The morning is slow and lazy, something both Ellie and I needed after I posted her face on the internet. Ellie is curled up once more in her favorite blanket reading a book on her Kindle, Fish is curled up next to her. I snap a quick picture; I’ll never tire of having pictures of my girl. I smile and begin to pack my overnight bag for tonight. Coach expects us at the airport at two. I’ve had my hangover cure and have been hydrating something fierce to try to remove the alcohol from my system. If this was any other occasion Coach would have absolutely reemed us for going out like that during the season, but Coach has a soft spot for DJ.
Once my bag is packed, I kiss Ellie one more time before heading to the airport to catch our flight for the game.
Practice is smooth even in the aftermath of last night’s party. Still riding the high of DJ’s engagement, everyone is more keyed up than usual. Once I am in my room, I hang up my suit in the closet and set out the remainder of my personal items before showering off practice and the remaining booze I sweat out. Once I’m clean and dressed, I head down to the ballroom for the team meetings.
I check my phone and see a text from Cassie. Cassie? My chesttightens unexpectedly.
Do I open the message? Do I just delete it? Ultimately my curiosity gets the better of me and open the message.
Cassie: I promise I only lightly stalk you every few months to see how your family is doing. Your new girl is very pretty. I’m happy for you Arch. Good luck tomorrow. We’re rooting for you.
I’m thrown off balance by the mixture of emotions that hit me. The ghost of our almost marriage and the relief that we’re both happy in our current relationships. Still, I find myself rubbing my chest trying to dispel the weird feelings.
I leave my room and walk down to the lobby with Ty, Cameron and DJ.
“You’re quiet.” Ty remarks as we sit in our usual spot for the team dinner.
“Cassie texted me; I’m trying to decide if I should tell Elle about it not.”
“What was the text about?” DJ asks.
“She was just congratulating me on my relationship with Elle, says she’s pretty.”
Ty frowns a bit.
“Do you think she wasn’t being genuine? I mean you were the one who ended things right? But she’s the one who cheated. You don’t think she’s trying to wriggle her way back in, do you?” Cameron asks. He’s only heardthe story of Cassie; he wasn’t around for that trainwreck being a rookie and all.
“No. I don’t think so. She seemed…Well, I saw her at her dad’s funeral so I wouldn’t say she was happy, but she seemed content in her relationship with Doug. They were high school sweethearts.” I add. “I think” I pause. “I think she was truly being supportive.”
“You’re debating whether or not it’s worth telling Elle about it.” DJ states.
“Yeah, more or less.”
“Just tell her, or better yet, take a screen shot of the text, send it to her. Explain, she texted you out of the blue and you just wanted to let her know. Elle was super supportive of you going to Frank’s funeral. I’m sure she’ll be chill about this message.” DJ says.
“I agree with Deej.” Ty says. “It will look bad if you try to hide that your ex is texting you, even if it’s an innocent message.”
I’m only half listening to Ty and DJ as they dole out relationship advice, I’m too busy typing out the text message that is going along with the screen shot to Elle. After crafting what I think is an eloquent message I pocket my phone and turn all my attention toward my teammates.
Chapter 46
Elle
I’m scrolling through Cassie’s Instagram. Yes, that screenshot from Archer made me go feral FBI mode. I am deep into Cassie and Archer’s relationship at this point. The stalking is completely justified. At least that is what I’m telling myself.
She didn’t scrub her profile of their past like I assumed she would have. I’ve passed pictures of Archer and Cassie at various parts in their relationship, high profile events, Halloween with friends, a New Years Eve Gala, Christmas in tastefully matching ensembles. I continue to doom scroll through the ghost of their relationship.
I don’t know how long I sit there staring at it when I find it.
The engagement picture.
A picturesque beach at sunset. A familiar man on one knee.
In the photo Archer is looking up at Cassie with the intensity of a man madly in love. The ocean in the background blurred. The lighting, exquisite. I zoom inslightly on his face, then on the sparkle on Cassie’s left hand—a rock big enough to warrant its own zip code. He looked so happy, so utterly sure.
The caption reads: “The easiest ‘yes’ I’ve ever given. Forever with my favorite person. #engaged #soulmate.” The hashtags and emojis felt like tiny daggers, mocking me from the screen.
Anger erupts in my chest, anger and jealousy? The anger I understand, she had this amazing man, and she couldn’t even end the relationship appropriately— no she had to go behind his back and cheat on him! The jealousy, well that one is more complicated to sift out. Gritting my teeth, I close out of the app when I see another landmark photo.
