“She takes some girls home from the bar and thinks she can pull anyone, huh?” Danny rolled her eyes, knowing I’m kidding.
“I called because I think…I need your advice. In the least dramatic way possible—which is a lot coming from me, I know—but this feels like life or death.”
“Woah, okay, well, I mean everyonedoessay I’m wise for my age.”
“No one’s ever said that.” Both Perry and I corrected.
Danny nodded her head at our diss. “Okay, so I’ll just hang up!”
“No! Please! I’m being serious,” I whined.
“What’s up?”
“I think I’m getting the itch…”
“You should go to the gyno for that, Lee.”
“Ugh, no! Let me finish. I think I’m getting the itch to start somewhere new…” My last sentence sounded more like a question than a statement, but God forbid a girl gets nervous. I was met with resounding silence on the other side.
“Hello?” If it weren’t for Danny’s blinking, I would think the phone froze.
“This is the part where you tell me your thoughts.”
“My thoughts on you leaving a championship-winning team?”
“Yes…” I winced like I’ve been hit.
“And my thoughts on abandoning me!” Perry shrieked.
“Well no, it’s just…”
“First Rashida retiring, now you leaving. Where do you even want to go? Since when have you been feeling like this?” Danny peppered question after question without a break. I knew she meant well, but I should have expected this reaction. Of course anyone in this organization was going to feel like this—especiallymy two closest friends. But I could be the player who stayed on the same team for the rest of my career, or I could push myself. The idea of staying in one place too long sent a shiver down my spine.
“I just—I don’t know! I have this feeling that I want to start over again. I loved being the underdog; I loved proving people wrong. I want to start from scratch, I want to get in the mud, I really want to feel challenged.” I felt raw, exposed, like I peeled off a layer of my chest or abdomen or wherever my souls sat in my body in order to feel understood. I’d only been this vulnerable with my siblings. But Perry and Danny were family too, and I needed them to understand how I felt. “That probably doesn’t make sense, sorry.” This wasn’t even a goodbye yet, and I felt the tears spilling down my cheeks. I cried so easily it was extremely inconvenient.
At some point, Perry had stopped being off camera and came into full view. It reminded me of Rashida’s wife Allison—that fierce and loyal desire to protect her family—that’s when you knew she was being serious.
“That absolutely makes sense, Brittney.”
“I haven’t even told your dad or Trish. I’m a free agent this upcoming season and I just think it might be for the best.” I wiped my snotty nose onto my sleeves.
Danny came back into frame. “Then do what’s best for you. Even if it does hurt my feelings.” She pretended to wipe a nonexistent tear away. “But I appreciate you wanting to talk this over with me.” My friend smiled and the pressure in my head eased just a tad. “Obviously you’d be missed, and all I want to do is convince you to stay and help us get another win.”
“Obviously.”
“But I can’t tell you to ignore your gut. The best things happen when you listen to it.” Danny looked at her fiancée, and Iequally wanted to squeal and make a vomit sound to lighten the mood. I guessed I’d stay the mature route.
Perry pecked Danny on the cheek; my first sign that I should wrap this call up. “Hey, no PDA!”
“Where do you want to go?” Perry ignored me, but I’ve known her long enough to see the wheels turning behind her eyes.
“Didn’t get that far, honestly.”
“Well not to put ideas in your head—”
“Please do.” If there were anyone’s ideas I’d listen to, it was Perry’s.
“Miami Waves are in their second year since coming back. Now that Rashida’s retired, she and Allison are active owners.”
