I mimic my face to be like hers. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Show me your apartment.”
“Why?”
She gives me that mom stare she’s gotten even better at since she had her own kids. “Because I’m proving my point.”
“I haven’t even been here for a week. Give me time.”
“I see you’re sitting on the couch. Gald that arrived.”
When I first moved in, all I had was a lawn chair. I agree; it wasn’t the most comfortable thing, but at least I wasn’t on the floor. With all my time in the minors, the only piece of furniture I’d move with was my bed. I bought one of those Sleep Number beds, so I could deflate it, put it in a box, take it, along with the foundation, and move them to my next location. The only thing that matters to me is a good night’s sleep. The rest I can figure out as I go.
“I’ll get some more furniture, I promise.”
She raises her eyebrows, which always shows me she means business. “Don’t make me call in some reinforcements.”
I laugh out loud at the mild threat. “I won’t.” I pause as I look around my home again. Emotions—I’m not quite sure what they are—rush through me. “Love you, sis.”
“Love you, bro. Night.”
“Night.”
I click End, drop my phone next to me, and stare at my empty place.
She’s right. I can finally start to settle down and actually create a life here. The thought excites and terrifies me at the same time. I’ve been so focused on baseball that I’m not sure if I know how to have a real life outside of it.
Before I convince myself not to, I pick up the phone and text Christy, praying I don’t make a fool of myself and make my sister find me another hairstylist.
CHAPTER FOUR
Christy
I finally get Nolan in bed and curl on my couch with a blanket to watch a movie when my phone dings with an incoming text message.
I remember when I first started in this business, I was excited with every phone call or text message I got, but now I dread them this late at night. All it ever means is someone wants to change their appointment, trying to make their life easier while it completely fucks mine. People don’t understand how tight of a schedule I run, and if you’re fifteen minutes late, it pushes back everyone after you, throwing me totally off. It’s even worse when they need to change days or times because then I have to call five other people to see if they can come earlier or later.
The thought frustrates me, so I ignore it for the moment while I search for something good to watch. When it dings with the second reminder, I drop my head back and pick it up to see who wants to move their appointment.
I peek at my phone just to see who it is and instantly jump up when I seeEvan P.across my screen. Swiping it with an urgency, I sit up as I read it.
Thanks for coming out today.
I stare at the screen, not sure what to respond with, so I screenshot it and send it to my sister.
Of course, she doesn’t respond and instead calls me right away.
“Holy shit!” she yells into the phone.
“I know, right? What should I say?”
“I’d start with,Why didn’t you tell me you were a baseball player?” she laughs, but it makes me pause and think.
“This is exactly why he didn’t tell me.”
“I’m not following.”
“If I didn’t find out he played for the Terrors today and he just randomly texted me tonight, I would have thought nothing of it. I might have replied, and I might not have. I definitely wouldn’t have called you—that’s for sure.”
