Page 16 of Everything's Better With You
I’m more concerned about you and what me potentially taking this job means. To be honest, I don’t know what it means. What Idoknow is that I’m ready to be in the same place with you for an extended period of time and to see what happens.
You and I have been doing this dance for so long. I think we owe it to ourselves to take the next step, even if it means reaching our finale. I’ll be going into this with no expectations other than we continue being honest.
I hope I see you in August.
I hope you’re ready.
Twinkle Toes
“He didn’t say ‘no.’” Leslie beamed. He didn’t even care that Joe stood him up for breakfast. He knew Joe was terrible at saying goodbye. Les hadn’t exactly counted on Joe being here when he arrived.
God, what would it be like? Them working together? Playing together? Making something of all this after all these years? Was Les setting himself up for heartache?
“I have to know. Either way.” He put the car in drive and pulled away from the curb, the fountain in Jackets Pond catching his eye. He made another wish as he drove out of town and toward his family’s property.
Fifteen years had been a long time to wait. He could wait three more months.
Seven
Three months later
Joe
“Have you seen the news?”
Marti and Joe had been in constant contact since he’d had a video conference with Barry and signed an employment contract for the upcoming school year. He’d made some demands, though. First, an assistant coach, one Marti Simmons, and Joe had strongly suggested that Marti’s husband be considered for the head trainer position, which Barry had enthusiastically supported. Anything to bring Greenvale’s best of the best back to the fold.
“I’ve been watchingCriminal Mindsnonstop on Netflix while packing up my apartment. I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
“I know, dear, you say that every time we talk. Now turn on the news.”
“You have time to watch TV because you guys already moved.”
Marti and Terrence had decided to rent a house in town and Terrell wouldbe rooming on campus. They’d be close but Terrell would have his autonomy. And free tuition.
“Joseph Jehosephat Judd, the news. Or better yet, the Weather Channel.”
“Are you trying to talk me out of coming? You know the weather is my least favorite thing about the Midwest. Besides the lack of good food.”
“Joe. Turn it on.”
Joe groaned and flopped down on the couch. “I don’t even know where to find that channel. You do realize people in California don’t watch the weather channel. We wear layers. Now, what is going…”
Joe clicked on the channel to find on-the-scene coverage of a band of massive tornadoes that had touched down in southern Iowa and were now making their way across northern Missouri.
“Oh my God. Is Leslie—”
“He’s fine. His place wasn’t in the path, neither was ours. But Joe…the campus sustained damage.”
Joe covered his mouth with his hand as the name Greenvale College was emblazoned on the screen followed by images of the gym and football field strewn with debris. A golf cart was on top of the ruined roof of the fitness center. If he would have been standing, his legs would have failed him.
“Is everyone okay?” Joe whispered. He couldn’t breathe. He’d hated how everyone treated tornadoes like they were no big deal when he was a student. Natural disasters were nothing to make light of.
“There were no injuries. Everyone’s fine. But I wanted you to know what you were arriving into tomorrow.”
“I appreciate it. I gotta go, Marti. I need to—”What are you going to do, Joe?He stood in the middle of the empty room flapping his hands while trying to decide on a course of action.
“Right. Be safe. We’ll see you at the airport.”
