Page 107 of Unrivaled Love
"Oh, umm, yeah, sure." She says and I can tell she's still afraid of me. Which, maybe at this point is good for her as the new kid on the block.
"Great." I smile, showing all my teeth and head over to my locker to get my shoes on.
"How was your break?" Nat asks me when I sit down.
"It was actually, really great. I needed it. I got to meet up with my old friend, Bryson, and it's been good to see him." That’s one way to describe the last week.
"Nice." She says. "I went back to Texas to visit my family and holy shit am I glad I live here. I forgot how fucking hot it is in Texas in the summer."
"Brutal." I agree.
"So, this Bryson friend, is he just a friend or more than a friend?"
I haven't spent a lot of time discussing relationships with the girls. Every once in a while the whole room weighs in on someone’s trouble and usually I stay quiet. But, this might be a chance to open up. And to develop the type of teammate friendship I see Bryson have with his buddies.
"He's more than a friend. We knew each other growing up and reconnected over the last few weeks."
"That's great Jo! Is he coming to the next home game?"
"Um, no, he actually lives in D.C. and he plays in the NHL so our schedules don't exactly line up."
"Dang, no kidding. But Mallory and Rio Swanson make it work and his baseball schedule is just as busy as a hockey one. Plus your off seasons are opposite." Nat makes it sound so easy.
"Yeah, it's going to be tough being across the country from each other. The Swansons are at least in the same city."
"True. But that's what FaceTime is for!"
"True." I laugh and then Coach McEmbry walks in and claps for our attention.
"Alright ladies, let's get out there and get back into shape for the second half of the season."
I finish tying my laces, left first, then right, and make my way out onto the field.
Here we go.
***
"Thank you Larry," I say before hanging up. "Bryson! The delivery guys are here!"
My bed arrives today and it is the last part of the transformation. Bryson has added so much life to my apartment since he arrived. His presence alone has revitalized the place but all the additional touches have turned my apartment from a place I stay to a home. It brings a sad smile to my face because it’s going to feel like he's still around after he leaves tomorrow.
"Kay!" he calls from the bedroom. "I just finished getting the mattress moved to the side."
I step into the bedroom that used to have plastic drawers for a dresser, stacks of books in the corner, and nothing on the walls. Now there's a wide navy blue set of drawers with a lamp, a candle, and a picture of the two of us from the Christmas in July parade with the Stanley Cup in a frame. By the window, a papasan chair Bryson remembered from my childhood bedroom and insisted on getting, sits between my new bookshelves.
There is one in the living room too with fewer books on it and more mementos. Bryson found my box of memorabilia in my closet and took some of the items out and put them on display.
Part of his HABs duty he tells me.
He leaves tomorrow and I'm not ready for him to go. A small part of me thought I'd be sick of him after so much time together. Instead I find myself thinking about him and wanting to call or text him the minute I'm on my way to practice.
I find myself racing home to him. Eating dinner with him every night is changing my very sense of self. What used to be about counting macros is now an enjoyable experience with laughter and smiles.
I ask about the boys and we talk about our books. Afterwards we clean up and then we move to the sofa to read or watch sports highlights.
When we tumble into bed I'm tired but never too tired to fool around. I wasn’t used to having him in my bed at first. It’s been an adjustment to sleep next to him. But over the week he’s been here I’ve grown to love it. Hispresence is comfortable and it makes me feel safe. I don’t think I’m going to like sleeping alone again.
My team is off today so I'm home. We're going to get the bed set up and go out to lunch. Bryson wants to take me to a bookstore he found in the afternoon and then we'll make dinner together, maybe watch a movie, and go to bed.
