Every morning on our walks, she tells me what was on her list, and I’ve gotten into the habit as well.
“After the race, there’re some people I want you to meet,” Norm says, catching my attention. “It’d be great if you could push your flight back until tomorrow. A few of my contacts are in town, and we can?—”
“I can’t postpone my flight home,” I say before he can finish.
That would delay my seeing Alyssia after almost four days away. The tightness that pulls in my gut, at the thought, is strange, but it’s been happening a lot lately whenever I think about her.
“Travis, Miami’s always been a place where we do business. You’ve never had a problem staying longer for business before.”
Because I never had anything I was in a rush to get back to before.
The thought hits me like a car slamming into a metal barrier at two-hundred miles an hour.
I’m in a rush to get back home to see Alyssia.
“I can’t stay until tomorrow,” I say.
“Is there something going on? You’re not looking for a new agent, are you?” Norm asks. “Because if it has to do with my percentage, we can negotiate.”
“I’m having a baby.”
The phone goes quiet. I pull it away from my ear to make sure the call didn’t drop. He’s still there.
“A kid?”
The tone of his voice has my back going vertical in an instant.
“Are you getting married?”
“N—” I go to reply no, but the closing of my throat stops me, preventing me from saying it. Alyssia and I haven’t discussed our relationship so far … she won’t even live in my fucking apartment.
A fact that still haunts me.
Any sane person would say this isn’t going to end in marriage. But I’m not a sane person, and there’s been a shift over the past few months. When I think of marriage, the knee-jerk rejection I used to have is no longer present.
“Shit,” Norm murmurs. “Travis, you’re at the peak of your career. Are you sure now is the time to do all of this?”
“Norm?” I pause. “You’re my agent, not my father. And even he doesn’t dream of telling me what to do, nor has he for a long time,” I say through gritted teeth.
“I’m not trying to run your life. You’re at a very pivotal moment in your career. Most guys would kill to be in the position you’re in right now. If things had gone differently last, you would be in contention for your second championship.”
“But I’m not,” I say, rising from the bed and pacing the floor.
“All the more reason for you to be focused this season,” he counters. “Nothing can get in your head this season.”
“I know what the hell I’m doing. Remember, you’re my agent, not my fucking life coach.”
“Travis, you?—”
“I need to get ready to win a race.” I disconnect the call and toss my phone on the bed. Then I retrieve it again to check my text messages.
Alyssia:Yes, I had breakfast
Alyssia:Good luck today.
She ends the text with a winky face emoji.
Me:You never sent me this morning’s gratitude list.
