Chapter 20
TJ
TJ
Putting the key to my house here for you.
Isnap a picture of myself, pointing to the corner of my backdoor welcome mat, and send it to Lucy. I make the quick drive to the stadium, where I’m getting on the team bus so we can head to the airport. We fly out to Buffalo for our game in a few hours.
By the time I park and check my phone, I’ve got a message waiting for me.
Lucy:
Sounds good. You sure that’s safe?
I smile as I walk through the player lot.
TJ
I’m not worried. It’s a good neighborhood, and the chickens are good guard dogs.
Lucy
You treat your chickens like they have main character energy.
TJ
That’s because they do.
Hey! Maybe you should write a story about them
Lucy
You’re really not going to let that go, are you?
TJ
Not until you tell me the truth.
I spent an absurd amount of time on the internet last night trying to figure out if my hunch about Lucy is true.
I have nothing to base my speculation on except for the way she looked at the retirement community when she was studying Titi and Arnold.
It was like she was in another world and she’d already dreamt up entire backstories for them.
That, and the guilty look that flashed in her eyes when I asked her about it.
For a second, I really thought she was going to admit to being a secret author or something.
But then she clammed up, and now I’m wondering if I imagined it all.
Still, it fits. If she came to the gala looking for inspiration, it could have been inspiration for a new book idea. I know I’m reaching, but I can’t help it.
Unfortunately, my hours of scrolling turned up nothing to support my hypothesis.
Lucy Dupree’s online footprint pretty much starts and ends with her stepmother’s brand.
I read a lot of old posts from the days following Lucy’s dad’s death.
They’re heartbreaking, and my stomach clenches every time I think about Lucy, as a child, shouldering the loss of her only remaining parent. My protective impulses for her flared.
Most of Lucy’s public posts are collabs between her and her stepsisters, originating from their accounts.
She never shared much herself. There’s nothing to indicate she has some sort of alter ego; no news articles speculating on her as a secret author.
I might be barking up the wrong tree. But something tells me I’m not.
I’m known for having good instincts on the field, and I feel like those same instincts are at play here.
I stow my phone when I get into a team meeting, but by the time we’re loading up the bus, I check it again to find another message.
Lucy
I don’t know what you’re talking about! But since you love your chickens so much, maybe you should write a book about them.
Interesting. I can’t type back fast enough.
TJ
Whoa, we’ve moved from a simple story to a full-on novel now, have we? Tell me more.
Lucy
I’m speaking hypothetically.
TJ
Hypothetically, but for real, right?
I run into Anton’s back. He stopped in the aisle of the bus. “Easy, killer,” he says and then furrows his brow. “Why are you smirking like that?”
I relax my face. “What? Like what?”
Del pops his head over my shoulder. “He’s texting Lucy.”
I tuck my phone into my sweatshirt pocket. “Dude. Is nothing sacred?”
“Did you have a nice time with her last night?” Anton asks, eyes twinkling.
I roll mine back at him. “Oh yeah, surrounded by two dozen old people. It was a rocking evening.”
“He’s deflecting,” Poe says from behind Del. “He doesn’t want us to know what’s actually going on between the two of them.”
I nudge Anton forward, trying to get out from under their scrutiny … and if I’m being honest, back to texting with Lucy.
“I told you guys. There’s nothing going on between us. We’re friends. If you must know, she’s checking on my chickens for me while we’re gone.”
Anton looks at Del and Poe over my shoulder, his eyebrows arched.
“Why are you making that face?” I ask him.
“No reason.” He waves a hand. “You haven’t once had a woman over to your place in all the years I’ve known you, and suddenly Lucy Dupree comes along and it’s like Grand Central Station over there.”
“It’s really not that big of a deal.” I shrug. “She’s a friend like you’re my friends. If you weren’t getting on the same plane with me, I’d have one of you check on the chickens. Seeing as you’re all tied up and she offered, I figured, why not.”
“Okay, then.” Anton nods, but I can tell he doesn’t believe me.
Whatever. I don’t need the guys to understand, and if they want to rib me for my friendship with Lucy, I can take it.
As I take my seat on the bus, I recognize that the feelings stirring in my chest when I see a new message from her pop up are different than the reaction I have when one of the guys texts me.
But I’m not going to overthink that right now.
I’m going to sit back and enjoy chatting with her.
Lucy
You’re ridiculous and relentless.
TJ
What I’m hearing you say is I’m ridiculously smart and relentlessly funny.
Lucy
Now you’re projecting.
Don’t you have anything better to do than text me right now? Not that I mind. But I figured …
I frown. There she goes again, putting herself down.
TJ
Nope. Boarding the bus to head to the airport. You’re actually doing me a favor, keeping me out of my own head before the game.
Lucy
Do you get nervous?
I chew the inside of my cheek. I don’t admit this because it runs in the face of the entire outside persona I project—the fearless, not-a-care-in-the-world guy who saunters around on the field like nothing can touch him.
TJ
I do. Don’t tell anyone, or I’ll lose my street cred.
Lucy
You? Street cred?
TJ
Very funny. I thought you were on my side!
Lucy
Just keeping you humble
Seriously, though, your secret’s safe with me. You’ll be great on Sunday. You always are … at least, you have been the past two games, which is the extent of my football watching.
TJ
We need to get you caught up on all you’ve missed. I’ll send you my highlight video
Oh boy, I can hardly wait.
I snicker, and Del’s face pops up over the seatback in front of me.
I shoo him away. I can’t tell if Lucy’s being facetious.
I don’t actually think she’ll want to spend her time watching my greatest hits, but it’s a balm to my ego to think that maybe, just maybe, she’s interested in seeing what I bring to the table.
I leave it all on the field, and I’m proud of my play.
I find the link and send it over, because why not?
TJ
Brace yourself for my greatness.
Lucy
I’ll be the judge of that.
TJ
I can’t wait to hear your full report.
Lucy
I’ll be sure to tell you all the areas I find where you can improve.
TJ
Naturally, I’d expect nothing less.
I’m smiling like a goofball, and I don’t even care. Talking to Lucy is fun. I’m having fun.
I take a break from texting when we make it to the airport and file onto the private team plane headed for Buffalo, but as soon as I can, I’m checking my messages again, and I’m rewarded with:
Lucy
Football is actually pretty great. Who knew!
TJ
I think you mean to say, Wow, TJ, you’re incredible. I could watch you all day!
Lucy
You’re incorrigible.
TJ
I don’t know what that means.
brb looking it up
Lucy
…
TJ
I think I’m going to take that as a compliment. Also, my research says that’s a word often found in romance novels
Lucy
You’re proving my point here.
TJ
lol touché.
FYI, I’m on the plane now, so I’m going to shut my phone off soon and try to sleep … pregame flight ritual.
Lucy
I can let you go now.
TJ
Not yet.
Shoot. Did that sound pathetic? Did I come on too strong? Too demanding?
Lucy
Okay. You tell me when.
I smile, grateful that Lucy seems to be enjoying texting with me as much as I am with her. I settle into my seat.
TJ
Other than critiquing my highlight reel, what are you up to today?
Lucy
Nothing very exciting. Hanging out at home.
I wonder if she does anything for work. She probably doesn’t have to.
Based on what I read, if she’s entitled to any of the Dupree social media fortune, she’s financially set.
That, and if her dad had life insurance, she wouldn’t have to work a day in her life.
I don’t peg Lucy as the type of person to sit around and twiddle her thumbs.
TJ
Hmmm. You say that, but what I’m hearing is you’re about to write the next great American novel ...
Bubbles pop up on my screen, but then they disappear. I hold my breath, then chuckle when her message finally comes through.
Lucy
INCORRIGIBLE
The announcement comes over the intercom to put our devices into airplane mode, and that’s my cue. I’ll send off one last message to Lucy before settling in for a nap. Somehow, I think I’m about to have some very sweet dreams. The thought should freak me out, but I’m in too good a mood to care.
TJ
And yet you won’t deny it. So you’re saying there’s a chance …
My fingers hover over the keys. I don’t know how to end this conversation.
Warmly.
Sincerely.
Have a great day.
Wishing you well.
Talk soon.
All these random email sign-offs pop into my head, but none of them feel quite right.
“Dude, quit overthinking this,” I scold myself.
Del appears in front of me. “What’s that?”
“Nothing,” I mutter, staring at the screen.
He points at my phone. “You’re supposed to power that down, Teej.”
“I know, alright. Give me one second.”
I tap out the first thing that comes to my head.
TJ
Taking off here. Say hi to the chickens for me. And enjoy rewatching my highlight video. I’ll text soon to check in!
Was the exclamation point too much? It feels like it was too much, but there’s no going back now.