36. Chapter 33
Jax
“My girl has been a light around here for as long as I can remember,” Ruby says, standing at the bar addressing the room. Her eyes are misty, her voice is shaky. Her and Mare have a special bond, and you can tell Mare staying in New York is killing her, even if she’d never actually say it out loud.
“Mare, you are going to do amazing things, and Oscar, you are going to really make a name for yourself out there. I just know it.”
Ruby raises her glass in the air and everyone cheers. The room erupts in congratulatory murmurs and hugs all around as Mare and Oz make their way around the small group.
It’s an intimate send off. The team, Ozzie’s parents, Sadie, and Sloan. A small fuss is exactly what Ozzie wanted. He hates attention, but deserves it.
“You ok?” Sloan asks, coming up behind me and handing me a drink before wrapping her arms around my waist. Her embrace is welcomed as I melt into her touch and I take in the slight scent of orange and vanilla.
“Yeah, I’m good. I love you,” I say, kissing the top of her head, and my heart skips a beat at the three small squeezes she places on my arm as she pulls away and looks me in the eyes.
She’s everything I’ve ever wanted and more than I deserve, and each time I kiss her, it almost feels surreal.
“What time do they leave tomorrow?” she asks.
“7 am. I told Oz I’d drive them to the airport if you want to come. We can grab breakfast on the way back.”
“I love breakfast.” She smiles.
“I know. That’s why I suggested it.” I tickle her side and place another kiss on her cheek. These simple playful moments between us are my favorite.
“Come take a shot with us!” Mare calls to Sloan from the corner of the bar, and I pat her ass in encouragement to join them.
I watch for a few minutes as Sloan slides in between Sadie and Mare and the three of them take a shot and then another.
“Tomorrow morning’s gonna fucking suck,” Ozzie says, handing me another drink.
“Yeah if you keep making me double fist it all night, you won’t have a ride to the airport,” I say even though I throw back the rest of the drink I already have and set the glass on the table.
“So are you two gonna just pretend you’re just fuck buddies forever, or are you going to tell people you’re actually together?” He laughs. “Rikki keeps asking me what’s up and I don’t know what to say to him. It’s starting to piss him off.”
“Rikki can worry about himself. I’ll tell everyone once Sloan gets her new podcast up and running and all the loose ends with that dickwad are tied up.”
“By that time Rikki’s gonna be freaking out about the new season and the fact that he has to see Mila.”
“This is exactly why that fucker isn’t moving in with me. I don’t want anything to do with his drama.”
“Yeah right. You love that fucker. You’d do anything for him. Including talking him off the ledge.”
Our conversation is interrupted by that motherfucker pouring shots for everyone in the room.
“I bought us a bottle to share!” Rikki yells from the bar.
“I do fucking love him,” I say, patting Ozzie on the back and making my way over to the bar.
“To teammates who became brothers!” he yells over the crowd before everyone raises their glasses in the air.
The rest of the night was fun. We all got a little more drunk than we intended.
Even Ruby was a little buzzed before the night was over.
Horner gave Ozzie the best farewell complete with an Orbit statue to put on his mantle and retired his jersey so it can be hung on the field for all the fans to see.
No player in Mango Bay will wear the number 21 ever again.
Luckily we all passed out when we got home, because right now, 5 am feels like torture. I don’t think I would have been able to get out of bed if we’d have stayed up any later.
Thankfully, Sloan and Mare thought ahead and ordered breakfast burritos for us to heat up this morning to take in the car or I’d also be hangry and hungover.
“Are you able to sleep on the plane?” Sloan asks Mare as we get into the car.
“No,” Mare chuckles. “I hate flying. My anxiety is relentless the entire time I wait to board, thinking of all the worst case scenarios, and by the time I make it to my seat I’m a nervous wreck.”
“You’ll sleep,” Ozzie insists. “I got you some anxiety gummies and we will grab a mimosa before we head to the gate.”
“Why in the hell have I never thought of that?” she says, punching him in the arm. “You know how anxious I get, and this is the first time you mention this magic cocktail?”
“I didn’t know the gummies existed. Horner told me about them,” he says, rubbing his arm.
“Well I hope you sleep, because that’s all I plan on doing all day,” Sloan says to me with a yawn.
“I thought we were getting breakfast?” I ask.
“They got burritos,” she says, as if that’s not just an appetizer to me.
“I can eat that and a full meal,” I point out.
“How about breakfast for dinner?” she responds, still yawning. “I want to go straight back to bed.”
“I fucking love breakfast for dinner. Oz, let’s get breakfast for dinner when we get home,” Mare suggests.
Home. This one word makes my insides turn a little. This is the last time I’m going to see Oz until we play the Bagel Bombers in preseason.
I feel my chest tighten just before my hands turn clammy and my heart rate picks up. Heat pricks the back of my eyes, and I don’t know how to make it stop, so I stay silent until we pull up to the passenger drop off.
I jump out and help Ozzie get the bags out of the trunk while Sloan and Mare hug each other and promise to talk soon.
“Hey,” Oz whispers as he bends down next to me as we grab the last two bags. We’re both shielded by the hatch standing up in the air. “Thank you.”
I give him a questioning glance as I adjust my hand on the handle.
“For keeping me in line with Mare. You are one of the only reasons we’re together.”
I nod and smile.
“Also, for being my best friend. I’m gonna miss the hell out of you. I love you man.” His words crack a little, and it makes me swallow to hide the lump in my throat.
I pause for a second. “I love you, man,” I put my hand on his shoulder and squeeze it.
He grabs the suitcase in front of him.
I lift the one in my hand, and hand it to Mare.
I hug her, and wish them a safe flight.
And, it feels like I barely blink before they’re gone.
My life shifted in that moment, because we were both on different tracks chasing the same dream.
A future—and mine smiles at me before closing the passenger door.