Page 58 of Everything's Better With You
Seventeen
Joe
Joe fell asleep with a smile on his face and woke up with a scowl. It was his last day to sleep in before classes started and his phone started ringing off the hook as the sun rose in the sky.
First had been the director ofDance Machinecalling from his apartment in New York, forgetting Joe was an hour behind, confirming Joe would appear for the October weekend. Joe had kept his tone light and friendly while he was growling inside. He let him know he’d be flying in that Saturday morning and that he had to leave directly after the show on Sunday so he could be back in time for school, which led to a whole conversation about his decision to put his career on hold for this job. Not the subject Joe wanted to discuss bright and early on a Tuesday morning.
Next was Marti asking about football practice the night before since they hadn’t had time to chat when he’d stopped into clinics. Fifteen new kids had showed up to clinics—including the B-boys from the club theother night. It was a great start. More would likely show up today and then tryouts tomorrow would be a breeze.
“Your son blew the players away.”
Marti chuckled. “He is pretty incredible, isn’t he?”
Joe’s heart tightened a little at the warmth in her voice. If he would have had a mom like her…
“He is, but he’ll be trying out like all the others. Can’t have his head getting big.”
Marti laughed. “Without a doubt. See you this afternoon.”
He moved to get out of bed and groaned. Yeah, he was definitely paying for his showboating the day before. He was about to start his morning stretches when his phone buzzed again.
“Hello?”
“It’s Arthur, Joe. How are you?”
He flopped back on his bed. He wasn’t sure he had the energy to talk to anyone else this morning much less the rest of the week.
“Hey, you’re up early. How’s California?”
“It’s lonely without you, is that what you want to hear?”
Joe barked out a laugh. Arthur Frye, Joe’s long-time manager from Slade Artist Management, was almost as sarcastic as he was. Almost.
“Sure. I want to know you’re suffering without me.”
“My sleep certainly has. You talked to Duncan about the OctoberDance Machineappearance?”
“I did, he was call number one this morning. I’m all set.”
“How will you be arriving? I understand you’re out in the middle of nowhere. Do you need me to take care of your flight?”
“No, I can handle the flight. Either Leslie and I will be flying out of Kansas City or—”
“Leslie?”
Oh. He’d said it out loud. He’d wanted to try it out. “Leslie and I.” He wasn’t sure Arthur was the best person for him to inform of his change in status from perpetually single to possibly in a relationship of indeterminate definition, but it was out and he figured all he could do now was go for it.
“Mm-hmm. Leslie Payton. He’s coming with me. If you can book our hotel room, that would be great.”
Tee hee.He was relieved this conversation wasn’t happening on video call as his face was burning. Joe Judd, thirty-six-year-old man giggling about his new boyfriend.
“Leslie Payton the, um, quarterback?”
“Former quarterback. Currently the head football coach at Greenvale College.”
“Riiiiight. He’s coming with you to LA because...?”
Arthur was great at his job and he mostly kept his opinions on his clients’ personal lives to himself, but Joe was sure he’d shocked his manager and friend with this revelation.
