Page 151 of Rebound
I think it adds character. Plus, I’m depressed you’re not here and I’m reacting appropriately.
Blossom
Have you done anything productive while I’ve been away?
Roman
What do you mean? I’ve been playing every night.
Blossom
Other than your job.
Roman
Oh, hell no. I’ve been hugging the cats and counting down the seconds until you return.
Blossom
If I look up the word simp in the dictionary, am I going to find your photo next to it? I love it, by the way. Keep it coming.
I can’t wait until we’re back and I can sleep in my bed again.
Roman
You mean our bed.
Blossom
We’ll see.
“Roman, are you paying attention?”
I look up, startled at the sound of my name and meet Kita’s eyes. She raises her eyebrows in question.
“Of course, I am. I was checking the time,” I lie. “You’re going to be late for your big championship game.”
“I’m not going,” Kita says.
Oh, right. Kita was telling me she had a falling out with her bowling partner, Dorothy, so now she’s not going to play in the championship. Winning this trophy is all she’s talked about for the last month. She’s been practicing non-stop.
“I agree with you, Dorothy shouldn’t have flirted with your man. She’s a bad friend.” I put her coffee down on the counter in front of her because it’s hot and I don’t want her to burn herself. “But one bad friend shouldn’t make you quit the game. Look at me, I have no friends and I’ve been playing this game for ten years.”
Kita places her elbow on the counter and rests her cheek on her upturned hand. “What about that boy who calls you?”
“Connor?” Maybe it’s proving her point that I know right away who she’s talking about.
“Yes, Cowboy Connor.”
Lavinia keeps teasing me that I have friends I refuse to acknowledge, like Kita and Connor. We played for New York together and kept in touch even after I was traded. I don’t call him or message him any time I need advice, but we check in every so often.
He’s retired now and lives on a ranch in Calgary, hence why Kita calls him Cowboy Connor. Maybe he is my friend if I told Kita about him.
“Okay, fine. In a career spanning a decade, I made one friend,” I admit. “We’re talking about you right now. What are you going to do?”
Kita sighs and takes a sip of her coffee. “I suppose I can call Lilian and ask her to play with me.”
“Didn’t you pass over Lilian for Dorothy?”
