Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
ELLIE
I tiptoe out of my room, leaving a sleeping Zoey in my bed. It’s just after eleven and I have something I want to do before I fall asleep. I checked and it’s not a game day, so I’m hopeful he’s still awake and free.
I curl up on the couch and pull a blanket up under my chin, tapping Matt’s contact on my phone. He picks up on the second ring.
“Hi, baby.” The low timbre of Matt’s voice puts little butterflies in my stomach.
I’m never going to get sick of that sound. The excitement and comfort I feel hearing him is such a heady combination. “Hi,” I say, just above a whisper.
“Why are you being so quiet?”
“Zoey’s asleep in my bed. I snuck out to the couch to call you.”
Matt sighs. “I’m jealous of your friend.”
“I can’t believe you flew her out for me. I don’t know what to say.” I swallow. “Thank you.”
“It was nothing,” he says dismissively. “I’m just glad my agent found her number for me and she was able to come. It was a good surprise?”
“It’s definitely not nothing, but yes, the best surprise.”
“Good. I, uh, wanted to ask you about something actually.”
I settle back into the couch farther, content to close my eyes. “I’m all ears.”
“I talked to my parents earlier today and they’re planning to come visit for a week or two, maybe more.” Matt pauses, either hesitating or waiting for me, I’m not sure. I hear him clear his throat. “Would you like to meet them while they’re here?”
I feel my lips pull up. Was he nervous to ask me? “I’d love to. When are they coming?”
Matt exhales before he speaks again. “They get in next Friday, the day after I get back. I was thinking maybe we could all have dinner at my place?”
I internally cry at the idea of having to get myself there, but I know I’m due for a drive to make sure I don’t fully break down whenever I get in the car next.
My therapist in Boston recommended I try driving once a month, if possible.
It’s been just a little bit longer than that.
Okay, a lot. I stifle a sigh. At least it means finally seeing Matt’s place and the people who raised him.
“That sounds great. Are they just visiting for fun?”
“Kind of. They’ll probably go to our home games while they’re here, maybe the closer away ones too. They are definitely going to try to convince you to go to one with them, so I apologize in advance.”
I wince, but that sounds like a problem for future Ellie. No need to panic now. “I’m excited to meet them. Do you talk on the phone with them a lot?”
“I try to call every week.”
Ugh, that’s so cute. “My dad calls me every Sunday,” I tell him. I’m not sure what compelled me to.
“Yeah? Michael, right? What does he like to talk about?”
“Yep, that’s him. Oh, you know, normal dad stuff. Work, things he sees on the news, TV shows and whatnot.”
“Sounds like my dad. You miss him?”
“All the time.”
Matt’s quiet for a few moments. “Maybe I could meet him if he comes to visit?”
I swallow the sudden emotion in my throat. “He’s a bit of a homebody, but maybe you could come with me to Boston next time I visit him.”
Another pause and then, “I’d like that very much.”
I smile and hold the phone tighter. “He’s a big sci-fi guy, so you’ll have plenty to talk about.”
“Ah, finally someone who will appreciate my little alien movies.”
“Yeah, well, we can’t all be E.T. fanatics.”
Matt barks out a laugh. I yawn and open my eyes to look at the time on my phone. I should probably go to bed. Knowing Zoey, she’ll be up at some ungodly hour. I tell that to Matt.
“Ellie?”
“Yeah?”
The line is quiet for a while.
“I just…miss you. Dream of me, okay?”
“Bossy,” I jokingly tut, knowing that happens every night anyway.