with your friends.”
When the three of us arrived at the stadium, we grabbed a beer, a couple orders of nachos and headed to our seats.
“Kirsten wasn’t pissed about you coming tonight?” Frankie asked.
“Of course, she was. She’s leaving Friday to go on a trip with her mom for the weekend. She said I see you two more than I do her, and we got into a big fight.”
“Gee man, I’m sorry.” Ben said.
“Don’t be. I offered to see her tomorrow and she got really pissed off. She told me she’d see me when she got back from her trip. Which is fine with me. Listen, I need to tell you guys something before the game starts.”
“What’s up?” Frankie asked. “It sounds serious.”
“I met someone.”
“Okay?” Ben’s eye narrowed at me. “As in another woman?”
“Yeah.” I sighed.
“Oh shit, bro,” Frankie said. “Who is this chick?”
“Her name is Ellie Scott, and she is incredibly beautiful. We met yesterday at the grocery store after an apple debacle.”
I explained what had happened and they both laughed.
“Anyway, I took her to lunch today and now I can’t stop thinking about her. I know you’re going to think I’m crazy, but I feel alive when I’m with her. Even though we just met, I feel like I’ve known her my entire life. I forget about everyone and everything else when I’m with her.”
“Damn, Henry.” Frankie placed his hand on my shoulder and gave it a grip.
“There’s something else about her,” I said.
“What?” Ben asked. “Is she married or something?”
“Is she pregnant?” Frankie smirked.
“No. She’s deaf.”
Both their jaws dropped.
“Wow. Okay,” Frankie spoke. “Guess it’s a good thing you know sign language.”
“Yeah, bro. Are you going to keep seeing her or what?” Ben asked.
“I’m seeing her Friday night. In fact, I’m bringing her to your gallery, Frankie. She’s an artist, like you.”
“Really? Have you seen her work?”
“Yeah. Let me show you.” I pulled my phone from my pocket and pulled up her website. “She sells her paintings online.”
“Wow. She’s really talented,” Frankie said as he scrolled through her website.
“Let me see,” Ben spoke as he grabbed my phone from Frankie’s hand. “Damn. Those are nice paintings. “I want to meet her too, so I’ll be at the gallery Friday night as well.”
“She’s also a freelance website designer.”
“Really? I’ve been looking for someone to design a new site for the gallery,” Frankie said.
“Great. You can talk to her on Friday.”
“Not really, bro. I don’t know sign language.”
“She can read lips, and I can interpret.”
“I don’t mean to burst your happy bubble, but you’re playing with fire, man,” Ben said as he shoved a nacho in his mouth. “You need to make a decision and fast about Kirsten.”
“I know I do. But my entire future is at stake.”
Chapter 7
Ellie
It was five fifteen when I grabbed my purse and headed down to my mom’s apartment to fill her in about Henry.
“Hi, honey.” She smiled when I walked through the door.
“Hi, Mom, I can’t stay long. I’m going over to Joni and Pete’s for dinner. What are you making?”
“I’m making that cabbage casserole for James, and I was going to ask you if you wanted to stay for dinner.”
“I love that cabbage casserole. But I promised Joni I’d come over. Next time you make it I’ll stay.”
“Deal. How was your lunch date?” she signed.
“It was wonderful,” I spoke and signed at the same time. “I really like him, Mom. He runs his family’s business with his dad.”
“Which business is that?”
“Walker Capital,” I spoke.
“Walker Capital? They’re one of the biggest venture capitalist companies in the country. Did you find out how he knows how to sign?”
“He had a twin sister who was born deaf.”
“Had?”
“She died when she was nine from a heart condition she was born with,” I signed.
“How awful. Poor guy. That must have been hard on him. Did you pay him back for the groceries?”
“I tried, but he wouldn’t let me.” I rolled my eyes. “He’s so sweet, Mom. He’s taking me out Friday night.”
“I would love to meet him.”
“I’m sure you will soon,” I signed as I smiled. “I have to go.” I kissed her cheek.
“You be careful.”
“You need to stop worrying about me.”
“I will never stop worrying about you no matter how old you are.”
I kissed her cheek one last time and headed to Joni and Pete’s.
I was in the middle of dinner with Joni and Pete when my phone lit up and I received a text message from Henry. Instantly, a smile splayed across my face as I read