Bo and Casey are here with me, but I haven’t seen them much other than meals. We traveled here together though, so I’m sure we’ll catch up when we head back to Oklahoma.
When my door closes, I pull out my phone to text Brooke.
Silas: Hey, I just got back. Are you around?
I watch my phone for a second to see if those dots appear. When they don’t right away, I set it on the dresser and sit on the bed to take my shoes off. Just as I stand, my phone buzzes.
Brooke: Hi! I’m home, but I’m trying to finish some homework. Can you give me, like, forty-five minutes?
Silas: No problem. I’ll take my shower while you finish up.
Brooke: K. Talk to you in a bit.
I take a quick shower, then slide on a pair of boxers. I crunch on a protein bar and drink some electrolytes to replenish everything I burned today. Then I settle in on the bed with my computer, put on my glasses, and pull up my calendar to see what I need to submit for homework this week. It’s a lot to juggle right now, but I’m determined to get my degree, and with just a few months away from graduation, I can’t slack off. Graduating is too important for my long-term goals.
I take care of a few things that don’t take long, then readthrough some emails my agent sent me, including some film of my performance today.
I check the time on the screen. My eyes are starting to get heavy, and I feel like all it would take for me to fall asleep is to lie down, but I don’t want to miss my call with Brooke.
A few minutes later, my phone rings, and a picture of her from our visit to Turner Falls appears.
“Hey,” I answer, smiling.
“Hi. How are you?” She smiles, looking like she’s genuinely happy to see me.
“Pretty good. Long day today. My legs are sore.”
“I’m sorry. It seems like no matter how often or hard y’all train, it still stains your body.”
“Yeah, but that’s all part of the job. I’ll be fine by tomorrow.”
“What did you do today? You had the 40-yard dash today, right?”
“We did and ran the gauntlet too.”
“I think I remember Beck had to do that last year. It sounds like it’s hard.”
“Yeah, he did. And it is definitely hard. You have to run in a straight line, turning side to side to catch balls being thrown at you. It takes a lot of focus while also anticipating where the ball is going to be.”
“I can imagine,” she says, yawning. “How did you do on the 40?”
“Really good. I had the second best time in the group.”
“That’s awesome, Silas. I’m so happy for you.” I can hear the smile in her voice.
“Thanks, Cupcake. It’ll all pay off. I just wish I had a better idea of where I’m heading.”
“Yeah, it’s like a total crap shoot it seems. I wonder how many first round draft picks have really been like ‘fuuuuck I don’t want to go there’.” She giggles.
“Right? Although the amount of money they get as the number one pick probably makes up for the disappointment.”
“True. Where do you hope to go? I don’t think we’ve even talked about it.”
I hear her shift, and it sounds like she’s getting under the covers, maybe.
I want to see her, so I hit FaceTime, and she answers right away.
“Hi,” she says shyly. “Good Lord. Shirtless and has his glasses on,” she mumbles.
