“Let’s get some pictures in front of the fireplace.”
He gets up from the couch. “Suki has some of me and him in the matching Christmas pajamas she got us if you ever want those.”
“Are you serious? I’d love that. They’ll be perfect for December posts.”
Darling follows him over to the fireplace, where Carter tells him to sit, and I’m surprised when he does, just like a dog would.
Carter puts a hand on Darling’s back, and this time he smiles. I could swear Darling is smiling, too. He looks really happy.
“How do you like the job so far?” Carter asks me.
“I love it. I love content creation and it’s been very good to me. But I missed working with people and now I get to do both. It’s nice to have that again, and there’s so much excitement from the fans on the socials that I feed off it, in a way.”
“Makes sense. We feel that during games, too. They’re the extra man on our roster.” He gets down on one knee and puts an arm around Darling.
“That’s perfect. Stay just like that.” I take several photos.
“The guys are all treating you okay?
“Oh, definitely. Everyone’s been really nice. I think even Coach Turner is getting used to having me around.”
He huffs out a single note of laughter. “Coach can come off abrasive, but he’s a great guy.”
Noel. It feels off for me to call him Coach because when I think of him, I think ofNoel. I’d never say that out loud, though.
I take more photos and videos of Carter rubbing Darling’s belly while the pig smiles directly at my camera. This stuff is going to kill it on the team’s socials.
When Olivia gets home, she has two friends with her, and they all give me starstruck looks.
“You’re so pretty,” one of them says.
My heart. I adore my nephews, but there’s something about girls that makes me see myself at their age.
I sit down in the dining room with the girls and they pepper me with questions about skincare, clothes, and social media. It’s kind of hilarious that they think I’m a star when there’s an actual star pro athlete sitting in the next room.
After about half an hour, Carter walks into the dining room, Darling on his heels. “Okay, girls. Let’s let Jules get back to her day.”
Olivia smiles at me. “Thanks for talking to us.”
“Anytime.”
“Really?” She gives Carter a hopeful look. “Can she come back over again?”
“If she wants to.”
“I do.” I stand up and gather my things.
“When?” Olivia asks.
“Suki can set something up.”
I hug all three girls and pose for selfies with them. They all walk me out to my car, and I hear Olivia telling Carter she wants a white Audi Q5 just like mine when she gets her license.
Carter approaches my car and says, “Thanks, Jules. We really would love to have you back sometime.”
“I’d love that.”
“See you tomorrow.”
