really hope this one works out so Tanner can stop adding guys to his glitter bomb hit list. She and I have slowly become friendly. We don’t have girls’ nights out or gab on the phone, but we both always show up to support Tanner and I think we’ve found a mutual respect for one another.
“All right. I’ve got to go. We’re pulling up to the arena. I’ll call you after the game. Will you still be up?” he asks.
“You think I’m going to bed early on my superstar fiancé’s first night playing in an NBA game?”
“Well you’re like four hours ahead.”
“Three. You’re really going to have to figure out the time zones.”
“If the other states would stop doing daylight’s savings time like Arizona did, it would be so much easier. Half the year it’s two hours. The other half it’s three. Who can store all that useless information?”
“You’re rambling,” I say, biting back a smile. It’s rare that I’ve seen, or heard, Tanner this spun up. Not that I can blame him. He’s worked hard for this. The past year since we graduated from Valley hasn’t been easy. He signed with the Celtics and the Red Sox. The media went nuts and my boyfriend—now fiancé—became a sensation. His handsome face was everywhere I went for a while—magazines, TV, social media. It was super trippy.
So was moving to Boston. In what universe did I end up living somewhere so cold? At least I have the beach.
Then, he got hurt. He was nervous that it was all going to blow up, but he worked twice as hard and tonight he finally gets to play in their game against the Lakers in Los Angeles.
“I’m fucking nervous.”
“You are going to be amazing,” I say for what is probably the hundredth time this week. “I can’t wait to watch. I’m going to call Tara; do you want to stay on the line and say hi?”
“Nah, we’re getting off the bus. Tell her I said hi and apologize in advance that she’s about to be known as Skidmark’s sister.”
“You’re so dramatic. I am not telling her that. Good luck. I love you. Don’t shit your pants.”
He chuckles. “Love you, too. Bye, babe.”
I drop my phone into my clutch as I approach Tara.
“Was that Tanner?” she asks as we share a quick hug hello.
“Yeah, he says hi.”
She glances around. “Does he know we’re here?”
“He has no clue. He thinks I am FaceTiming with you and Steve for the game.”
She makes a face. “That’s over.”
“I liked Steve.”
“His penis was like…” She holds up her hand to show me just how small and I wave her off.
“Got it. Okay. Well, Tanner’s teammate, Henry, left tickets for us at will call so we can sit behind the bench with the Wags.”
Tara takes a bunch of pictures of us outside the arena that we can tease Tanner with later. Then we fall into line with the other fans and navigate to our seats.
“Oh, man, I feel like I might be sick. I’m so nervous for him.” Tara holds a hand to her stomach.
I seem to be the only one of us who isn’t worried. He’s got this. I’ve never had any doubts that Tanner would be here one day or that I’d be on the sidelines cheering him on. There was a time I wouldn’t have believed I’d be doing it as his fiancée, but I’ve always believed in him.
“There he is!” Tara squeezes my arm and stops in the middle of the aisle. The guys are on the floor in their green uniforms. He looks calmer now as he palms a basketball and scans the arena. He’s taking it all in and I’m so glad to be here to witness this. Nothing he could do in the game would be as good as seeing him finally walk out with his team knowing he’s going to do something besides sit on the sideline.
Tara screams his name and waves her hands over her head. She has absolutely no chill. He looks down, avoiding eye contact with the crazed fan yelling his name, but Henry nudges him and points toward us.
Tara keeps waving until he spots us. His mouth slowly pulls into a huge grin and he moves toward us.
We go down as far as we can. It’s still early, so many of the seats are empty.
“Surprise!” Tara says as he gets to us.
He shakes his head. “What are you two doing here?”
“You didn’t really think we’d miss this?” She rolls her