Chapter four
Wigswereawful.Jakemade a vow never to wear one again. His hair was plastered to his head with sweat, worse than any football helmet he’d ever worn. But the black wig had done its job. He threw the masks into his duffel bag, and hung the garment bag holding his tuxedo and cape in the back of his SUV. The convention was done, and he had work in the morning. Jake was very much looking forward to getting home and into a nice hot shower. His phone rang over Bluetooth as he was heading up I-70 north back to Baltimore. Without looking at the caller ID, he picked up.
“Hello?”
“How are you, Jake?”
Jake bristled. Why would his grandfather be calling?
“Saw your segment on the Huskers there last week,” his grandfather’s voice droned on. “They look good this year, don’t they?”
“Sure do, Gramps.” Football. Of course he called to talk about football.
“It’s such a shame your talent got wasted behind that desk.”
Jake fought the urge to slam his head on his steering wheel. He considered pulling over to the side of the highway to take out his frustrations properly, instead of driving recklessly.
“Gramps, you know the doctors said playing professionally was out of the question.”
“I know, son, but —”
“Let it go. Please? I have.” There was silence on the other end of the line. He didn’t want to hear the disappointment in his grandfather’s voice now any more than he had five years earlier. He’d been with Jake and the team doctor in the exam room when they told him while he wouldn’t lose his scholarship, since the injury happened while playing for the university, the chances of getting his dream job had been shot to hell. Over a girl that didn’t matter.
“I just called to say I enjoyed your segment, that’s all. You look… you look good on television.”
“Thanks. Have you heard from Mom?” The last time Jake had seen his mother was at the airport four months ago. She’d sold everything, let the lease on her apartment run out, and was backpacking across Europe with some friends. He hadn’t begrudged her a moment of it; she’d put her life on hold when she got pregnant with him and hadn’t had any help from his father. He’d had her and his Grandpa, and that was plenty. It was long past time for her to do something big for herself.
“She called me from the Swiss Alps the other day, said to tell you hi, and that she loves you.”
“Is she having a good time?”
“Seems to be. I better let you go; the guys are here for poker night.”
“Alright, Gramps, I’ll talk to you later.” The phone went silent, and Jake was alone with his thoughts for the rest of the drive, his past on replay in his head.
That day in the doctor’s office, he’d been numb. His grandfather had been far more upset than he was that his career was over before it even began. He knew when he’d made that shitty tackle it was over. Jake had tried to erase the name of the asshole that taunted him, and stole his girlfriend, from his memory. Unable to admit the truth to his coach, he’d claimed it was about the game, or more specifically, the rivalry between their schools.
It was bad enough Kristen had betrayed him in the bedroom. Did she have to show up to the game dressed in the rival school’s gear?
His thoughts flitted back to Blondie, and he instantly relaxed. Maybe she’d call, maybe she wouldn’t. He hadn’t been celibate all these years since college, but Blondie was the first woman that he’d felt like chasing. Or maybe she was the first one that ran. Either way, he finally felt ready to put himself out there again.
“I. Cannot. Believe. It!” Shrieks echoed around the hotel room on the last night of their long girls’ weekend. Olivia clutched the rose in her hand as she fell backward onto the sofa-bed, the small slip of paper still taped around the stem.
Mia flopped down next to her on her stomach. “What are the odds that you would find a guy dressed as Tuxedo Mask at the very convention where you’re dressed as Sailor Moon?”
“And there weren’t any other Sailor Guardians! What guy willingly dresses asthatif he’s flying solo?” Jade sat next to Mia and peeled off her red pumps.
“Okay, I don’t care if he was our Deadpool or not, if that note is his number, you need to call him.” Nadia poked her head out of the bathroom, a makeup wipe in one hand, half her face bare.
“Oh my God, the note!” Olivia sat up in a rush and tore off her gloves so she could peel back the tiny piece of tape that held it secure. She unrolled it and squealed. “Itis! Oh my God, Tuxedo Mask gave me his phone number!”
This was insane. Olivia whipped out her phone and entered the number into her contacts, saving it under TM before she could talk herself out of it.
“Maybe this will shut your mom up.” Rosie winked at her.
The squad all knew the pressure Olivia’s mom was putting on her to settle down. Just because her parents had met at nineteen and gotten married at twenty-two, didn’t mean she had to follow the same trajectory. But her mom seemed to think she’d die an old maid and never give her any grandchildren if she didn’t find a man soon.
She was already twenty-four, after all.
