his ball cap a little tighter and shrugs. “She hasn’t said yes yet, but thanks.”
“She will. No worries.”
He doesn’t look nervous but still says, “Let’s hope.”
“Text me and let me know.”
“I will.”
I finish closing up the office and lock the doors before I make my way to my company pickup. A few years ago Grant was frustrated at losing employees after the busy season so we decided to change schedules up and only work every other Saturday, instead of six days a week through the entire summer. We knew it was a risk considering that it meant our clients might be a little frustrated, however, it made for much happier employees.
Having two full days to recover from five straight days of baking in the hot summer sun puts everyone in a good mood and happier to return on Monday.
Deciding I don’t feel like cooking anything for myself tonight, I hit a drive-thru on the way home and pick up a double roast beef and cheddar sandwich and curly fries. It’s supposed to rain tonight and it’s been a long week. I’m ready to get home, shower, and kick back in my recliner for a few hours watching some TV… maybe some Ghost Adventures or First 48.
Exhaustion has settled into my bones, so it feels good to have a night to relax. Single and in my thirties, one would think I’d be eager to go on dates or at least mingle at a bar but my heart isn’t in it. Hasn’t been for a long time. The song “The One That Got Away”? I could have written it. It’s basically my anthem.
Around eleven I go to bed and don’t even mind the fact that it’s alone. I don’t want just anyone to warm my bed at night. I want her. The only woman who has ever captured my heart. Too bad I ruined any chance that I had with her years ago. And now she’s off-limits.
Saturday morning I wake up early, my body conditioned to be up with the sun. I throw on a pair of basketball shorts and sneakers and go to the kitchen. After a protein heavy breakfast, I make my way to the third stall of my garage and work out. Physically, I’m in the best shape of my life. It helps that aside from work, I don’t have a lot going on.
Over an hour later, I’m a sweaty mess and look at my phone, hoping I have enough time to shower before going to my niece’s T-ball game. I missed her game last week and still feel like a jerk about it. But the thunder roaring outside tells me that the game this morning might not be happening.
Just in case, I take a quick shower but when I get out, I’m greeted by a text from my brother.
Chris: Game is cancelled.
Me: Bummer. I was planning to come. Can I FaceTime with my girl later?
Chris: She’s at her mom’s this weekend so you’d have to ask her but I’m sure she’d like that.
I wince knowing that’s not about to happen. I don’t have the balls to make that phone call but Chris doesn’t know that. He never will, either. He’s head over heels in love with the mother of his child. Just so happens, so am I.
Chris: Wanted to talk to you about something, though. Might be easier to call, you available?
Rather than answering through text, I pick up the phone.
“Morning, brother.”
“Hey. What’d you need?”
“Wow,” he chuckles, “no small talk, huh?”
“You know how much I hate talking on the phone,” I remind him.
“Yeah, unless it’s with my little girl, that is.”
He’s got me there. I’ll talk for hours on the phone or FaceTime with my niece but that’s about the extent of my list of people I enjoy talking to on the phone. Why talk when we can text or send voice messages? It’s so much easier and far less annoying.
“Anyway, what’s up?”
“You think you’d be willing to coach her T-ball team?”
“Why? Don’t you already have a coach?”
“We do but he’s a jerk. He yells at the kids all the time. They’re four and five year olds, and he’s acting like we’re preparing them for the major leagues. Not to mention how often he flips out if one of them gets distracted by anything.”
Which happens often. I chuckle, remembering my niece’s soccer games where kids, including her, would get distracted just by chasing a butterfly around the field, which caused the rest of the teammates as well as