56. Eden
EDEN
Connor got back home at one a.m., so I try not to wake him the next morning as I lie in his bed, playing on my phone. I have a Zoom call with Aiden at ten to discuss some updates, but that’s two hours away.
My Instagram notifications are, as always, out of control, so I switch to email. Four new ones have landed in my inbox in the last couple of minutes. Sheesh.
The first two are spam, but…oh wait, the third says: “Tolliver University Fall Grades.”
Dear Student,
Your fall semester grades have been loaded into your academic portal. Please log in to check your results.
Okay, here’s the moment of truth. Did I survive the term, despite everything that happened?
I log into my portal as quickly as possible, click like seven buttons, and finally get to my grades.
Advanced Sociology: A
Capstone Seminar: A
Art History: A-
Genetics: A
Oh frick, yes! I did it!? No B’s again, and a totally acceptable A- in Art History.
Connor’s breathing peacefully, so I resist the urge to wake him.
Instead, I write Mom. Even though it’s five in the morning there, she’ll want this news.
EDEN: MOM! Straight As again (well, an A- in Art History, but that’s fine)
It takes her four minutes to respond, but then three dots appear.
MOM: This is the best news to start my day! So proud of you!
MOM: Sorry to be slow, I was just in the shower.
EDEN: No worries, I’ll call you later??
MOM: Yes, perfect. Any time after six here :)
I need to tell Dad too. All that fretting he was privy to, and it turned out just as I hoped.
EDEN: Dad, I got my grades! Straight As (basically)! Woohoo!
I wait for a couple of seconds and switch to scrolling on social media when he doesn’t reply.
He’s probably sleeping in like Connor. He was on the team flight too, after all.
Maybe I’ll sneak into the kitchen—
“Eden,” comes Connor’s groggy voice. “What time is it?”
I roll over and wrap an arm around him. “Hi, sleepyhead. A little after eight.”
He rubs his eyes and yawns. “Oh, man. I’m tired as fuck.”
I kiss his forehead. “But also the team hero.”
“I don’t know about that. At least I proved I’m a competent NFL kicker.”
“They didn’t say anything last night about what’s next?”
He shakes his head no. We both fall silent for a beat, and then he eyes my phone, Instagram app open.
“It’s going to take me a minute to get moving. You can keep playing on your phone.”
“Well…I’ve actually been killing time waiting for you or Dad to wake up.”
His eyes open wider. “Why? What’s up?”
I smile broadly. “Got my grades.” I switch over to the screenshot I took earlier.
His eyes go wide as he scans the picture. “Eden, these are…you’re the smartest future doctor I’ll ever love.”
Wait…Now it’s my turn to be stunned. “L-love?”
He takes in my shock, and then his lips turn up. “Yes, Eden…my Rosy—I love you.” He reaches over to play with the ends of my hair. “I love you like no one ever before.” His voice soft.
Oh my heart.
I lie down, face only a few inches from his. Locking our eyes. “I love you too, Connor.”
His grin stretches wider, and he joins our lips in a firm kiss. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard five better words. We need to celebrate—”
Buzz. My phone. What timing…
I look at who it is. “My dad.”
“Go ahead and take it while I freshen up.”
I answer the phone as he pads off to the bathroom.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Hi, sweetheart. I got your text. Amazing news!”
“Thanks! I’m so excited. I need to keep it up for one more semester now.” There’s the rustle of keys in the background. “Where are you? I was worried I woke you.”
“No,” he says, in an amused tone. “Coaches don’t get to sleep in with the playoffs coming soon. We had an eight o’clock meeting.”
“Oh, wow.” I look at the time on my phone. It’s only fifteen after. “It must have been a short meeting.”
“Well, there was only one topic.” He breathes out a sigh. “Speaking of which, is Connor with you by any chance?”
“Um…” Awkward. “Yeah?”
Just then, Connor comes out of the bathroom, and I wave him over.
“Can I talk to him?”
“Sure.” I put him on speaker, realizing only a second too late that maybe he wanted it to be a private conversation. Oh well.
“I’m here, Coach.”
“Hi, I’m sorry to…interrupt your morning.”
Connor bites his lip. This has to be about the Waves? I grab one of his hands with both of mine, and squeeze it tight.
“No problem, I’m due in the facility soon anyway.” His voice tight. He must be dying inside to hear what Dad’s got to say.
“I thought this would be something you want to know, sooner rather than later.”
God, Dad, spit it out…
“I’m happy to share that the coaches have decided to keep you as the starter for the playoffs.”
I think I shriek. Connor lets out a “holy shit,” I know that much. A split second later, I’m jumping in his arms.
“Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod.”
Dad starts laughing on the other side of the phone. “I’m glad you’re both excited.”
Connor joins him with a half-chuckle, but disbelief coats his voice. “It’s just…the best news I’ve gotten in a long time, other than some other news I got this morning.” He looks at me intently, and I know he means my return of his “I love you.”
Dad, however, assumes it’s about my grades. “I know, I’m so proud of Eden too.”
“Yes.” Connor kisses my temple. “Coach, is it okay for me to tell my brothers? Or should I wait for a team announcement?”
“It’s not a secret. You can share the news.”
“Awesome. They’re going to lose their minds.”
“I bet. Why…why don’t you two come over for dinner tonight? We’ll toast all of your accomplishments. Tina and Nat will love it too.”
“Sure, Dad, we can do that.”
He signs off, and Connor swings me around in a big hug.
“You’re starting in the playoffs! AHHHHHH!”
He puts me down. “Okay, gonna call Rawls now. Hopefully he’s up.”
He is, and there’s a lot of “oh my God” and “holy shit” for the next ten minutes. Then he calls Landon, and his reaction…
“What? WHAT!! Connor, I can’t believe it…” His voice gets audibly choked up. “Hold on, I need to get a tissue.” I can almost hear the tears start falling from his eyes.
“Don’t worry, this is normal for him in big moments,” Connor whispers to me.
“I, man—all three of us on the team. Plus Johnson.” His tone is still gravelly, like he’s pushing through his emotions to talk. “And for a playoff run.”
“I know. It’s incredible. I—Landon, thank you so much for introducing me to Del all those years ago. This would never have been possible without you.”
“Connor, you did this yourself, truly,” Landon sniffles.
I go out to the kitchen and let them have privacy. Connor joins me when they’re off the call and sets his phone on the counter.
“I’m calling Grace now too.” I come behind him and wrap my arms around his waist. “Stay like that, Rosy,” he says softly, as the call rings.
“Hi,” Grace says brightly when she answers. “You’re up nice and early.”
“Yes, well, that’s because…you’re talking to the new starting placekicker for the Waves!”
“NO WAY!! EEEEKKKK! JOHNSON GET IN HERE!”
More screaming and excitement follows. I rest my head against his back, his hand now resting where my arms loop together in his front.
He deserves this moment, and I’m so happy to be here for it.
After Grace’s voice drops to a normal octave, they catch up for another minute until I hear my name.
“Is Eden with you?”
“Yup.”
“Hi, Grace.”
“Hi! Your meeting with Aiden is today? Call me after if you want to talk through any of what he reports.”
“Definitely.”
Once we’re off with her, Connor turns around and pulls me into a full hug. “I’m sorry I can’t be here during your call with Aiden. I need to leave in like twenty minutes.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll give you a full rundown later.”
Connor’s been gone for half an hour when I dial into the Zoom meeting with Aiden.
He’s smiling broadly. “Morning, Eden. Good day so far? A little birdie told me about Connor.”
I grin back. “Yep, it was a nice way to kick off today, that’s for sure.”
“Well, it’s going to get better, I believe.”
Oh really? I clasp my hands together in front of the computer, squeezing them together.
“I know we’ve talked about the teams you’re most interested in not having a striker position open. But remember that wild card idea I mentioned…”
He slides some papers on his desk closer to him. “I have a proposal from the NWSL expansion team coming to Miami.”
“Miami?” They hadn’t been on my radar, but they’re one of two new cities getting a team.
“They’re excited about starting with young talent and having you grow with them.”
My mind whirls. Being part of building a team from the ground up sounds challenging in the best possible way. Plus Miami is close enough that Connor can stick to job hunting in Orlando—and at this point, maybe he’d even have an offer from the Waves?
“What are the specifics?”
He goes over the terms: 2 years, $110,000 guaranteed. “We’ll make sure you add a zero to that with endorsements too.”
“You feel good about the numbers?”
“Yes, it’s a standard amount for new players. We’ll massage the salary up in the next contract.”
Aiden knows this stuff better than me, so I trust him. Plus, I believe in myself. If I go all in, I’ll make my mark.
“The fact that it’s an expansion team—is there anything about that you think I should know?”
He looks thoughtful. “That’s a good question. Your media duties will be the same amount, but they may be focused on, say, goodwill events to introduce the team. Whereas players with a team that has an established footprint and fanbase can focus a little more narrowly on hyping a current season.”
“That’s no biggie.” I actually love the idea of being a face for the team, and bringing a lot of new fans to the game.
“In all transparency, they mentioned the fact that you’re finishing college, your maturity and leadership, as some of the reasons they targeted you.” As opposed to the women going straight from high school to the pros, I guess.
“Well, that’s flattering. I’m on board if you think this is the best offer.”
The corners of his mouth turn up. “I appreciate the eagerness. First, read through the contract. Make sure you don’t have any questions. Have your lawyer to review it too.”
“Sounds good, I’ll read it as soon as you send it.”
He breaks into a grin. “Excellent. And Eden, congratulations.”
I can’t wait to tell Connor and Dad we have another thing to celebrate tonight.
But the other person I’m excited to share this update with may be more reachable right now.
EDEN: Mom, huge news again! Can I call this time?