The city is truly buzzing with Christmas spirit.
I’ve been preparing for this date for an entire month. It’s been excruciatingly long, but the reality is that I knew we had a tough schedule of games ahead and that I wouldn’t be able to give Adrienne my undivided attention.
Even though there are two more games of the regular season, at least we are going into this week knowing that we’ve won our division and cinched a spot in the playoffs.
Our next game is more important for the other team since our spot is assured, and will be played at home, so I’ll be here for the entire week including Christmas.
Me: What time do you get off work today?
Adrienne: Three
Me: That doesn’t give you much time to get pretty for me.
Adrienne: Lucky thing I don’t need too much time then.
Me: Dress warm.
Adrienne. Where are we doing?
ME: Nice try. It’s a surprise.
Adrienne: Didn’t the contract say I get to pick a date?
Me: The second date, which you forfeited, so it’s on me again.
Adrienne: I think you’re making the rules up as we go along.
Me: Don’t I always?
Bryan calls me to let me know that everything I’ve arranged is still good to go, and I can go pick Adrienne up whenever I’m ready.
“Just stick to the timetable.”
“Okay.”
“And good luck.”
“No luck necessary, Padawan. I got this.”
My driver pulls up in front of Adrienne’s apartment and by a hydrant. One perk of having a driver is that you can have door-to-door service without the fuss. It’s a pleasure I want Adrienne to be able to experience all the time now. I want to spoil her, sport her around town, give her everything she ever wanted. But I know I’ve got to take it one step at a time.
When I walk into the front door of the building, I notice a familiar figure coming out of the elevator.
I feel a sharp pain behind my left eye in my head.
It’s tiny man and he could only be coming from one place.
We both stop a few feet away from each other and stare each other down. I don’t understand why he’s here, and I’m growing angrier with each passing moment.
His lips turn slightly up into a smug smirk. He’s enjoying this.
“Congratulations,” he says. “I haven’t seen the Nighthawks play this well in a long time.”
A jab to the fact that I’m not playing.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Having a talk with Adrienne.”
