We haven’t even talked about how long we’re staying.Clay’s contract has an option this summer that, as I understand it, means he could leave LA if he wants.
This feels like a big leap.The other night at Clay’s apartment, it seemed like the only path forward.Now I’m realizing how crazy it was.
The kitchen is updated with warm gray counters and soft white cabinets, and the living room is huge with a vaulted ceiling and a chandelier, wood beams crossing the space.One of the bedrooms would make an amazing studio.It has a huge arched window and the same warm wood floors as the rest of the place, plus soft cream walls.
“I’ll admit I’m a basketball fan.I was excited to see the deal go through.Though it’s always a gamble messing with a team’s chemistry so close to the end of the season,” the realtor says as I look around.
“Of course,” I say as if I’ve already considered it at length.
Everything’s been such a whirlwind that I haven’t.
Though Brooke drove me to the airport and hugged me goodbye, I’m guessing none of the guys have done the same for Clay.Social media is blowing up with rumors about how long this has been in the works and whether this was a betrayal of the Denver guys who’d invested in Clay.
Although he hasn’t said anything about it, he must be hurting over it.
Neither Jay’s nor Miles’s social media profiles have mentioned the trade, not that I expected they would.While they’re both still following me, they unfollowed him.
“What do you think?”The realtor cuts into my thoughts.
“I really love it.I want to show Clay.”I want him to love it too.I pull out my phone and type up a text.“Could we get back in later today to see this again?”
“Of course.”
I want this change to be good for both of us.I’ll miss Brooke and the guys and my sister, but I can always visit.I want to do everything I can to make this easy for Clay.
“We used to move around a lot as kids,” I tell her.“When we packed up to move somewhere else, we always brought a piece of it with us.”
She smiles.“Like what?”
“Daisies.”
The realtor crosses to the bedroom window, pulls back the shutters, and opens the glass wide.She leans out and peers over the sill.
I follow her to the edge and look into the garden below.Dozens of sunny white-and-yellow blooms greet me.
“They grow like wildfire there.”
Hope sprouts from between my ribs.
We can do this.I’ll make it work for both of us.
3
CLAY
“Took you long enough.”The team’s GM welcomes me to the arena.
“If I’d come any sooner, I’d still have been wearing my clothes from last night.”
He laughs.
This morning, my agent and assistant got the logistics sorted while I packed a couple of bags to get me through the week or two until I get the rest of my stuff sent over.
Nova booked a later flight and volunteered to go apartment hunting.
I still can’t believe she agreed to follow me here.I’ve never had a woman take that kind of a chance on me.As if what we are transcends my wild career.
I want to show her she made the right decision.
