Jett #2
“Yes, it is. Way too much.” I shake my head in disbelief. “I’ve never known a woman who talks like you.”
“No one in your bevy of bimbos has a mouth, or any self-confidence, for that matter? You only like weak women like Ginny?”
“What bevy?” I ask. My daughter thinks I fuck around, and I have no idea why. “And your mother isn’t weak.”
She harumphs. “You’re weak for continuing to defend her. She’s literally the Monday of all people.”
Double Dees shouts from the other side of the court, “Are you two ladies done gossiping? Let’s play another game.”
And we do. As always, Kennedy and I avoid a real conversation and do what we do best together. Compete and kick ass.
Maybe one day, when she’s ready, we’ll talk. For now, I’m just happy to spend the afternoon with her.
One step at a time.
I pour my glass of wine as I open the Zoom link to join the video appointment with Dr. Lucadamo. I see Pierce and Ginny together at her house in one window, and the doctor in another.
Dr. Lucadamo is a psychiatrist Pierce has been seeing for four years. Some weeks he meets with her alone, and others we do so as a family. It depends on how things are going in his life.
She’s an attractive woman in her forties with sandy blonde hair and a kind, gentle demeanor.
She specializes in Pierce’s issues and has been helpful to him.
He’s come a long way since working with her.
My natural instincts are to give him the same tough love I received as a kid, but Dr. Lucadamo has helped me see that Pierce won’t thrive under that kind of pressure.
It’s been a long, hard battle for my son, but I believe he’s finally in a better place.
She smiles into the camera. “Thanks for moving our appointment to tonight. Something came up for tomorrow night.” We usually meet on Monday evenings because the Camels mostly play on Sundays.
Mondays are my lightest day during the season.
“I understand it was a big weekend for Pierce,” she says excitedly.
I nod with pride. “His final home game was one of his best. Five touchdowns. I’m so proud of him.” She gives me a look I’ve learned means I need to reword. “I mean, I’m just proud of how hard he works, regardless of the outcome.”
She nods in approval.
Pierce’s face lights up. “The dopest part was that Kennedy came to watch me play. She mogged all the other families.”
Dr. Lucadamo’s eyebrows pinch together before asking what I am also wondering. “What does mog mean?”
Pierce chuckles. “It’s like when someone looks so good everyone else looks worse in comparison.
I have a professional athlete, superstar of a sister.
How can anyone else’s basic siblings compete with that?
The guys rib me for how pretty she is, but it’s chill.
Just another way she mogs the rest of them. ”
I see Ginny’s already tight face tighten more. She’s always flinched when people mention Kennedy’s beauty. She should be proud of our beautiful, successful daughter. Something is amiss with my ex-wife, but she’s the mother of my two children. There’s nothing I can do about it.
The doctor takes a few notes before looking back at the screen. “And you continue to spend time with Kennedy?”
“Yes,” I answer before realizing she was talking to Pierce.
Ginny’s eyes widen in surprise. “You spend time with her?”
I nod. “I do. We play pickleball together.”
Pierce gasps. “So cool. Can I play with you guys sometime?”
“Of course,” I answer.
Again, Ginny’s face tightens. I’m not arguing with her about this in front of Pierce, so I redirect. “She and Pierce have been meeting for lunches and dinners. They’re reconnecting. Kennedy told me that it’s important to her to do so.”
Dr. Lucadamo’s eyes appear to toggle between screens nervously. “And she’ll be in town for the foreseeable future?”
I know why she’s asking. Pierce’s troubles started when Kennedy initially left for college and cut off all communication. She fears he’ll regress if it happens again.
I nod. “I think she plans to stick around. She’s thriving with her new team and has realized how much she’s missed her little brother. She even mentioned possibly buying a house in the area.”
Pierce looks like he could fly right now.
The doctor nods. “Wonderful. How are college applications coming along, Pierce?”
He sighs. I’ve been on him to finish his applications. “They’re due in two weeks. I think I’m only applying locally now that Kennedy is around. It would be chopped to move away just when she finally comes home.”
Ginny and I exchange glances. This is news to us. We think a change of scenery would be good for him. A fresh start where no one knows of his past troubles.
As if reading our minds, Dr. Lucadamo calmly states, “There’s no need to make that decision now. As we’ve discussed in the past, it would be beneficial to apply to lots of schools, both in and out of state. Better to have options than regrets, right, Pierce?”
He tilts his head back and forth in contemplation. Meanwhile, Ginny and I are on the edge of our seats.
Finally, he says, “I guess it’s NBD.”
Shit. What’s NBD?
“Right,” the doctor agrees. “It’s no big deal to apply to a few out-of-state schools.”
NBD is no big deal. Got it. Crisis temporarily averted. We’ll force this issue another time.
It’s late at night and I’m reviewing game tape in my media room when my phone chimes. I see it’s a notification from the dating app. I open it as quickly as possible.
Diane: Sorry for the delay. It’s been a weekend from hell.
I already know why, but I need to act like I don’t.
Lloyd: I’m so sorry. Is everything okay?
Diane: You’re still awake? I didn’t think you would be.
Lloyd: As I get older, I don’t really sleep anymore. It’s more dozing between pee breaks.
Diane: LOL. How old are you?
Lloyd: Old enough that I have to turn down the car radio to read street signs.
Diane: Thanks for my first smile in two days.
Lloyd: Tell me what’s wrong, angel face.
Diane: A bit of a family emergency. My life for the next few months is going to be crazy. I came on here to tell you that you shouldn’t waste your time with me. Reach out to someone who has time for you. You’re a nice guy. You deserve a woman who can give more of herself.
As if I have any interest in that. I think for a moment.
This could work well for me. My season lasts another three or four months, depending on how far we get in the playoffs.
Perhaps we can talk for a few months, and then when my season is over and I have more time to date, we can have the big reveal.
Lloyd: I have a hectic few months too. No time for dating. Perhaps we can chat and be each other’s stress outlet. I enjoyed talking to you the other night. That’s all I want right now. I’m in no rush.
It takes her a bit of time to reply, but she eventually does.
Diane: If you’re sure.
Lloyd: I am. Share what you feel comfortable sharing. Don’t share what you don’t feel comfortable sharing. No judgment. Sometimes we need an unbiased ear. Sometimes you need to let things out without any ramifications. We can be that for each other.
Diane: You’re a nice guy, Lloyd. Tell me the real reason you don’t date.
I take a sip of my wine as I consider my life over the past few years. I’m already uncomfortable deceiving her as much as I am. When she asks direct questions, I want to give her honest answers. The whole point of this is for her to get to know the real me before she finds out I’m Lloyd.
Lloyd: My son has mental health issues. I’ve been solely focused on him and work. It doesn’t leave much time for a personal life.
Diane: I’m so sorry to hear that.
Lloyd: He’s in a good place right now. What about you? Why don’t you date?
I start to ask about how a smart, gorgeous woman like her can still be single when I remember I’m not supposed to know how breathtakingly beautiful she is. Before I can elaborate, she responds.
Diane: I’ve dated a little bit since my divorce, but I’d rather be single for the rest of my life than be with someone for the sake of being with someone. I can’t seem to find my party mate.
Lloyd: Party mate? Is that young person slang? Do I need to ask my son what it means?
Yet another term I don’t know. I need a dictionary for this crap.
Diane: LOL. No, that one is all mine. My ex-husband and I used to go to parties and kind of parallel party.
We’d both be there having a good time, but never together.
He’d be with friends and clients. I’d be with friends and spouses.
I want someone who, when we go to a party, wants to have a good time together, not apart. Not separately. Does that make sense?
Lloyd: It does. My ex-wife and I would split too, and I never gave it a second thought. Hell, we parallel lived too, and it took its toll on my whole family. Never again. I want a party mate too, Diane.