Chapter 32
Pen
"How long has it been since we last came here?" Dad asks.
We take the last turn toward the Thunderdome, on a side street with no other function than to connect the highway to the Strike's home base.
TD is originally named for some famous previous owner or someone else of that calibre, but I've never learned it.
Everyone, fans included, use the nickname instead.
It's the way we all refer to the three-floor structure housing all of the front office and administrative team, as well as the training facilities and outdoor training field.
"It was the second or third year since Leon made it," my mom replies. "So it's been a while!"
"We could have made it happen earlier if we had known you wanted to come," I say.
Years ago, Bear invited my parents for a tour of the Thunderdome and a game a few days later.
Ever since, I've been to many games at the stadium, and my parents have attended a couple with me, but they haven't come back to visit TD.
Mostly because of the distance and the fact they haven't fully retired yet.
"Oh, no, we're happy to be here now," she adds.
I slow the car down until I've stopped next to the security booth. The guard stands next to the small structure that protects them from the weather, and I lower my window.
One of those intrusive, out-of-nowhere thoughts takes over, and I freeze while staring at them.
In my head, they glare at me.
Straight to jail for doing what you did with your best friend this morning.
Like their Strike-themed security uniforms are enough to make me feel like someone will put me under interrogation, to figure out my motives of late.
I'm innocent! I argue in my mind. Am I really to blame, after all my body has put me through since Leon and I got married?
The worst part is yes. I am to blame. I know how accountability works.
"Qué pasa, hija?" Mom asks from the seat next to me.
"Name, please?" The guard asks.
"Right! Yes. Hi. I'm Pen— Leon Karlsen's— wife. Yep. His wife— and his friend. I married my best friend."
I show my rings to the tall person next to my car. Just in case. After my over correction, they might need convincing.
My parents stare at me like they're starting to worry, and I twirl a strand of my hair around one finger a few times.
I'm floundering. All because I have no idea how Bear and I will deal with what we did.
It's fine. Time to lift my chin. No matter what, I'll fight like hell for our friendship. A moment of weakness can't threaten what we have.
"Congratulations." The guard smirks. "Do you have your invite?"
I'm really off today if I forgot how that works, too.
I just need someone— preferably Leon— to tell me we're going to be okay.
All I want to do is talk to my best friend. It's ironic, really. For once, this isn't so much about asking for advice, as to check how we're doing. We agreed to talk tonight, but I need some sort of clue as to how he's feeling.
"Right." I reach for my phone. "Yes. Here you go."
I show them the digital card on my device and we're let in. I gulp. Of course it's going to be fine between Bear and I. It has to be.
A row of visitor parking spots edge the long side of the building, and I drive into one of the empty stalls.
We get out of the car and make our way to the main door.
As soon as we enter the building, we find Nat and Ames sitting in a small, comfortable waiting area.
The armchairs and round coffee table reside on a corner of the large welcome hall, surrounded by glass walls and the open lobby space.
I manage a grin. The four of them met at the wedding, and they swiftly fall into a casual conversation. Their chatter is fun, and I use the time to pull myself together once and for all. Or somewhat. Enough to spend a nice time with my friends.
"Evie said she'll be here soon," Nat says. "Then she'll give us a tour."
"My team is bringing a simple meal for us." Ames smiles. "We'll get to watch everyone train like it's a picnic. It will be nice!"
Evie arrives just a few minutes later and greets us all.
We follow her through the lobby toward a hallway.
Evie explains it's a section of flex office space for coaches and medical staff, before leading us to the gym past them.
We don't stay there long. Evie simply points out where the locker rooms, swimming pool and rehab area are, while my parents ahhh and ohhh at what they see.
"How often do you come here?" Ames asks me. "I bring food to my clients on the team often enough, and I've seen parts of it a few times, but this is the first time I get such a great look at the place."
"Not that often," I reply. "And never with such a cool tour guide."
Evie smiles, having heard me, but doesn't stop hosting my parents.
I gaze at the weight machines lining the space, wondering what all the different contraptions do for the team. There must be a hundred different work out stations, all overlooking the field. Motivation, perhaps.
The large glass panes that serve as the front wall fold like an accordion. They're currently compacted to the edges of the gym and opening the indoor space, connecting it to the outside, where the team plays and practices. I search for Leon, but I can't see him, and sigh.
It's okay. I know what these machines do for him. His shoulders, his arms, his strength… I don't have to be looking at him to conjure his image in my head.
How is it possible that I've always known how he looks, but it's only now that I react this way to him?
"Okay, let's go." Evie makes a calling gesture with her hand. "We'll see the rest afterwards. We're going to get quite the view of the team!"
She leads us onto a paved section right outside the gym.
We stroll along the short end of the field, and around the corner to a cozy grassy area.
We sit on picnic chairs set up overlooking the manicured turf, hugged by Lake Washington behind us, and large trees that provide a cool shaded area.
As epic as the view of the lake would be, this one is pretty good too.
A field full of handsome athletes showing off their skills has a way to draw one's attention.
One in particular calls for my eyes. From this angle, I find him right away. He's laughing at something Saint said, and it loosens some of the tension I've been carrying inside.
I smile. Yes, we'll be okay.
Or that's my thought, before he turns to stare at me.
Like he senses my presence, or my eyes on him.
I'm locked on him now, and his sight doesn't waver from me.
Butterflies fill my stomach— that's the adrenaline getting pumped into my veins all over again.
Both because my husband is so damn handsome, and because I'm worried about what my best friend is thinking.
He's far, standing somewhere in the middle of the field, but I know him well. He gives me a nod. I give him one back.
Are you okay?
Yes.
Are we okay?
We will be.
I don't need to read the micro gestures on his face to understand the messages we sent each other through the ether. We've known each other for nearly twenty years. If we've developed telepathy, it's a sign of how close we actually are.
A coach calls his name and Bear returns to his job.
Two people join our group, carrying a couple of large coolers.
Ames says hi to them, and helps them distribute food and drinks for all of us.
We thank her and her team profusely. After a while, my parents end up chatting a mile a minute with Nat and Ames, while Evie and I sit side by side.
"Thank you for spoiling us like this, Evie." I smile.
The sandwiches we're eating deserve a better, less mundane name than that. They're spectacular. Artisanal salami and prosciutto in a gold, perfect bun, with some sort of crumbly, white, soft cheese. Alongside arugula, tomato, and a wonderful aioli, the combination fills my mouth with flavor.
"Oh, my pleasure." Evie fakes a toast, and I clink my can of pop with hers. "I love all the perks that come with my job, including the fact I can do things like this."
"What about the perk of having met your fiancé at work?"
She chuckles. "That one for sure, too. Though, to be fair, I didn't meet him at work."
"What?!" I turn to her and chew through another bite of food. "Didn't you meet when he became the Strike's new QB?"
She dabs her mouth with a paper napkin. I raise an eyebrow.
Her eyes shine with mischief. "Technically I met him years prior. In passing."
I open my mouth to ask more, but she waves her hand to stop me.
"I can tell you another time. I may have met him before, but I didn't fall in love with him until he became the QB, so is it really all that important?"
"It is!"
"In any case." She gives me a coy smile. "More important than that is how filming him for social media content helped me along in the journey."
"How is that more important?"
"Logan and I keep on bonding through those videos. I filmed one of him today. Well. I filmed him and the guys."
I take a big bite of my food to buy myself time. Evie is giving me a playful look, and I suspect where she's leading the conversation.
"Yeah?" I sip from my drink. "One of those videos where they compete for likes?"
Evie nods. "I can show you what I got for Bear, if you like."
I take another bite of my sandwich. The flavors take my attention away from the mix of anticipation and downright impishness speeding up my heart.
Despite what we did this morning, I'm not supposed to be looking at Bear with any degree of lust. After getting off together in bed earlier today, a video can only amp up everything I've been dealing with.
Too little, too much of a promise. Too many questions.
But since my fizzy drink is doing nothing to quench my thirst at the moment…
"Sure," I say. "I'm curious."