I smiled when she pursed her lips at her uncle offscreen.
“I didn’t get to swim in it, though. On nice days, we work outside. March is a little warmer in California than it is in New York.”
“I would think that someone like her would have a mansion.” My mother huffed.
By working on this book with Raina, I had a glimpse into the world of professional sports they’d never told us about in college. Going pro was the ultimate goal and prize, why you had to give it your all plus a little more to get there. I’d never had regrets about tapping out, but I’d never truly known what being a professional athlete entailed until I’d learned about Raina’s experiences off the field.
Female athletes weren’t as revered as men were—or paid the same wage. While Raina had had a very successful career in professional soccer, and she’d stayed relevant through various organizations within women’s sports and entrepreneurship—how she’d found me on Sharon’s page—she’d given me a candid look at how she’d struggled compared to male athletes in the same sport.
I hadn’t planned on being away for so long without a trip home, but the days were longer than I’d anticipated, and in order to keep the projects with my other clients on schedule, I had to work for half the weekend. I didn’t want to make the long trip home, just for my loved ones to watch the back of my neck as I sat in front of a computer screen.
Raina’s story was fascinating, but I was burning out and needed to speak to her about it tonight. If we still didn’t have a time frame on when the book would be finished, I needed some time off to go home.
“I hope you’re finding some time to rest. I don’t like this working around the clock seven days a week for so long.”
“I’m not a fan of it either, Mom. But it’s over soon.”
“I hope so,” she said as she frowned at me. “You’re too old to be working all hours without a break.”
Jesse snickered off-camera.
“Please remind yourhoneyover there that we are the same age.”
“Actually”—Jesse’s handsome face came into view—“your birthday is four months before mine. So I agree with Carmela. You’re not so young.” He winked and leaned back out of view.
“I better finish working so I can get ready for dinner later. I love you guys, and I’ll see you soon.”
“I love you too, cookie,” Mom said as she wrapped her arm around Maddie. I loved watching them getting to know each other, and as tough as my mother was, I was sure she found ways to spoil Maddie when she’d come to visit. No matter where Mom stayed, either the hospital or rehab or back at her apartment, my mother always made sure to have treats on hand for potential visitors.
“Call me when you get back. I want to know what she says.” Jesse’s brow furrowed as he took the phone and stepped away from Mom and Maddie.
“It would be really late.”
“And I couldn’t care less. I fucking miss you, Em,” he whispered into the phone, husky and low and causing a different kind of ache.
“I miss you too. I’m sorry this is taking up more of my time than I thought.”
“It’s okay. I just want you home. For a lot of reasons.”
I laughed when his brows popped.
“Trust me, I want to be home for all those reasons. Until then, you finally got my mother to like you enough to call you pet names. Congratulations.”
“Didn’t take much. I come by and move things around wherever she tells me.”
“So, she owns you now.”
Jesse shook his head.
“Youown me. I’ll talk to you later.”
He blew a quick and quiet kiss at the screen before disconnecting the call.
He owned me right back, and I feared what all this time apart was doing to us.
“Emily, you’re early.”Raina smiled as she held her front door open for me to step inside. The ceilings were so high, any shoes I wore clicked with an echo as I made my way down her hallway.
“I hope that’s okay. I should have called you first, but I wanted to speak to you before Ashley arrived.”
