“Or do a podcast.” Jessie always added that as an option for Niko if he didn’t want to rebrand. “But even then, Bluewire, Barstool, or Boardroom will all expect some level of professionalism and a toned-down, market-friendly, wholesome image.”
Niko had been a guest on dozens of podcasts, but he could not see himself doing his own. “So you really think posting Yaya’s wedding will help?”
“Second chance at love at their age. Gift-wrapped wholesome romance. You and AJ walking her down the aisle in your sister’s backyard. The copy writes itself.”
“And you have no issues exploiting a ninety-year-old woman?”
“You mean the woman who faked amnesia forthree monthsbecause she didn’t feel like she was getting enough attention from her husband and family?That’sthe woman you think I’m exploiting?”
It was true. Yaya had faked amnesia for three months because she felt like Papou wasn’t giving her enough attention, and when she finally confessed her deception, she managed to gaslight the situation by pointing out just how much more attentive Papou had been and that all of her family who lived out of state had flown in to come and see her, proving her point that if he’d just been treating her that way all along and they’d visit her more often, she wouldn’t have had to go to such lengths just to get her husband to show her the attentiveness and her family the love she deserved, so it was everyone else’s fault but hers.
“I’ll have to clear it with the groom. Mr. Santino is a very…private person.” That was putting it mildly. The man had been a recluse for the first fifteen years he’d lived in Hope Falls, barely speaking to another soul.
He still rarely talked, which made itverysurprising to Niko that he and Yaya were getting married because she never stopped talking. Maybe it was true that opposites attract.
“Fine. And be at Brewed Awakenings tomorrow morning at ten.”
“Why?” Niko questioned. He didn’t remember signing up for any fundraiser or event at the local Hope Falls coffee shop.
“To go over strategy.”
“With who?”
“You didn’t listen to a word I said, did you?” Jessie’s statement was framed as a question, but she clearly knew the answer.
Shit.She must have mentioned something when he zoned out.
“Brewed Awakenings. Ten. Tomorrow.”
The line disconnected, and Niko downed his second double scotch, set the glass down, and stared at it. He knew Jessie was right. His behavior over the past four years was not something he was proud of. It was time for him to grow the fuck up, especially if he wanted to remain in the sports world in some capacity. Which he thought he might want to do, or maybe not. He wasn’t sure. But he did know it was better to have options.
His head felt heavy as he lifted it, and an elderly couple caught Niko’s attention and wouldn’t let it go. They looked like they’d been cut from a bygone era and pasted into this one by hand. Both looked to be in their eighties with the easy, rhythmic choreography of people who had spent more of their lives together than apart.
The woman wore a pale blue cardigan over a white blouse, her hair a perfect soft helmet of silver, not a strand out of place. She moved with an unhurried grace, every gesture quick but never rushed, as if she had rehearsed each one for decades and now performed them instinctively. The man was taller than her by over a head but stooped each time he spoke to her. He wore a dark green sweater vest over a checked shirt, with pressed khakis and orthotic shoes that made his feet look twice as wide as they probably were.
They settled at a two-top in the farthest corner, where the bank of windows revealed the first intense blue light of winter dusk. The man pulled out the chair for his wife, and she handed him her purse, which he accepted without hesitation. He gently placed the strap over the back of the chair, and once she’dlowered down, leaned to press a kiss on her forehead before taking his own seat across from her.
As he walked to his seat, the woman twisted and pulled something out of her purse. Once the man sat, she reached across the table, handing him a pair of glasses. He put them on as he read the menu, and she read hers. Once he was done, he handed his glasses back to her, she placed them back in her purse at the same time the server came over, and the man placed the order with her. As the server walked away, they both reached across the table, holding hands, and continued the conversation they’d held through the entire choreographed exchange.
It was obvious to Niko that this was something they’d done a hundred times. A dance they’d perfected. As he watched the two, the man said something, and the woman’s eyes twinkled, and a blush rose on her cheeks. She glanced around at their immediate surroundings, making sure no one could overhear the inappropriate thing he’d just said as he grinned and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles, then brought her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to it.
Watching the two of them filled Niko with a kind of sad peace, a melancholy warmth. He knew that love like theirs existed. He’d seen it with his Yaya and Papou, and even though his dad died when he was a boy, he’d seen it between his parents. He remembered walking in on his parents dancing in the kitchen when the kids were supposed to be asleep. And his dad picking up flowers randomly for his mom and seeing her face light up when he walked through the door with them. And watching when he would get off his shift and walk into the house through the garage door, his mom would have the radio on while she was doing dishes at the sink, and he’d sneak up behind her, wrap his arms around her, and nuzzle his face into her neck. Those moments, those little stolen moments, the ones the couple in the corner were sharing, the ones he’d seen his grandparents share,and his parents shared were all Niko ever truly wanted in life, really. To look at his dating history, no one would ever believe that, but it was the truth.
Love, family, and connection—those were the only things that had ever truly mattered to him. He enjoyed playing baseball. He was good at it, or at least he had been. The only reason he was upset about his career coming to an end was that he had nothing to show for it. Most of the other guys his age in the league had families, wives, and kids.
Their server walked past him, and Niko motioned to her. Her eyes lit up with recognition when she saw him. “Hi.”
He quickly scanned down to her name tag. “Hi Keily, I’m Niko?—”
“I know who you are,” she interrupted him.
“Oh okay, well can you do me a favor? I’d like to get that table’s tab.” Niko tilted his head to the corner as inconspicuously as possible.
She looked over her shoulder.
“The older couple in the corner,” he clarified. She nodded and turned back to him. “Whatever they’re having, butpleasedon’t tell them it’s me taking care of it.”
“That’s so sweet for their anniversary,” she commented, as if he knew that it was.
