Page 107 of Scoring the Player
My interrogation is cut short when Eddie returns with Victor. Seeing the older man immediately sets my spine straight.
“Dahlia,” he says gruffly. “We’re down a runner tonight. How’d you like to fill in?”
“Me?” I squeak as my stomach bottoms out. I turn to look at Jane. I don’t want to abandon her.
“Go. Go,” she insists. “I’ll be fine.”
I’m whisked away, given a quick rundown of my job which is basically running costume changes during the show. There are two of us. I’m paired with a nice girl named Ria, who assures me that she won’t let me screw up.
Hearing the show from back here is sort of surreal. Eddie’s smooth voice is the soundtrack of a lot of behind-the-scenes’ work. I have a whole new appreciation for everyone involved.
Every little break I get, I check the score of the game. When Valley wins, I feel such pride and excitement. I wish I were there. Not because I want to stand on the sidelines wearing his jersey where everyone can see, but because I want to show up for him like he has for me the past couple of months. He’s always the first person to tell me I’m amazing, and I want to be that for him.
I find Jane in the crowd during a long stretch where Eddie doesn’t need a wardrobe change.
“Hey!” she says, smiling when she sees me. “Are you done?”
“Not yet,” I lean in so she can hear me over the noise. “Do you think we can get a flight back tonight after the show or…I don’t know, drive?”
“You want to get back to Felix,” she says with a knowing grin.
“I was an idiot. I should have said yes. I just hope it isn’t too late.”
“It’s not,” she assures me. “Let me see what I can find on flights, but worst case, we’ll pull an all-night road trip and have you there in the morning.”
“Thank you.”
“No thanks needed. I’m so happy for you.” She hugs me.
“Okay, I gotta get back. Ria mentioned Victor hires summer interns, so I want to impress them.” I cross my fingers and hold up my hands for Jane to see.
I do my best to push Felix out of my mind for the next hour while I continue to run wardrobe with Ria, but when Jane texts me and says there aren’t any more flights to Valley tonight, I’m disappointed. I know it’s just one more day, but it’s been twenty years of wishing for things to happen, and now I want to make my own dreams come true.
When it comes time for Eddie’s last change, Ria and I take the pants I made with the basic tee to just off the stage where he runs as the band plays to keep the crowd occupied.
“How was it?” Eddie asks me, pulling off his sweaty shirt and taking the one Ria hands him.
“Amazing. Thank you for everything.”
He grins, then changes into the pants. As he’s buttoning them up, he asks, “And the boy? Have you talked to him yet?”
“No, not yet. He had a game and they’ll be partying tonight to celebrate.” After their win, I bet Felix is ready to relax after an especially grueling week. “I was hoping to catch a flight back tonight and make some grand gesture, but it’s too late.”
A lady wearing a headset is motioning impatiently for Eddie to get back out there.
“I’ll talk to him when I get back tomorrow.”
“Go now,” he says. “This is my last change. Your job is done. Tell Bev to get you a car to LAX asap.”
“There aren’t any flights.”
“I’ve got you,” he says, then walks onstage to a crowd of screaming fans.
37
FELIX
Our house was toosmall to host a party Homecoming weekend. A lot of alumni come back, and the parties are huge. I’m standing in the backyard at The White House surrounded by more people than I’ve ever seen at a party.
