I’ve not thought of it this way. If I don’t come forward with the truth, there’s more harm that can be done. The real issue isn’t even my reputation but this trainer being responsible for more athletes. Coaching staff trusting them with the physical well-being of their players.
When the call ends, I don’t move right away. It feels good to have shared this with someone closer to the situation. Sadie paved the way, listening first, making the whole thing feel valid.
I just sit there at the table, hands flat on the wood. For the first time, I miss Chicago. My friends. The coffee shop I’d go to on my off mornings. It’s ironic because there’s no way I’ll be able to stay there while trying to find a new team.
Or here in Golden Harbor. Not really a big NBA town.
I have one more call to make.
And that’s to my agent.
thirty-eight
Sadie
Colson
morning
want to come over?
i’m making breakfast
Me
wait
you know how to make more than pb and j?
not sure about that
guess you’re going to make me prove it
guess so
see you soon
Ipracticallyjumpoutof bed to get dressed and drive to Colson’s. A man offering to make breakfast? Again, it doesn’t seem real.
Breakfast is one of my favorite types of food. It’s something I had to learn to love again because Nick sort of tricked me intothinking the opposite when we were together. I used to love making breakfast on the weekends, trying new recipes. But Nick wasn’t a breakfast guy and typically wouldn’t even try what I made.
After a while, cooking for yourself, when you have a partner you live with, gets kind of depressing. So, I stopped. And instead I almost convinced myself it wasn’t something that brought me joy.
Spoiler alert, Nick was the joy stealer.
My phone buzzes and I look to see a picture of me and my dad filling the screen. Smiling, I tap the answer button and put the phone to my ear.
“No morning practice? Have you started to go soft?” I tease and my dad huffs a breath. I love getting a rise out of him.
“We’re starting in a few minutes. Good morning to you too, Sadie.” I can hear him smile and it makes me miss my parents. Part of me wondered if staying back home after everything imploded with Nick would have been the right move, but I simply couldn’t find a seed of joy in that idea. Plus, Nick kept telling me how much happier I’d be back home—relocating to Golden Harbor was also partly done in spite.
It was the right move.
I’ll never forget the day my mom called, saying Nick had shown up for a quick visit, thinking I’d be there. It was about a month after the wedding was called off and I’d already moved to Golden Harbor. Oh, that was a solid day. He thought his way was always the best way and hated being wrong.
“How’s the team looking?” I ask.
A ball bounces in the background; my dad must already be at the court, waiting for his guys to join him. “Young. But the recruitment class seems solid. Should have a chance at making the tourney this year.” The hopefulness in his voice carries through and it makes me grin on the other line.
