awful timing.”
“And you want to see if that timing is finally on track?”
“Maybe?”Hopefully.“I just want to see him. I want him to know how proud I am of him, and maybe we can…”
“Nova, I don’t want you to get your hopes up.” He works his jaw, hands gripping the steering wheel. “He’s assigned to the Sharks for the next two months, three if they make the postseason, andifhe plays well enough. He could be sent back to triple-A at any moment, and even if he plays out the season for Stokard, there’s no guarantee the Sharks sign him to the 26-man roster for next season. He’ll likely stay on the 40, but that doesn’t mean he’ll ever see another game.”
