I’d feel better if you told me something you’d never told anyone.
GW: Oh, you mean like me passing on trying out for the national team so my sister had a shot at making it? And then they win the Olympic gold?
My jaw dropped. I couldn’t even think of how to respond to that.
Turns out, I didn’t have to think about what to type. My phone rang.
Gabi started talking as soon as I hit answer. “Please, please don’t tell anyone that I said that, okay? Jesus. I can’t believe I told you.”
“Sounds like you needed to tell someone.” I paused. “So it is true?”
“Yes. There’s the chance I wouldn’t have made the team if I would’ve tried out, but I opted not to be considered for a spot so Dani would be. There’s also the fact that if I would’ve been on the team, they might not have won the gold. So it’s fucked-up logic, but everyone thinks I opted out because I believed I was past my prime.”
“Dani believes that’s why you walked away?”
“Yes.”
“Goddammit, Gabriella. She should know about your selflessness.”
“No. That’s the thing with selflessness, Nolan. You don’t expect anything in return. She did great in the games and she earned something I’ll never have. But I’ve gotten to experience so much in my career that she never will. On the balance side, the scales are tipped much higher in my favor.”
I thought back to the night in Buddy’s when Gabi talked about things she’d given up for her sister. I should be even more pissed off on her behalf that Dani ended up with Tyson too, but Gabi deserved better than him.
“Nolan. Please promise me this stays between us.”
“Of course I promise. It’s a trust-building exercise, remember?”
“Building toward what?”
“You tell me, Gabriella.”
Silence.
Then, “Can we table my answer since this is basically me drunk dialing you?”
I laughed. “Chicken.”
“Definitely.”
“Sleep it off, Welk. We’ll talk soon.”
Ten
GABI
I’d been home maybe five minutes when my phone rang.
Dammit. I wanted quiet time to reflect on my day.
Don’t you mean worry and pace?
Sighing, I flipped over my phone. Caller ID read: Liddy.
If I didn’t answer she’d show up at my door anyway and ask why I hadn’t picked up.
Forcing a smile into my voice, I answered, “Liddy! What’s up?”
“My hopes rather than my blood pressure for once.”
“Har har.”
“We have margaritas, a bowl of gourmet popcorn and chocolate salted caramel gelato.”
I only managed to get out, “Who’s we—” before the knock sounded on my door.
Liddy and Dallas Lund crowded into the doorframe, Liddy juggling the popcorn and quart of gelato, Dallas clutching an enormous crystal pitcher.
Dallas sang, “Oh yes, it’s ladies’ night,” and hip-checked me as she walked past.
Liddy kissed me on both cheeks. “Happy Thursday night, darling.”
“What’s the occasion?”
“That’s the beauty of it! We don’t need one,” Dallas said gleefully. She shook the pitcher and the ice rattled. “I even made my famous margaritas. Break out the glasses.”
“Already done,” Liddy said from my kitchen. “And none of this ‘I’m tired’ nonsense, Gabs. It’s almost been two bloody weeks since the pre-party at Full Tilt. Remember we all agreed to try to get together because we’re all busy. This is us sticking to it.”
I leaned against her and sighed. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
“You too, Dallas.”
She smiled as she filled the margarita glasses. “I’m just happy that y’all think I’m cool. No one besides my BFF MacGuyer and my cousin Annika ever wanna hang out. ‘Odd duck’ is the nicest term that’s been used to describe me.”
“Y’all? Girl, where’d that southern drawl come from?” I teased. “You’re a Minnesota native.”
“My mom is from North Carolina. After spending a few hours with her, I slip a y’all in here and there.”
“Did you say your best friend’s name is MacGyver?” Liddy asked.
Dallas laughed. “That’s an easy mistake to make, but no. Her name is Ann-Mackenzie Guyer. Her parents call her Annie-Mac, which is too close to my cousin Annika’s name, so I call her MacGuyer, because like MacGy-ver, she is the cleverest person I know. We’ve been BFFs since first grade. You’d love her.” She pointed to the drinks. “Grab one and let’s toast.”
We held our glasses aloft and I braced myself for that awkward moment when everyone thought a toast to be a good idea but no one knew what to say.
Not so with Dallas. “Here’s to those who’ve seen us at our best and seen us at our worst and can’t tell the difference.”
We touched glasses and drank.
My eyes widened at that first sweet, tangy, crisp, cold, citrusy,