Chapter 1 #2
The door opens, and Clark walks in with a grin on his face. “Oh, hi, boys. How’s your night going?”
“Not great,” Jackson says, sinking lower in his chair.
Clark looks to me as if I’ll be able to translate that, which is usually easy for me.
“We were talking about what conditioning drills Coach Martin might have for us on Monday,” I say, giving him a knowing smile.
“I’m out running every morning,” Clark says, walking over to the fridge. “You can always join me.”
Jackson nods. “I think I might. What time do you go?”
“I’m outside by at least five, sometimes five thirty.”
Jackson’s eyes widen so much, I worry he’ll pop a blood vessel. “In the morning?”
We all laugh as Clark nods. “Some people get up earlier than the sun instead of sleeping while it’s out.”
“I’m not that bad,” Jackson says, glaring at the cards in his hand.
“Where did you go?” I ask Clark.
His shoulders sag. “To California to film an ad for a new type of gloves. I’m glad that’s over though.”
Laughing, I nod. “At least you’re no longer camera shy.”
“That’s not fully cured yet. Anyway, Jessa and I had the idea to do a get-together before we start the season. What do you all think?”
I frown, trying to picture what he means by get-together. We usually hang out here when Jessa comes over, and that’s not really a celebration of anything.
“Are you talking about movies and food? Or is this old people talk for hanging out?” Finny asks with a grin.
Clark throws a grape at him and nails him in the eye. I can’t help but laugh as Finny holds his hand up to his eye.
“I’m like three years older than you, man. I’m not using a walker,” Clark says.
“Yet,” Stack says, grinning widely.
I walk over to the couch and sink into the cushions. “What kind of get-together are we talking about, old man?”
Clark tries to look annoyed but ends with a small smile. “Get a few people together and have dinner and hang out.”
Stack makes a snoring sound. “Next you’ll be telling us you want to learn how to crochet.”
Again, I laugh.
Clark rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “I never thought I’d be telling someone else to grow up.” He shuts the door of the fridge and walks out with a protein drink. He takes a seat on the other end of the couch and leans his head back against the wall.
“Something wrong in the Clark/Jessa universe?” I ask, trying to read his expression.
He glances up at me and shakes his head. “No. I mean, we’re both gearing up for the busy season.”
“I thought Jessa doesn’t really have an offseason. I mean, we play with weeks left to go for the hockey team.”
Jessa works for Stockton Media Group, the company that owns most of the professional sports teams in Utah.
She worked a lot with us on our social media as the Athlete Image Specialist, or something like that, last season, but is now over most of the marketing for the company. She’s that good at her job.
He frowns and nods. “That’s true, but we’re good. She was thinking it would be fun to drum up excitement for the season, and I would love some good relaxing fun. I’m over the keg parties and loud dancing.”
“Sounds like you need some knee-length cargo shorts and a pair of New Balance to go with that,” I joke.
Clark leans over and punches me in the shoulder. “Just wait until you find someone, Burton.”
I shake my head. “Obviously, that’s not happening soon.
I mean, I’m either working at the restaurant, working out, or playing lacrosse.
There aren’t many opportunities for connecting with females on that schedule.
Anyway, what girl wants to take that résumé home to her parents and say, ‘I choose him?’”
“I’m sure we can remedy that. Maybe we just need a different scene. You can meet someone at the party I’m planning.” Clark rests his head back against the couch and closes his eyes.
“I’m game for a gathering, or whatever. Who do you want to invite?” I ask. “Wait, you just said party. That’s very different from a get-together. And what does ‘drum up excitement’ mean to you?”
“I don’t know. It would be fun to kind of hype up the season. Get a bunch of our fans and do something.”
“That’s even more vague than a get-together. Are you planning to hold it here? Or somewhere else? It sounds like you need the field for this kind of shindig.” I turn slightly so I can see his expression. Obviously he hasn’t made any solid plans.
Clark stares at the ceiling and says, “That’s not a horrible idea. Maybe we get the lacrosse brands and have a tailgate, meet-and-greet type thing?”
“That sounds like a bigger undertaking than my pay grade,” I say, laughing. I’m used to attending parties, not being the one planning them.
He pulls out his phone and starts tapping on the screen. I lean over and pick up the book from the end table. It’s a thriller, and I’m still trying to get into it despite having read five chapters already.
“What are you doing tomorrow night?” Clark asks.
“Um, I work until seven. Why?”
“Will you help me and Jessa brainstorm?”
I want to say no, but the look in his eyes is so hopeful. This man has done a lot for our team since being traded here, and a lot for me, so I can’t help but nod. “If you don’t mind it being that late at night, sure.”
Relief floods his expression. “Perfect. We’ll meet at Jessa’s house so we can have some peace,” Clark says, looking over at the nerds at the table. They’re still playing the game wrong, but I’m not in the mood to act as mediator this time.
I don’t have a ton of time left in my schedule, but if it somehow helps sell more tickets to our games, I can’t say no.