Chapter 9
BURTON
Iwake up with a few new bruises and several aching limbs, but I’m up. Part of me wishes I could repeat the routine from yesterday and run with Laney again.
Texting her was the best part of my day, maybe even better than scoring goals.
“What’s the plan for today, Burton?” Clark asks, looking up from his breakfast. He’s made a whole plate filled with eggs and breakfast meats. The smell makes my stomach rumble.
“I’ll be at the restaurant for most of the day,” I say, buttoning the last of my shirt. “If you’re bored, you can always come by.”
Clark laughs. “That’s not where I usually go if I’m bored. I’ll just go see Jessa.”
Jealousy burns through me. I rarely care that Clark isn’t my bachelor buddy anymore, but I’ve been wanting what he has more and more in the last week.
A picture of Laney pops into my head. It’s not because of her, but then again, it’s not not because of her.
“Didn’t Jessa fly with the hockey team?” I ask.
Clark shakes his head. “No, they hired someone to help them with their social media, so she won’t have to travel as much. The guy took this one, and she’ll have to travel another time.”
He looks like he doesn’t love that idea, and I give him a small smile. “The life of the working couple.”
“Yeah. It’s not ideal, but at least it’s something. I wouldn’t want to go back to the way things were before Jessa came into my life.”
The two met long ago because Clark played lacrosse with Jessa’s brother in high school. She moved out here for a job and ended up making a big impact on the organization, changing a bunch of things. She’d even risked losing her job to be in a relationship with Clark.
“I need to find myself one of those,” I say.
“One of those, what?” Clark asks, giving me a small smile.
“Someone who’s willing to put up with me.” Again, I think of Laney, but meeting three times and texting a bit doesn’t equate to a relationship.
“I’m sure you’ll figure that out soon enough. Did you get what you needed from Laney?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.
I’d asked him for Laney’s number the night before to make sure she’d made it to Florida but had used the guise of asking about a running workout I could try. I still need to ask her about that part, so it isn’t a lie.
I nod, trying to keep a neutral expression. Texting her had been more fun than I’d expected.
“She’s cool,” Clark says, studying my face for a reaction.
“She’s definitely fun.”
“Well, maybe you should ask her on a date.” He folds his arms over his chest and looks at me, waiting for a response. We’re only months apart in age, but this look makes me feel like I’m fifteen years old and in trouble.
I shake my head. “Season is about to start, and I’ve got a lot going on.”
“Life will never be perfect. Why not take a chance now and see where it goes?”
I roll my eyes and turn around, looking for my keys. I find them and pick up my apron before walking toward the door.
“I’m late for work. Good luck today on, well, whatever.”
Am I a horrible roommate for not asking him what he has going on? Sure, but I didn’t think he’d already start pushing me to date Laney.
I don’t need to be pushed. I’m a grown man and can take care of myself, figure out what I need to do on my own.
It takes two tries to get the truck to start this morning, but it finally roars to life, taking me down the road toward the freeway.
As I turn onto the on-ramp, my phone rings. Connie, my oldest sister. I love talking to her, but I don’t know if she’ll finish up by the time I make it to the restaurant. But if I don’t answer, she’ll call me again.
“Hey, sis, what’s up?” I say, putting her on speakerphone.
“Just checking in, little bro. How are things in Utah?”
“They’re good,” I say, trying to make my voice sound as convincing as possible.
I love my sister, but she’s the definition of an eldest daughter and eldest sibling.
She’s practically perfect at everything she does, like she has the golden touch or something.
I used to call her Connie Poppins when I was a kid.
“Good.” There’s a bark in the background, and I smile.
“Connie, did you get a dog?” I ask, more surprised than ever. She’d vowed never to get an animal, especially after having her three kids.
She blows out a breath and says, “Yes. We caved. Jamie saw a posting on an animal adoption site and convinced us to get him.”
“Way to go, Jamie,” I say with a wide grin. “Maybe I need to ask her for advice the next time I need something from you.”
The fact that my eleven-year-old niece had done the unthinkable is a signal of how persuasive she can be.
“Well, she taught herself how to make a PowerPoint presentation and put in all the information. She even calculated how much food we’ll need per year, adding more as the puppy grows. I couldn’t say no.”
“I’ll make a mental note of that. PowerPoints are the way to Connie’s heart.”
There’s a little chuckling and then a hesitation.
“What’s up, Connie?”
“Are you going to make it back east at any point in the next few months?”
I use my blinker before changing lanes. “I’m not planning on it. Field lacrosse is starting. I could probably come back after the championship series at the end of the summer. What’s up?”
“Mom and Dad want to do a family trip at some point. I’m willing to take the kids out of school for it, but Ceci doesn’t love that idea.”
My second oldest sister was the first to get married in the family and has four kids. Camille has one with one on the way. Connie has three.
And then there’s me, the only boy, and the one who hasn’t settled down.
What if having nieces and nephews is enough?
I know that’s not true, but the spiteful part of me feels that way.
I can handle all the pressure in a game, but things I can’t fully control outside of sports is harder for me.
And my parents tried to dictate most of my life.
Maybe my bid to stay single is an act of defiance.
“What does Ceci want?” I ask.
“That we go in the summer no matter what your schedule is.”
I breathe out a sigh and shake my head. “I might be able to work out a time in the middle somewhere, but maybe it would be easier to go without me.”
“Are you kidding me? My kids will whine the whole time, wondering where Uncle Court is. You’ve got to be there. I’d rather have you than Ceci.”
I laugh and grin, grateful to have Connie in my life. Even though we’re twelve years apart, she’s always made me feel like I’m important.
“What do Mom and Dad say?” I ask, nervous about the answer.
They’ve finally stopped bugging me about when I’m going to get an actual job and settle down, like where I’m at in life isn’t even worth the breath to negotiate now. Their words relayed through Connie.
“They want to stay out of the drama.”
I nod. “Which means you have to plan it and coordinate everything.”
Poor Connie. Being the youngest and the only boy had its own challenges, but seeing what Connie had to go through to get here, well, she had to break my parents in on everything from being born to getting married and having her own kids.
She lets out an audible breath. “Pretty much. Part of me wanted to rebel and tell them I was no longer planning anything, but it’s their fortieth anniversary this year. So, I feel like they deserve a big shebang before I retire.”
I chuckle. “You retire from meddling? I think you’ll die before that happens.”
“You’re probably right,” she says, groaning. “So…”
“Spit it out, Connie. Did they ask you to ask me a bunch of questions?” I pull into the parking lot and put the truck into park.
“Yeah, sadly. But you can give me the real details, and I can filter any out you don’t want passed along. I mean, I’m the gatekeeper of your gossip so it doesn’t get all the way to Aunt Karen.”
“I appreciate that. Nothing really to report. I’m still working at Vincenzo’s and playing lacrosse. I have great roommates and am overall happy.”
“You say that as if you’re missing something.”
I lean over and run a hand through my hair. “I mean, settling down with someone, or even dating someone, who gets my life would be nice, but I feel like I have to pick between what I love and what would make the most sense with a significant other.”
“Anything that triggered this?” Connie asks, sounding like the therapist she’s always been for me.
“My roommate, Clark, started dating the gal across the street. They’re engaged now. I don’t know. I guess I’m feeling a small push to settle down. But that would only make Mom and Dad happy.”
“And it wouldn’t make you happy?” Her tone slices through me, and I realize what she’s saying.
“It would, I guess.”
“I know you’re on a quest to spite our parents, but sometimes you have to give in if it’s what you need.”
I blow out a breath. “True.”
“Which email would you like to use for online dating sites? Is it the one with courtquackamoo or the regular one? I can get you set up on all of those today.”
I know she’s not bluffing there, and I panic. “No dating sites. I don’t need to worry about how many people like my picture or swipe up or whatever.”
“Maybe you just need to get out a little more.”
“I’m not going to a club or a bar, Connie. I’m officially too old for those.” They’re so loud, and after working and playing all week, the last thing I want to do is to be on my feet while I try to attract a female. Like I can give off some pheromone that lures them to me.
She’s right. I need to get out more, but where and when makes my brain tired.
“Well, I heard the best place to find more quality women is the bookstore. Maybe try there?” She pauses for a moment and says, “Or you might go to a craft store?”
“Have you lost your mind? Those things have glitter in the air. I don’t need to walk out of there looking like a vampire.”
She laughs. “Maybe if you find a project, it would be worth it.”
“I won’t do a craft, Connie. And the bookstore scares me. Those ladies think they can channel magical powers after reading all the fantasy books.”
“How about a service group? Maybe that would be the way to meet some people outside of the athletic bubble you live in and make some new friends. Bonus points if there’s a woman in there who’s just like your oldest sister,” she says with drama in her voice on the last bit.
“We’re supposed to do some service as part of the team. That isn’t a bad idea.”
“Really? You’re going with service? I didn’t see that one coming.” She laughs and says, “Keep me updated. Any of this conversation you want to keep confidential?”
I wave my hand even though she can’t see it. “No. I’ll be fine. Actually, don’t tell anyone that I’ve even hinted at dating. I don’t need all the wannabe matchmakers coming out of the woodwork. Oh, I think I got a text I need to check. See you later, Connie.”
I hang up before she can ask for more details. I wait to park before checking the text I was and wasn’t waiting for all day.
I click on it and see a picture of Laney making a face in front of the ice arena in Florida.
And the workday begins.
So does mine, but now I’m feeling a little more peppy about it. I don’t know what it is about Laney, but she makes me smile more than most humans.
Am I excited for her to return? Possibly. But between lacrosse and working at the restaurant, I need to budget some mechanic time to work on her car. Because that’s what friends do, of course.