groaned. Despite his disappointment, I knew I had helped Joel out by recommending him for the relief position. It was better than the minor leagues.
We walked across the tarmac and boarded the team’s private Boeing 757. I only drew a few looks as I walked down the aisle to my seat. Most of the players had gotten used to the idea of a woman being on the coaching staff, although they were still skeptical. That was fine by me. Familiarity was the first step to earning their respect.
Everyone on the plane was happy and excited. The entire team was there except the owner, Jeff Delorian. Apparently he didn’t hang out with the team or go to any games. It was just a business to him.
What’s the point of owning a sports team if you don’t enjoy the sport? I wondered as we took off.
Rafael, Joel, and Darryl played cards during the flight. I was in the row behind them reviewing game footage on my laptop. I was still new enough that I felt like I should always be seen working. Like if the GM saw me playing on my phone he might fire me or something.
Before we landed, Darryl got out of his seat and walked up and down the aisle. “Party at my place tonight,” he told everyone. “Just like last year. Big blow-out before the season starts. Gotta get it out of your system! Chris, you better be there this year. Same goes for you, Willie. No excuses.”
He glanced at me in passing. “I guess you can come too. If you want.”
“I’m not big on parties,” I told him. “But thanks for the invite.”
Rafael twisted around in the seat in front of me. “You should totally come. We don’t throw a lot of parties during the season, so this is everyone’s chance to let loose. Especially after working hard during spring training.”
I started to make a joke about getting loose, but there were other people around. “I’ll think about it,” I said.
We landed at DFW, and I took an Uber to my apartment in Colleyville, just ten minutes away. I had only been gone three weeks, but it felt like months since I had been home.
I laid out on my bed and sighed happily. Dorothy was totally right: there was no place like home. After savoring the feeling, I called my dad.
“Thanks for watering my plants. Nothing died.”
“Happy to do it! You want to come over for dinner? Your mom’s making beef stroganoff.”
“Maybe. I’m kind of on the fence about something. I got invited to a party at Darryl Bryant’s house.”
“Darryl Dingers invited you to a team party? And you’re considering not going?”
“I’m just not a party person,” I replied. “I’m the awkward girl who stands in the corner by herself. I’d rather relax before opening day.”
“Think of this as a work opportunity,” dad suggested. “It’s a chance to build camaraderie with the players. Don’t think of them as superstar athletes. Think of them as your colleagues. And it’s important for them to think of you that way, too. Socializing will help with that.”
“What about mom’s stroganoff?”
“You can pick up some leftovers tomorrow. Your mom is making enough to feed an army.”
I really didn’t want to go out tonight, but dad’s opinion pushed me to get ready. I wasn’t sure what to wear. What was the dress code for a world-famous superstar athlete’s party? I settled on a floral-print sun dress that hugged my hips and bust. Then I teased my hair out—it was nice to have my curling iron!—until it bounced on my shoulders in dark red ringlets.
Darryl lived in Las Colinas, a very wealthy suburb of Dallas that was only a fifteen minute drive from my apartment. I had to show my driver’s license to a security guard in a guardhouse at the entrance to his neighborhood. The homes inside were absolutely enormous. They were all red brick with steepled roofs and marble arches in the doorway. The lawns were so green and flawless that they looked like they had been photoshopped. Not a single blade of grass was out of place, and the bushes were trimmed to perfection.
Darryl’s house was easy to find because it was the one with a valet tent outside. I pulled in line behind a Lotus and another sports car that was so expensive-looking that I was certain it would transform into a robot and walk away.
“Be careful with my baby,” I said as I handed the valet the keys to