Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 93683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“Takin’ that note like a ‘Shot Through the Heart’,” I quietly announce, hoping to be welcomed into the conversation.
“Good!” Mari mirthfully retorts; although the sweetness in her voice quickly fades when she meets Gilly’s gaze again. “Does Mil know?”
My girlfriend cringes and hiccups in tandem.
“Do your parents know?”
“They do,” leaves me along with a comforting stroke to her side. “And I think they like me.”
“They love you,” corrects the woman in my arms under her breath.
“And I’m pretty sure they like Bronny.”
“Hot!” he shouts ridiculously loud. “Why are you so effing hot?!”
“Why…” I lightly chuckle, “I ain’t got a clue.”
She merely offers us an amused headshake and inquires, “Do the boys know?”
“They do.” My free hand finds its way to my lime green sweats pants pocket. “And so does Hot Rocket – er – Hennington.”
“She knows, but Mil doesn’t?!” squawks the petite woman on Gilly’s doorstep. “How?! How is that possible?!”
“She was at the photoshoot this summer-”
“This summer?!” She screeches even louder causing us both to cower. “You two have been together since the summer?!” Realization rips through her before we have a chance to explain. “You’re the boyfriend?!” Her large envelope holding hand waves itself around near my face. “You’re the guy that Mil has been working OT to try to figure out the identity of?!”
“Seriously?!” Gilly huffs in what can only be considered irritation. “He can’t just respect the fact that I’m not ready to tell him his name yet?!”
It’s impossible to keep the pain out of my voice. “You’re still not ready?”
“No, I mean I am,” a hiccup of betrayal forces her to hiss, “I mean I’m not.”
Additional hurt seeps into my expression.
“I mean I am just not like this! Not in passing! Not in passing like I’m not madly in love with you!”
This time shock has me croaking in awe, “You love me?”
“Of course, I love you Jukes,” she adoringly confesses, fingers crossing over to give my t-shirt a tiny tug. “I wouldn’t be helping raise Bronny or considering moving in with you if I didn’t.”
“I love you too, Gillybean,” manages to free itself from my lips before Mari interjects again.
“You’re moving in together?!”
Huh.
We probably shouldn’t be exchanging first I love yous and moving in plans in front of Coach’s wife.
“You have to tell your brother,” she demands with another point of the object she’s gripping. “Immediately.”
“Soon,” the woman beside me negotiates.
“Tomorrow.”
“Not that soon,” my girlfriend denies on a shake of the head, the sound of a car pulling up indicating pizza is actually arriving.
“Gillian.”
“He’s dealing with a lot right now, Mari. You know that. He basically just had ‘that’ birthday. Then there’s the Lagunas’s situation. Hedgecomb’s injury. That shit with Ewers and Stroll. Not to mention that racist shit going on with Micah’s mini mite coach.”
Best friends – Queen style.
Yeah, I know they text.
Chat.
A lot.
Often.
Especially when we’re on the road, but I guess sometimes a song break occurs in my head between the fact that it’s her he’s in contact with and it’s him that tells her some of our work shit that I don’t even know.
Their closeness doesn’t bother me.
Never has.
It’s her not letting him know it’s me she’s always talking about that’s wearing on my soul like ice in desperate need of resurfacing.
Is she ashamed?
Afraid?
Does she need his approval?
Is that why she’s dragging her feet?
Fears she won’t get it?
And what happens if she doesn’t?
Is she really willing to give us up just like that?
If the time comes and she has to choose in a moment, is she gonna choose him?
Their relationship over ours?
His comfort over her own happiness?
Mari sympathetically nodding precedes her surrender, “Soon, soon. Maybe not tomorrow soon but still soon. Like before Halloween soon. I don’t like the idea of having to keep shit from him.”
Gillian flashes her a soft grin of gratitude. “I appreciate it.”
“Appreciate it by telling him.” She shakes her head in defeat and finally hands over the object she had been flailing around. “I texted you that I was stopping by with these on my way to grab the girls from tumbling practice.” The white envelope slips into her possession. “They’re the kids school photos with their names handwritten on the back – as requested.”
Excited squeals instantly leave her. “I can’t wait to put these up in my office!”
And I can’t wait until Bronny and I are allowed to have our pics in there as well.
Sadly, I get the sense we’re gonna end up waiting much longer than she’s letting on.
Chapter 17
Gillian
Words I don’t hear enough of on October thirty first?
Happy. Birthday.
I actually hear the words “we’ll brush extra” more than I do the latter.
Even my friends push it to the back molar until their pre-trick-or-treating meal.
That’s when I’ll typically get a text.
Rarely a phone call.
It’s also when the “let’s do something post birthday” discussions begin.
I just accept it.