He snagged a job as one of the tutors for the football team and got me on the field for all the home games. Over the years, he became more like a brother. MSU football was our thing.
The song stopped. “We’re ready. What the hell is up with you being in New York? We really need this win.”
“You do know my absences will not affect the team’s performance.” He had mockingly collapsed onto the island in his kitchen when I told him my trip was during football season.
His gasp was loud enough for me to hear when the water-filled eyeshadow palette dropped into the trash in the main room of the sublet. “Who is this, and what did that shitty ass city do with my friend?”
Stepping over to the mini-fridge, I took a bottle of water out and sat on the bed to check the time. Floyd was a talker.
“How did you phrase it? ‘I’m working on my unrealistic ways of thinking.’”
“Well, stop that right now. Get your ass on a plane by Friday, so you can come cheer on your Spartans,” Floyd demanded.
I grabbed my lipstick off the ottoman, that served as a storage and the only other seat in the sublet, with a dramatic eye roll. An alert chimed on my phone stating I had fifteen minutes to make the train, so I grabbed my mini compact out of my purse. It was time to redirect my friend right to the end of this conversation.
“I’m not going to make it. Derrick has my parking pass, and my tailgate stuff is in the garage. He’s got the code–” I brushed the tip of the foam lipstick wand across my lips.
“Everyone has the code.”
“I have to walk out the door in like ten minutes–” My words sounded funny with my mouth open, applying the last coat of stay-on-all-night lipstick.
“I get it.” He sighed. “But if we lose this weekend, we are all going to blame it on you.”
“Me too,” I said, processing the fact this deal with Morgan Financial Holding would require I miss a lot more games in the future.
“Go be one of those Big City girls. Kick ass while you’re there and bring your ass home soon.”
“Will do.” My hushed response bore the weight of the next serious conversation I would need to have with one of my dearest friends.
“Go Green!” He shouted into the phone, probably to get me out of my head.
“Go White!” My Spartan upbringing forced the appropriate volume and fierceness, but the call disconnected, missing the return of my whisper. “Thanks, friend.”
A quick check of my makeup in the bathroom mirror proved invaluable as I discovered I had only completed one eye before I knocked the palette into the toilet. Wiping off my carefully constructed cat eye, I resorted to a bit of blush on my cheeks and eyelids. The entire time I cursed myself for not bringing more make up with me. With a dab of gloss on my now puffy lips, I was out the door rushing to the train station.
Making it to Nello’s with two minutes to spare, a text arrived from Anderson.
Anderson - Running a few minutes behind. The table is under your name.
I reread Anderson’s text and watched as the door to the restaurant opened. Placing my phone on the table and took a deep breath to relax. Why are you nervous? This is just practice.
White linens with fresh-cut white flowers lined the tables with a Buckingham Palace level of precision. The artwork was a mixture of colorful landscapes and charcoal drawn portraits. Mirrors hanging along the wall every foot allowed the natural light to dance with the soft glow of the wall sconces. As my eyes scanned the menu, I worked to hold my composure at the fifty-dollar pasta dishes listed on the menu.
A waitress placed a cocktail in front of me. “Oh, this isn’t mine.”
“It’s from the guy at the bar.” The waitress leaned to the left to allow me a clear line of sight.
“I… I’m on a date.” I blurted out.
“I’ll tell him you said thank you,” she winked at me. “Enjoy.”
Turning toward the bar, a handsome guy in a grey suit met my glance and smiled. He picked up his drink and walked toward the table. Shit!
He sat in the seat across from me. “Mind if I join? I couldn’t help notice you were here alone.”
“I’m meeting someone.”
He leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table. “Shame they left you all by yourself. You’re