Page 75 of Best Year Ever
It’s a shift from earlier this summer, but the reality that I’m facing is that my rhythm with Landon is going to be different than it was a month ago. He’s ramping up for daily team practices, training camp, pre-season games, and then a seventeen-week season, not counting playoffs.
He isn’t going to be able to drive to Tampa every other day now. I’m going to have to trek to Orlando regularly if I want to continue seeing him.
Will he want that? I think the answer is yes, but I don’t want to assume. I guess we should probably talk about it tonight.
Coming up next for me is hard court season, which is in North America. While the locations are easier in terms of traveling back and forth, the pressure to win is higher. For my pride, as much as any external pressure. Not to mention, the fans and the press are that much more intensely focused on me as an American. So, I don’t consider the next few tournaments easier.
All of the future challenges get pushed aside though once I pull into Landon’s driveway.
As soon as he opens the door to let me into his house, he gives a big whoop and picks me up in his arms.
“Hi, Miss Number Five,” he says, then plants a kiss on my lips.
Landon pulls us into the hallway, closes the door and slowly puts me down. He then kisses me again, a little longer, before breaking the kiss.
“Let me show you the place,” he says, taking my hand.
His house is much bigger than my cottage. As he shows me around, I can tell he isn’t concerned with the aesthetics of the house. It isn’t barren, but the colors are all neutral, the furnishings comfortable but lacking character. The walls largely have muted art prints, together with miscellaneous sports paraphernalia.
Landon catches me looking everything over and explains. “It’s a bachelor pad, I know. I had a little help with decorating from Grace, but I haven’t worried too much about it yet. Still in my rookie contract too, so I didn’t want to spend a ton on expensive furniture.”
Despite the lack of design, the house is comfortable, and I love the amount of light coming in from the windows everywhere.
“You have a lot to work with when you’re ready,” I observe.
After dinner, we cuddle on the couch, watching a new reality show called Camp Puppy Love. It’s about a group of twenty-something dog owners who are looking for love. The twist is their dogs have to be compatible too. Doggy dates are as important as the human dates.
“This show is going to be great, right, Grover?” Landon jokes. “You want to watch with us, little guy?”
Grover pops his head up from where he’s lying on one of Landon’s armchairs. “Grover’s chair,” as he calls it. The pup looks at us with what seems to me to be a dog version of an eye roll and lies his head back down.
I laugh and snuggle into Landon. Just then, a text comes through.
NINA: I’m on the phone with Taylor. Can we call you for a minute?
To have your agent and publicist want to speak to you at the same time means something is up—though not necessarily something bad.
RORI: Sure.
I turn to Landon. “One sec, I need to take a call if that’s okay? Nina and my publicist?”
“Of course babe, do you want privacy?“ he asks, reaching for the remote.
“No, if you don’t mind pausing the show, I can do it here.”
He nods and hits pause as the FaceTime call comes in. When I pick up, Nina and Taylor are both on the line from two different locations. Something’s up.
“Rori, hi, sorry to bug you tonight,” Taylor says.
“It’s okay, you guys have me curious though,” I respond, making sure that only my face is in the frame.
“Well, a couple of things have happened,” Taylor says. “We received the planned campaign images for the Triumph shoot. They look incredible. So that isn’t an issue.”
“Okay, great. And the campaign is still on track to be launched right before the U.S. Open?”
“Yes.” Taylor takes a breath and continues. “They’re focusing on pictures of you and Landon together. With the filters and closely-cropped perspectives used, the photos are incredibly sexy. They’re really playing up the dynamic between you two in the pictures.”
I look over at Landon and he’s listening. He shrugs at her comments, an amused look on his face.
