Page 58 of Undeniably Perfect

Jarrod: Uh, like in thirty minutes?

Me: I’m at a baseball game.

Jarrod: Oh. I don’t know if I’ll get another shot at it. His space would be perfect for a studio. It’s the one at the end of the hall with the giant glass roof.

I bite my lip. I know the unit he’s talking about. I had wanted that unit, but it was already rented.

I look down as I contemplate it. I don’t want to leave this game. I know how important it is to Kent for me to be here. He has this whole superstition thing going on, and it would be shitty of me to leave…but if I leave, maybe I can come back?

“C-Dog?”

“Yeah,” he answers without looking at me.

“If we leave, can we get back in?”

He turns his head with a “What you talkin’ about, Willis?” look.

“I forgot something, and I need to go get it. Can I get back into the stadium?”

C-Dog smirks. “How much do you have on you?”

“Wait! What?”

“How much?”

I open my purse. “Like fifty dollars, why?”

He grins. “That’ll do. Follow me.”

We both get up from our seats, and I follow him through the stadium. At one point, he looks around and opens a side door that looks like it’s for employees only. I’m surprised it’s unlocked. We walk down a hall, and I see the door at the end with an exit sign above it. A guard sits at a desk next to it.

“Barry? My man, what’s up?” C-Dog says to the guy.

“C-Dog! How’s it goin’? What are you doing down here? You should be up watching the game.” I can see Barry is watching it on a monitor on his desk, along with a bunch of other security feeds.

“My brother’s girl here needs to get something, and she needs back in after. Kent’s superstition shit. Anyhow, can you hook us up?”

He gives Clark a pointed look and then laughs. “For Kent, I’ll make an exception.”

“Great! What should Tabby bring you?”

I look from Clark to Barry in confusion.

“Oh, I’m craving a big daddy burger from the Meat Mansion,” he says.

“The Meat Mansion?” I finally find my voice.

“Yeah, it’s this burger joint down the street,” Barry says, looking over at me with curiosity.

“OK,” I answer slowly.

“Cool, thanks. I’m stuck here till midnight tonight. Gonna be a long day,” he says.

Clark turns to me as I call an Uber. “OK, just remember what door to knock on when you get back. See you in a little while.”

I open the door and walk out, noting my surroundings, so I can find my way back here afterward. This better be worth it, Jarrod, I think to myself as I hurry to catch an Uber to my old building. Part of me feels weird about meeting him. But not in a bad way, he’s not super close with Eric, so I know that’s not an issue. It’s just, I’m not super close to Jarrod either. His message is just…so out of the blue.

I fight the urge to go back and make Clark come with me. I shake my head. It’s stupid. It’s broad daylight still. Nothing is going to happen. Plus, Jarrod isn’t a big guy. I could easily fight him off.

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