I laugh. “And modest.”
I close the door and head back downstairs to face the sad and disappointed stares again.
Chapter 14
Callie
Iget home with just enough time to change before Donna and Wyatt pick me up for the Barons game against the Winterhawks. Today went great at work and now, after working twelve straight days, I am off for two whole days. I have been looking forward to exploring New York City and catching up on sleep.
I drop my keys on the front table and dart up the stairs. Devin is already at the rink. I throw open the door to my room and pull off my shirt. I kick off my leggings and walk over to the closet. I had unpacked most of my stuff now. I grab my girls-cut Barons T-shirt, pull it on and match it with my favorite jeans and a pair of brown leather high-heeled boots. I decide to refresh my makeup and pull my hair from its ponytail, adding a little styling creme to it to give it a tousled look.
Who knows? Maybe I’ll find a hockey fan who’s as cute as a player. Although it’s hard to top Devin and his teammates. Maybe I can find Jordy after the game and get him to introduce me to that French Canadian hottie from his team, Sebastian Deveau.
Donna and Wyatt are pulling into the driveway just as I hit the front hall and peek out the window. I head outside and into the backseat of the truck. They both smile at me.
“How is your new job going?” Wyatt asks me as he drives through the busy Brooklyn streets toward the hockey arena.
“Good! I really like the crew,” I tell him honestly as I watch the scenery blur by. “My assistant is fantastic and even the cast are pretty cool kids. I was worried because sometimes actors can be head cases but they all seem to be great. They’re not squawking about the wardrobe at all.”
“It’s so great that you got such a big network show,” Donna says. I know she doesn’t really know much about what I do but she’s trying. I really appreciate that. “Wyatt showed me your name on the Internet on a list and you’re one of the youngest to have such a high-up job.”
“What?” I’m confused.
“I was goofing around on the Internet Movie Database,” Wyatt explains a little sheepishly. “I searched your show, you know, thought it would be fun to see your name up there. And then I just started searching other shows for fun. Didn’t matter which show I went to, none of the costume designers on any of the other shows were as young as you.”
“What Wyatt is trying to say is he’s as proud of you as he was of Jordy for leading the league in shorthanded goals,” Donna says with a chuckle. “I am too, honey.”
Wyatt’s eyes shine with pride as they catch mine in the rearview mirror. I smile back at him. God, I love these two. They are the perfect parents, even when they aren’t technically someone’s parents.
“How was your day with Conner?” I ask, changing the subject because I’ve never been that comfortable with attention like this.
Donna lights up again and gives me a detailed report of how great Conner is getting at skating and how after his skating lesson was over, they went to the Museum of Natural History, where Conner was obsessed with the butterfly exhibit.
We pull into the small lot reserved for players and VIPs and Wyatt puts the car in park. “We invited Ashleigh to join us tonight but she said it was best if she stayed home. She thought she would throw Devin’s game off.”
“Clearly, she hasn’t been watching the games lately,” I mutter as we all get out of the car. “She would know she’s already done that.”
Donna gives me a quizzical look. “Devin told me I can’t talk about this but…do you know what happened? It seems like it has to be more than just Ashleigh being lonely.”
“It is,” I assure her and then I give Wyatt a stern look. “And it’s not anything Devin could have controlled or avoided. He’s a complete victim here and that’s what is making this so hard on him. You know he’s always been the type of guy who controls his own fate. He fails at nothing. He had no control over this situation and can’t fix it and it’s killing him.”
They don’t say anything but exchange worried glances as we head into the arena through the private entrance the players use, which takes us into the bowels of the arena. I know I’m being cryptic but even though I think Devin should sell Ashleigh out and tell them exactly what a monster she is, it’s not my place to do it for him. I have no choice but to talk around the real rift in their marriage.
“You and I may have to stage a fight in the stands. Give the press something to talk about,” a familiar voice echoes off the concrete walls.
I peer past Wyatt’s shoulder and see her—in a Winterhawks T-shirt and low-rise jeans—walking toward us with Jordan. I let out an excited squeal and charge her. My older sister Jessie opens her arms and we both start screaming as we hug each other and jump up and down at the same time. Some staff and trainers walk by and smile, amused. Jordan stands beside us and shrugs an apology at them as he hugs his parents in a much calmer manner.
“I can’t believe you’re here!” I say to my older sister. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“I only decided last minute,” she responds as she pulls back from the hug and catches my eye. “Besides, apparently we don’t tell each other everything anymore.”
She’s pissed I didn’t tell her about Devin. I roll my eyes to let her know she’s being ridiculous. Jordan clears his throat. “Don’t I get any love?”
I glance up at Jordan in his pinstriped gray suit and sigh. “Yeah, hi, Big Bird.”
“Stop pretending you don’t miss me terribly.” He reaches down and hugs me, lifting me right off my feet. I groan in mock protest, but willingly hug him back.
“You better be making my sister happy,” I warn him.
