James gagged on his water. “Nine-TEEN?”
“It’s complicated. We went our separate ways after that, but we never really stopped loving each other,” I sighed. “It’s really nice to see him again.”
“Is he really the one that got away? We all watched the video before you came,” Deandra had stars in her eyes. I swallowed hard and nodded.
“Oh, Kitty Cat,” Tania said, grabbing my hand. “Is this going to ruin you?”
“It can’t. I’m just about to start with this writing job. He’s going back to Seattle. We’re just having fun this weekend and seeing what happens, I guess.”
“Well, speak of the devil,” James said. The door to the bar opened and Guy’s tall form filled the doorway. He waved to the bartender like he’d been there a thousand times and was getting his usual. His hand landed on my shoulder when he got to the table. I introduced him to everyone.
“I’m starstruck,” Guy said. “Nice to meet the people Kitty loves so much.”
“Likewise,” Tania said. I kicked her under the table.
“How was Marcie?” I asked Guy.
“Apparently, my little New York trip is sparking New York trade rumors,” he said, annoyed. My stomach dropped. Would he really go to New York? Too little, too late, Stelle.
“Have you talked to any teams here?” I asked, trying not to show my panic. We’d finally be in the same time zone, and he was considering moving across the country. Again.
“Not really,” he said dismissively. He took my hand casually, draping it between our chairs. He picked up the menu with his free hand. “So what should I get?”
Guy was quiet during lunch, but he laughed often. A lot of it was catching up on set gossip and what everyone was up to. I had an icy feeling in my gut the whole time. Same old shit, different day. Guy taunting me with his presence and perfection while threatening to rip it all away. Again. I focused on my friends, asthey were who I came to see in New York.
“Can we all go out after your show tonight? I miss our dance parties,” Tania begged.
“Not sure what we’re going to get into, but I’ll text you,” I told Tania. I needed to cuss Guy out in private first.
As we left the bar, Guy turned to me. “What now? We’re in the Big Apple together again.”
“I’ve kinda got a headache,” I snipped. “I might go back and take a nap.”
“Oh. Okay. Should we stop for medicine?” he asked, forever the energetic puppy determined to have a good time.
“You know what? I’m just going to say it.” I turned to him. I looked around to make sure we weren’t being documented by some onlooker. I hadn’t even noticed anyone the night before, so I was extra paranoid.
“What, Kitty?” Guy asked, genuinely surprised.
I crossed my arms. “Did you come here for me or to court some New York team?”
He cocked his head back, eyes widening. “Birdy, no. I came here for you. They’re just rumors.”
“But you said ‘not really’ when I asked if you’d talked to them,” I went on.
“Well, yeah, I talk to all of them a little here and there. New Jersey was interested for a bit.”
I felt like my head was going to fly off. “You could have been in Newark, but you stayed in Seattle? I would have moved there for you. Jesus, Guy.”
“Sweetheart, no.” Guy reached for me. We’d wandered to the outskirts of a park with a wrought-iron fence. I clung to the fence, picking the peeling black paint. “It’s not like that.”
“How not?” I huffed.
Guy’s eyes went sad. “I couldn’t get traded without ruining my contract. But even then, you were with him.”
Well, that took the wind out of my sails.
“Why were you talking to New Jersey then?” I asked quietly.
