So lucky me got to ride with Maya, who spent the entire drive lecturing me about needing a car.
“You can’t keep relying on Uber and the kindness of friends,” she said, merging onto the highway with the confidence of someone who’s never had to check her bank account before filling up with gas. “If you’re going to be a professional event planner, you need reliable transportation.”
“I know. I’m working on it.”
“Are you though? Because you’ve been saying that for the last year.”
“I paid off three months of rent and made a massive loan payment. The car fund is next on the list.”
She glanced at me. Surprised. “Really?” Another glance, a flash of confusion. “That’s amazing. Business must be picking up.”
“Something like that.”
Lie.
Business is not picking up. Business is barely limping along.
But the contract money is keeping me afloat.
Which makes me feel simultaneously relieved and completely gross.
I watched his game last night. Staying up late with the excuse that I was going to multitask and work on last-minute shower details. And then I sat on my couch in my pajamas with a bowl of popcorn and my laptop open to the livestream, my last-minute shower details in a forgotten pile on the floor.
And maybe—maybe—I was wearing the jersey I bought.
Number 7. Kane.
It was a splurge, ordering the official Blue Ox merch, but I told myself it was a business expense. I had to look the part. Show off a little for social media, right? How could I play the part of devoted girlfriend of Minnesota’s favorite defensive player without wearing his number?
So I took a picture.
Me in the jersey. Hair down. Smiling at the camera with my best “celebrity girlfriend” smile. I took thirteen selfies before settling on one that didn’t make me look completely deranged and posted it to Instagram with the caption:
@BleedingBlue: Cheering on my favorite player tonight! Let’s go Blue Ox!
The likes came pouring in. Comments from people I barely know.
@Sherriontheshore: So cute!
* * *
@LuvCats39: You guys are perfect together!
* * *
@Momsquad: Relationship goals!
But Brody didn’t like it.
Didn’t comment.
Didn’t acknowledge it at all.
And I told myself it was fine. He was probably focused on the game. He probably didn’t even see it.
Except I know he saw it. Because his agent commented.
@RCastellano: Great support, Chloe! Keep it up!
