23. Holiday Invite
Chapter twenty-three
Holiday Invite
Albany
M y phone rings just as I'm stepping out of the shower, the shrill tone cutting through the peaceful silence of my home. I wrap a towel around myself and hurry to the nightstand, snatching up the device.
"Hello?"
"Albany! Good morning, girl. I hope I'm not calling too early." Lorna's warm voice fills my ear, and I can't help but smile.
"Not at all, Lorna. What's up?"
"Well, I have some exciting news for you." She pauses, and I can practically see the grin on her face. "I want you to participate in the calendar shoot this year!"
I gasp, my free hand flying to my mouth. "Really? That's amazing!" The calendar is a big deal at Behind the Lens… a chance for the models to showcase their talents and create more buzz for Behind the Lens.
"Yes! And you can choose which holiday you want to represent in January." Lorna's voice is filled with enthusiasm. "So, what do you think? Are you in?"
I glance over at the bed where Sal's gift box still sits, the red ribbon a tempting contrast against the crisp black sheets. "Absolutely! I'd love to be a part of it."
"Wonderful! I'm thrilled. I know you’ll chose one that photographs well." Lorna pauses, and I hear the sound of papers rustling in the background. "Okay, I'll have Nova you the details later today. Just let me know if you need anything, alright?"
"Will do. Thanks so much!" I disconnect the call, my heart racing with excitement. A calendar shoot--this is a huge opportunity. And I get to have input on the holiday and set. My phone rings just as I'm stepping out of the shower, the shrill tone cutting through the peaceful silence of my home. I wrap a towel around myself and hurry to the nightstand, snatching up the device.
As I pull on a pair of leggings and a cozy sweater, I can't help but feel a sense of anticipation. This calendar shoot is going to be amazing. The research will give me something to take my mind off Haze and Sal, a problem I desperately want to solve but can't seem to find an answer for.
I trip down the stairs, squealing a little when my mind returns to the shoot. I need sustenance and an immediate brainstorming sesh with my Piper.
I hum to myself as I make my way to the kitchen, my mind buzzing with excitement over the calendar shoot. As the coffee brews, I grab my phone and quickly dial Piper's number, bouncing on the balls of my feet as I wait for her to pick up.
"Bestie!" Piper's voice rings out, and I can practically see her bright smile through the phone. "What's up?"
"Piper, you are not going to believe this!" I gush, pouring myself a cup of the freshly brewed coffee. "Behind the Lens asked me to be in the calendar this year!"
"Shut up!" Piper practically shrieks. "That's amazing, Albs! Which holiday did you get?"
I take a sip of my coffee, savoring the rich, bold flavor. "They're letting me choose! I got the month of January. I'm so excited to start brainstorming ideas." I pause, my mind drifting back to the events of the previous night. "But that's not all…” My voice trails off as I try to gather the words to tell Piper about my evening.
"Ooh, do tell!" Piper interjects, her voice laced with curiosity as she prods me.
"Well, last night..." I launch into the story, pausing to put Piper on speaker so I can start researching holidays. As I scroll through the calendar, my eyes land on a particular date. "Hey, Piper? Did you know that January 10th is Bittersweet Chocolate Day?"
"Bittersweet chocolate, huh?" Piper muses. "You know, that might be perfect for the calendar shoot. It's a little sweet, a little bitter…just like you, babe."
I laugh, shaking my head. "Very funny. But I was thinking... Do you think Lorna would let me have Sal come to the shoot to help with the chocolate prep?"
Piper hums thoughtfully. "I don't see why not. He is a professional chocolatier, after all. And it would be a great way to incorporate your relationship into the shoot."
I nod, biting my lip as I consider the idea. "I just hope Haze doesn't have a problem with it. I don't want to cause any more drama between them."
"Screw Haze," Piper scoffs. "This is your moment, Albany. If Sal being there makes you happy, then that's all that matters."
I smile, feeling a sense of determination wash over me. "You're right. I'm going to talk to Lorna about it." I pause, glancing at the calendar again. "January 10th, huh? This is going to be good."
With Piper's encouragement and my newfound inspiration, I know I'm going to kill this photoshoot. The thought of having Sal there to see me work, to create something beautiful on my turf, thrills me. The possibilities are endless, and I can't wait to see what I can come up with.
"Have I told you lately you're the best, best friend? I can't wait to get started on this calendar shoot. Bittersweet chocolate is going to be perfect." I take another sip of my coffee, the rich flavor warming me as I prepare to end the call and get to work.
"I know, right? You're going to kill it, Albs." Piper pauses, and I can almost see the mischievous grin on her face. "Oh, and one more thing..."
I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "What is it?"
"You know the Commanders sold, right?" Piper begins, her voice casual.
"Yeah, of course. You mentioned that." I avoided basketball for a long time after Jacob died, but when Piper became a professional cheerleader, I forced myself to face the team that was Jake's dream. I love watching her cheer now, but I don't pay much attention to the team. My focus is always on my best friend and the amazing routines her squad performs. I lean against the kitchen counter, waiting for her to continue.
"Well, I met the new owner the other day." Piper's voice drops slightly, and I can hear the weight behind her words.
"And. Are they hot? Or as old and wrinkly as their family money?" I smirk. She pauses. "Piper! Spill bitch!" I command.
"Albs… Harmon Holdings bought the team."
My eyes widen in surprise. She’d said he’d been around the arena. I didn’t think anything of it since I knew he’d played for the Commanders for a short time. "Did he recognize you?"
"He did," she says softly. "But the way his brow furrowed… He couldn't place me."
"That's flocking rude," I say uncharitably. "It's not like Jake has been gone for fifty years."
"Albany! Have you considered that after what he went through, he's blocking a lot out? That maybe seeing Jake's friends after he died was too painful for Haze?"
I chew on my bottom lip, my mind racing, then shrug. "That could be it. He pays top dollar to watch me, and he's never shown a single spark of recognition."
"Excuse me?"
I snort. I can see her face right now. "Sal caught him logged into Behind the Lens. Not gonna lie; it felt weird. I felt semi-violated. Which is ridiculous. But if he’s going to object to my presence physically in his life, then he shouldn’t get to watch me on screen."
"Your feelings are never ridiculous. I never want to hear you say that shit again," she chastises. "Do you know which customer he is?"
I bite my lip. I'm treading on dangerous ground. Behind the Lens’ confidentiality clauses are tighter than HIPAA laws, and Lorna has a zero-tolerance policy. "Not everyone interacts with me or turns their camera on. Some folks prefer to stay anonymous."
"Different strokes for different folks," she mutters, offended on my behalf for no reason.
"I love you, Pipes. I gotta go," I whisper, letting every ounce of my fondness for her bleed into my voice.
"Are you going today?" she asks.
"Yeah," I breathe, closing my eyes, my throat thickening. Nova's wake-up call helped me put off thinking about what day today is, but now that my high from the calendar shoot is fading, there is room for the things that can't be avoided.
"Check the gate for a delivery on your way out. I gotta go. Call me after. I'll be ready to come grab you."
"Thanks," I whisper.
The sky booms. I stare out my kitchen window at the dark gray clouds rolling across the sky. I blink as a wicked bolt of lightning cuts through them. How apropos. The sky will open and weep for me by the time I get where I'm going.
The morning continues to darken as I pull into the cemetery parking lot. Thick drops of rain splatter against my windshield, obscuring my view. I open the box from Piper, and tears immediately begin to bite at my eyes. She sent him a blue and purple Commander's basketball, signed by some of the players. I grab my umbrella and the basketballs, then head up to the Harmon mausoleum.
I know Jake is inside. But outside is a marble statue of him playing ball, right next to one of Sydney in a swimsuit, cap, and goggles. I've always loved that the Harmon family honored her love of the sport the same way they did Jake's. That they decided to remember her with the sport she loved, even though she might have looked more like the young lady she was with dry hair and a sundress on.
The rain pelts against my umbrella as I make my way through the rows of headstones. When I reach Jake's statue, I pause, my heart clenching at the sight of his name etched in stone. Setting down my umbrella, I pull out the basketballs.
Freaking Piper. She knows I bring Jake basketballs to honor his lost dreams, his unrealized potential. Piper loved Jake. There was rarely any jealousy. The three of us were always together.
I place the two balls on either side of his memorial, then settle myself behind it, drawing my knees up to my chest… the same way Jake and I used to sit when discussing difficult topics. The rain soaks through my clothes, but I barely feel the chill.
"Hey Jake," I whisper, my voice nearly lost in the drumming of the rain. "I miss you. So much."
I tell him about my life, about the calendar, and my excitement over the photoshoot. And then I talk about Sal. How he makes me feel seen, cherished, understood. How his smile warms me from the inside out. The rain turns heavier, pelting against my face and mingling with the tears now freely flowing.
"I think you would have liked him, Jake," I murmur. "He's kind and talented, and he makes me happy. I wish...I wish you were here to meet him." The rain drums against the marble in a steady, violent rhythm, each drop exploding into tiny fragments that scatter across the polished stone. The sound drowns out everything else…my thoughts, my heartbeat, even the whispered words I've been sharing with Jake.
I feel him before I see him. Two hands reach down beside me, lifting the blue and purple Commander's basketball Piper had bought. My body goes rigid, every muscle freezing in place as a shadow falls over me from behind the statue. Warm breath brushes my ear, carrying words that slice through the rain.
"What in the fuck are you doing crying behind my son's grave?"
I lift my head slowly, rain streaming down my face, mixing with the tears I no longer try to hide. My violet eyes lock onto his dark ones, and I watch recognition dawn across his features.
"I'm exactly where I belong, Mr. Harmon," I say firmly, my voice steady despite the tremor in my hands. "I've been coming here every year on this day since Jake died. Since I lost my first love, my best friend, and the future we'd planned together."
The look of shock on his face would be almost comical if it weren't so tragic. His mouth opens and closes, but no words come out. I push myself to my feet, my wet clothes clinging to my skin as I face him fully.
"You're not the only one who lost someone that day," I continue, my chin lifted. "And you don't get to dictate who mourns them now."
I stare defiantly at him as a range of emotions flickers across his face. Repulsion, desire, anger, lust, and shock rippling as he struggles to gain composure. This asshole. He wasn’t the only one who lost the rest of his life on that horrible, tragic day. He wasn’t the only person who lost three people he loved deeply. Three beautiful souls he planned on spending forever with.
A few steps, and he's around the monument. His arm snakes out, his hand wrapping around my arm as his fingers dig in. He yanks hard as he stops beside me, his eyes almost black, stormier than the sky. He jerks me to his chest, as if my rain-sodden arse weighs nothing at all.
And then he kisses me.