I cough out a surprised laugh. “You know, I’d believe it.”
“We’re getting off topic!” Jordan claps her hands. “Sports, Isa. What will you even be doing?”
“Well, a lot it seems. I have to completely rebuild the security team from the ground up. Everyone is new so the whole team needs training on top of writing up a whole slew of policies and procedures because my predecessor didn’t documentanything. But first, I need to figure out how we’re currently working with the production crews we’re contracted with before I can even start the trainings and create the policies. So, for now I’ll be stepping in as a close protection agent supporting the productions on the ground so I can get a feel for how theyoperate and identify areas for improvement. And then I have to figure out the rest from there.” In theory, it sounds simple enough when compared with the logistics coordination I’m used to handling for the film productions. But I’m well aware this will be a massive workload to manage.
“So, like, what sports are you doing?” Jordan asks.
“I don’t know all of them, but I know the production team works on all the major sporting leagues. NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA,” I say, ticking them off on my fingers. “Not sure what else there is. But their seasons are all so different, most of them run from fall through early summer.”
“First off, that’s a whole lot of acronyms I don’t understand. Second, it’s April. What counts asearly summer? Are they all finished now, and you have to push papers around until next season?” Liz asks, head tilted and brows furrowed.
I bark out a laugh. “I wish! Hockey and basketball—NHL and NBA—are heading into their playoffs in the next month or so. Football won’t start pre-season until August.” I sigh, knowing I only have one option. “That leaves me with baseball. They started their season last month, so Mr. Boseman thinks that will be the best place to start while it’s still early and I can get the ‘full experience.’ They’re playing some away games the rest of this week, so I’ll start with their next set of home games next weekend.” I flop backwards, lying so I’m sprawled across our sectional with my arm flung over my eyes. “Why did it have to be the most boring sport to exist?” I whine.
The question was rhetorical, and yet Jordan still feels obligated to answer. “I thought golf was the most boring sport? They’re always so silent and you just watch some middle-aged men smack a ball around a course for eighteen holes. At least baseball has a bit more action and some competitiveness behind it.” I remove my arm and tilt my head in her direction with a look on my face that saysreally?She only offers a shrug in exchange.
“Okay, but like, I wouldn’t say baseball is theworstthing. Look at these guys!” Liz flips her phone around to face us, and suddenly all I see are men with wide smiles in tight baseball pants that really emphasize their rear ends. I mean, I guess some of them are cute.
Wait… no.
“Liz, I’m not allowed to ‘fraternize’”—I throw air quotes around the word—“with anyone. The production creworthe team. You should very well know the rule. I could get fired.”
She sighs and drops her sad eyes back to the collection of baseball hotties she was looking at. “Yeah, I know,” she drags out the words, dejected. “I still wish you would let me set you up with one of Jackson’s friends. You haven’t dated anyone since Anthony.” She gives me the puppy dog eyes then.
She’s been trying to set me up with some of their friends ever since Anthony and I broke up. I thought he wasthe one. We dated all throughout college after meeting freshman year. We were together for another two years after we graduated. But right after graduation, I started working for Boseman Production Security. I was traveling frequently for work which was putting a strain on the relationship. We grew apart without even realizing it. Then, one day, Anthony sat me down between jobs to tell me he “couldn’t do this anymore.” And that was that. A five-year relationship flushed down the drain like a dead goldfish. Along with my heart. It’s been two years, give or take, since we split, and I haven’t had a serious relationship since.
I mean, don’t get me wrong. I’ve gone on the occasional date here and there, had a few casual hookups. But I never felt that same spark with any of them, so I never made an effort to pursue anything further. I’m perfectly content being single. And whoreallyneeds a man for an orgasm. There are these magical electronic inventions that do it just as good, if not better, than most men.
I let out a resigned sigh. “Liz, you know I don’t date actors. Forsomany reasons. Number one, they’re dramatic. Like, all the time.” Liz shoots me a scathing glare, and I throw my hands up in a gesture of innocence. “Sorry babe, but they are! You’re really going to tell me Jackson isn’t dramatic?Please. That man swore he was dying when the two of you broke up for a hot minute.” I give her a knowing look.
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, he’s pretty dramatic.” While her words are anything but loving, the warmth and affection in her tone changes their entire meaning. She’s so in love with that man, it’s disgusting. And also hilarious, knowing how much she despised him at first. I’m happy for her. Really.
That sounded convincing, right?
“Number two,” I say, returning to my list, “if they ever end up on a production I’m working, I’ll get pulled off. I don’t want a relationship to interfere with my career. Number three, I travel as much as they do. That’s asking to be a nightmare. Anthony couldn’t even handle my schedule, and he was always around. Imagine how stressful it would be to maintain a relationship when we’re both traveling all the time? We’d be like ships passing in the night. I couldn’t do that. I’m not strong enough for it,” I finish quietly.
“Oh honey, you’re plenty strong!” Jordan jumps on top of my prone body, squeezing all the air from my lungs, strands of her mousey brown hair finding its way into my mouth. “Don’t let what happened with Anthony deter you from finding your true love. And don’t count anyone out because of their career.”
I wheeze a laugh. “Whatever you say, Jord, so long as you get off me so I can breathe.”
“Oops, sorry.” She offers a sheepish smile as she lifts off my body.
“So, Liz, what are you and Jackson planning for your anniversary?” I ask, trying to shift the conversation.
With the way Liz’s face brightens, it was the right call of topics because now Jordan and Liz start to ramble on about private villas and Greek isles. I couldn’t be happier to no longer have the topic of my love life as the main attraction in this discussion. Or lack thereof. But at the same time, I have this pit in my stomach at the thought.
TWO
BEWARE OF FLYING BALLS
ISABELLA
Timeslike thesereallymake me reconsider agreeing when Mr. Boseman made this transfer to sports. It’s only April, and yet I’m baking in the sun while standing on a baseball field in Los Angeles, clad in my favorite lilac pantsuit, all because I work in sports now. I could be on an air-conditioned studio set somewhere in LA, or at the very least, posted up in a trailer on location.
But no.
I’m on the field.
Melting while I wait for the crew to film their pre-game analysis.
