“I’ve been walking on practice days. The only reason I drove tonight was because I knew there were thunderstorms in the area.”
I glanced at the sky, then grabbed an umbrella out of my trunk. “I’ll walk you home.”
She brightened at that, but said, “You don’t have to do that. I have mace in my bag…”
Like I said: being captain meant shouldering the weight of the entire team. And June was now part of that team.
“I don’t mind at all. Besides, if something happened to you, I’d blame myself.”
She smiled genuinely. “I really appreciate it.”
We started walking.
“I didn’t think I would have to deal with car problems anymore,” she said. “My car was always breaking down in college, but it had two hundred thousand miles on it. This Bronco is the firstnewcar I’ve ever owned. I bought it to celebrate getting this job. And it breaks down after only a month.”
“Crazy that neither of our cars would start. Maybe it’s a manufacturer’s defect?”
“I guess.” She glanced sideways at me. “I have to admit it feels nice to drive the same car as a professional athlete. Makes me feel like I’m a big shot! What made you choose it?”
“I, uh, got it for free,” I admitted.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m sponsored by Ford,” I explained. “I did a commercial for a local dealership, and they threw it in as a bonus. And before you ask: yes, it feels douchy to admit that out loud.”
“I wasn’t going to say it… but I was definitely thinking it!”
We laughed together, pausing at an intersection before the light changed. The wind started to pick up, and lightning flashed in the sky to the west.
June stared at the sky and said, “Maybe I should have called an Uber.”
“Too late now,” I said, walking a little faster.
“Getting rained on is the perfect ending to this annoying day,” she said dryly.
“Oh?” I asked.
She blushed again, then waved a hand dismissively. “It’s nothing. Just a lot of little stuff. I’m ready to change into comfy clothes and relax.”
“Amen,” I said as it started to sprinkle.
“Shit.”
“Glad I brought this.” I opened the umbrella, then held it out so she could fit under it.
We made it another two blocks before the rain began falling in sheets. June yelped and huddled closer under the umbrella as we tried to speed-walk through the downpour.
“How much farther?” I shouted over the rain.
June pointed. “The apartment building there!”
The wind was so strong that the rain was now coming in sideways. We started jogging until we reached the safety of an overpass.
“Might as well wait here until it lightens up,” I said.
“Sorry about this,” June said, sloughing water off her arms. “You could have been warm in your car if not for me.”
“Rain doesn’t bother me,” I said, shaking out the umbrella. “It’s sleet that I hate. Or freezing rain.”
