“Rylee?” I call out. “You here?”
Nothing. She must be out.
Dropping my gym bag by the door, I make my way down the hall to her bedroom. Just in case she’s actually sleeping, I knock, but there’s no response. I open the door to let Gizmo out so the little dude can hang with me. He comes darting into the hall and jumps onto my leg, though he doesn’t sink his claws into my calf this time.
Progress!
“Come on, fuzzball,” I chuckle as he lets me go and rubs up against my leg instead. “Let’s go play.”
It’s only five, so I have plenty of time before my “date” tonight.
I walk back to the living room and Gizmo trots after me. Plopping down on the couch, I turn the TV on, settling into play the beta version of the new hockey video game that Skyler’s given me to test out and offer feedback on, but before I can fire it up, my phone dings. To my surprise, it’s an email from myapartment complex. I open it and read that I can move back in next Friday.
Oh. Great… that’s great.
I should be happy. Relieved, at least. This means no more couch and I get my own space again.
All I really feel, though, is disappointment.
This means I won’t be here with Rylee anymore.
Gizmo hops up onto the couch next to me and I give him a small frown.
“I don’t think I can win your mama over in just a week,” I murmur. “And if I move out, she won’t have any reason to be around me outside of work, will she?”
He tilts his head and regards me with his sharp eyes for a moment before pouncing and nipping my arm with his teeth. I sigh and sink back against the couch.
“What should I do, Gizmo?” I murmur, petting him along his back. “I don’t want to leave yet. Not until I’ve won her over.”
I want more time with her, and yeah, sleeping on the couch isn’t ideal, but it’ll be worth it to be with Rylee.
I’ll just keep this little bit of info to myself for the time being.
Grabbing my controller, I start up my game and play for a while. It’s nice to relax after a long week of practice, and I want to be fresh and ready for our virtual date tonight. Jayce and Wilder invited me out again, but I turned them down. I’d really just rather chill before my date. I’m taking a bit of a risk not going to the hotel again, but I’m curious to see what Rylee will do when it’s time for our “date.”
I’m fully immersed in the game, enjoying it even though it’s not complete and some of the graphics are lagging and textures are off, slapping pucks left and right like a boss, when my phone rings.
Now what?
I grab it, a little annoyed to be interrupted, but when I see that it’s Mom, I answer it with a grin.
“Hey, Mama.”
“Hi, sweetheart!” she replies, her voice bright and bubbly. “How are you?”
“I’m good. Just relaxing. What’s up?”
“I just wanted to touch base with you about Thanksgiving,” she begins. “Everyone is going to be home this year, and I wanted to see if you’re able to join us.”
“I am,” I confirm.
“Oh, wonderful!” she exclaims. “I get to have all my babies home! Do you have any games in Nashville around that time? And what is your home game schedule looking like? You know how your dad and I always try to make a few of those.”
“Uhhhh… ” I have to think a minute to try and remember my schedule. “I actually have a game in Nashville the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so I can just go from your place straight to the game.”
“Yay! That’s perfect! The whole family might be able to go to that one.”
We talk a bit more, going over my schedule for home games. Mom says she and Dad will likely be able to make a few of them starting in January. They always try to travel for at least two to three per season. They’d come to more if they weren’t helping with all the grandkids, but they always watch on TV.
