“No, I had to go down to testing. Coincidentally, her sister is one of the team doctors, and she didn’t seem all too happy to be dealing with me either. I don’t know what the fuck I did wrong. Alie’s the one who left.”
“I know. It took a long time for you to forget it.”
“I never forgot. But, yeah, now I’ve finally found her. And what are the fucking odds? She’s literally my boss, and she likely negotiated all the numbers in my contract, so there’s no hiding any information from her. She knows everything about me, and I know nothing about her.” I laugh, humorlessly.
“Well, I’m sure you know something about her. You spent the whole night and the following morning with her, if what I remember is correct.”
“Yeah, that’s true, and I’d like to think that was the real her that I met that night in New York, but now I have no idea—because why didn’t she tell me who she was when I met her then?”
“I mean, I’m really not all that surprised.”
“Why would you not be surprised? I know she knew who I was. It wouldn’t have changed anything about that night for me.”
“Pitz, brother, she’s the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in the country, and her family owns an NFL team. Of course she knew who you were, but can you also understand why she would want to remain anonymous?” He pauses. “Sheprobably wanted to hang out with you for a night without any pressure of who she was, and maybe, just maybe, she wanted to see if she could have something real with someone, you know? I can’t imagine the microscope she must be under. I mean, knowing what we have to deal with, being professional athletes, but growing up in a family like that? I’m sure it’s a lot.”
“Yeah, but that’s the thing: she’s not in the public. I have never even seen her anywhere. I can’t find anything about her on social media either.”
“I’m looking now, and I don’t either, but I’m sure it’s for a reason. Maybe she and her sister want to remain private because of all the family’s notoriety.”
“I’m gonna find out. I have to find a way to talk to her. To get her alone.”
“Well, I hope you get the chance to, but like you said, tread carefully—she is your boss. And if she acted like she didn’t know you in that meeting, there’s a reason why she doesn’t want her family to know you have a connection, you feel me?”
“Yeah, I feel you, and I get it. I understand why she’s private and why she acted like she didn’t know me in front of a room full of suits, but it hurt. It hurt my heart, man.” I laugh, trying to lighten my sour tone.
“I hear ya. I’m not sure how I would have felt if Emma acted like she didn’t know who I was. Shit, you remember I couldn’t find her either, and we were on the same campus, so give yourself a break. You had a whole country and a city of millions of people to try and find her in. But you can look at it this way: everything happens for a reason.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking. It is no coincidence that this all worked out this way. I know now more than ever that my coming to New York was the right choice.”
“Who are you talking to?” Emma, Archie’s wife, asks.
“It’s Liam. Hey, Pitzy, hold on. I’m gonna put you on speakerphone.”
“All right.” I lie down on the couch.
“Hey, Pitz,” Emma says.
“Em, how are you doing?”
“Good. Very pregnant,” she humphs.
“Maybe you guys can try keeping off each other,” I suggest.
“Nah, can’t do that,” Archie chimes in.
“Yeah, yeah. But you’re feeling okay, Em?”
“I feel pretty good. We have a couple of months to go, so I won’t start feeling bad until the last few weeks. That’s always the hardest for me, especially with the two younger ones. Chasing after those two is a full-time job.” She laughs.
“I bet. I have no doubt that my little niece and nephew are little hellions.”
“Excuse me, but my Little Sunshine is not a hellion. Duke, on the other hand, that apple didn’t fall far from the tree, if you know what I mean,” Archie says proudly.
“Oh, yes, he already has a girlfriend, and he’s in preschool,” Emma says.
“Of course he does.” I chuckle and shake my head.
“Darlin’, he can’t help it. He’s got that swagger. It’s that Griffith charm.”
