I walk Ingrid out to the front and tell Lily that she’s ready to see Dr. Liu now.
“Sage,” Lily calls before I return to the recovery room. “What are you doing after work? A few of us are getting some drinks at a bar down the street.”
“Oh… uh… I was planning to go home and watch the game.”
“Which game?”
“The L.A. Jets vs the Seattle Tridents. It’s the NLCS.”
“What?”
“The National League Championship Series.”
When she still looks confused, I say, “It’s a baseball game.”
“Oh, well, I’m sure they’ll have the game on at the bar. Come on. It’ll be fun.”
It would be fun to get out for a bit. I really wanted to watch Casey’s first game back live at the stadium, but I couldn’t get any time off of work so soon after starting. I spoke to him just a little while ago before he went to practice. He didn’t seem nervous, which was a relief. I think I’m more nervous than he is. Maybegoing out with Lily and the girls will be a nice distraction. “Sure, that sounds like fun. I’ll just go home and change. Which bar?”
“Rangers Sports Bar on Madison. It’s got a big hockey stick out front, you can’t miss it.”
“Oh, I know that place,” says Ingrid. “It’s got the best wings.”
“Ok, I’ll see you there.”
A few hours later, I showered and put on one of my favorite summer dresses, the one with the blue irises. I’ve let my hair down and strapped on a wedge sandal. It’s the fanciest I’ve gotten since I came to New York.
However, as soon as I walk in, I want to turn around and go back to my apartment. It’s so dark I can barely see my hand in front of me and the place smells like stale beer. The women are dressed in heels and tight clothing while the bar is filled with men wearing hockey or football jerseys. I spot a few New York Lions jerseys and smile when I see Guerrero's name on the back. He took the news that I’m seeing Casey pretty well. He hasn’t tried to call or text me since. Despite his flirty ways, he was always a gentleman.
“Sage!” Lily calls from across the room. She’s sitting at a table with four other women. She waves me over and introduces me to her friends. “We ordered some apps, they should be here soon.”
“Sounds great.” I hang my knit purse over my chair and take a subtle look at the women at the table. Everyone is under thirty, but they look a lot older. Well, not exactly older, maybe more sophisticated with their blazers over jeans and blouses. One girl is even wearing a tight black dress and Louboutin heels. Maybe she came straight from work.
“Excuse me,” I say to the server. “Can you ask the manager to put the L.A. Jets game on?”
“Sure, just give me a minute.”
“So, what do you do?” asks one of Lily’s friends. I don’t recall her name but she’s the one wearing the black dress.
“Oh, um, I work with Lily at the hospital.”
“Yeah, she mentioned that. But what do you do at the hospital?”
“I’m a research assistant in the physical therapy department.”
“She’s more than that,” says Lily. “She’s Dr. Liu’s favorite. He asks for her opinion more often than some of the doctors on our floor.”
Lily’s friend raises her eyebrows, and she takes a sip of her Dirty Martini. “I’m a lawyer,” she says. “If you ever need representation, Lily knows where to find me.” Then she looks me up and down. “But I get the feeling you don’t get into much trouble.”
No. That would be Frankie. But I thank her anyway. The bartender changes the channel, and my heart nearly leaps out of my chest. Casey’s face is on the screen, not live, just his picture. The commentators are talking about this being his first game back from a major injury and everyone is unsure if he’ll be able to pitch the way he did before he left. “It’s not easy to come back after being away for so long,” says the one in the blue suit. “I think Tucker’s going to have a hard time tonight, if the coaches even let him play.”
“You’re really into the game, huh?” asks another of Lily’s friends. I nod, not taking my eyes off the screen. “That man could take my panties off with just one look from those icy blues.”
I don’t dare to tell her that his lips are so much better than his eyes. “They’re nice,” I say instead.
“So, where do you live?” asks the lawyer. I still can’t remember her name.
“Oh, I’m over in SoHo.”
