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Lilly doesn’t laugh but I can hear somewhat of a smile in her voice. “No, I’m not holding back on you. I promise I’m going to give it to you straight, just like you asked.”
“Call me the minute you get results, okay?”
“Okay. How are things in New Jersey?”
“It’s good. Getting ready to eat breakfast with Bain, Van and Foster. We’ll head to the arena around three.”
“Did Foster hear from his ex yet?” she asks. Over the past few weeks, in addition to meeting most of the team, she’s learned plenty about them from me. I clued her in on Foster’s dilemma with Sandra’s odd behavior.
“No, and he’s worried. She’s insisting he come out to California after the playoffs to get Bowie Jane.”
Lilly giggles. “I can’t help it. I love that name so much.”
“Me too,” I admit, although Foster will tell you it wasn’t his choice. He wanted Jane, his wife wanted Bowie and well… there you have it.
“Listen… get back to your breakfast. I’m about to walk down to the cafeteria and get something to eat.”
“Your dad there?”
“He’s at the deli for a few hours, then he’ll grab a nap. He was up here all night since Aiden wasn’t feeling well. I think he’s going to continue to stay full nights until we figure out what’s going on.”
“That’s probably smart,” I agree. Because even though we don’t know anything yet other than Aiden’s got a bit of a fever, it seems like a huge event to me. Especially since he’s had steady improvement after the transplant. “Call me as soon as you hear something, okay?”
She doesn’t reply and there’s a lengthy silence. Finally, she says, “I’m going to put myself out there and tell you something.”
My pulse goes haywire. Is she going to tell me she loves me? Because I’m pretty damn sure that’s how I feel about her but when I’ve imagined giving the words, they didn’t happen over the phone.
Instead, she says, “I really miss you.”
I don’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed not to hear the L-word but I am incredibly pleased by her admission. Lilly holds things close to the vest and usually takes some prodding to get her feelings out.
“Probably not as much as I miss you,” I say, validating her for taking that brave step and affirming I’m right there with her.
Back at the table, the guys all give me shit.
“How’s the ol’ ball and chain?”
“Were you whispering sweet nothings? Is that why you had to take the call in private?”
“Think you can go five minutes without talking to her?”
It’s all in good fun and after they stop laughing, Foster gets serious. “How’s Aiden doing today?”
I shake my head in consternation. “He’s got a fever but so far, it’s staying down with Tylenol. They ran some blood work and Lilly’s waiting on the results.”
A fever could seem innocuous to most people, but these guys all know Aiden’s precarious situation. They were all at his birthday party and saw the precautions we had to take.
“He’s a tough little dude,” Van says. “And he’s in great hands. I’m sure whatever it is, they’ll get it knocked out flat.”
“Absolutely,” Foster says.
Bain is the one who adds a bit of practical advice. “Nothing you can do about it, man. Your head needs to be in the game.”
“It’s there,” I assure him.
Or at least it will be once we get to the arena for the game. Until then, I won’t be able to stop thinking of Lilly or Aiden.
Asking me to do that would be impossible.
