Chapter Thirty-Five Randall
It happens quickly, but not quick enough. Elise has officially taken up a full dresser and part of the walk-in closet.
If tonight goes as planned, she’ll fully move in before the hockey season begins.
Those rules about keeping things casual seem light-years past. We’re so beyond sharing a bed.
It’s time to share a home.
“That doesn’t look right,” Beatrice says to me and her husband Logan.
I hired her to turn the downstairs bedroom into Elise’s theater-inspired writing cave. It used to be my sort-of-office, but I’ve moved my lame desk to the upstairs guest bedroom.
Coordinating with Lily, I’ve framed some of my girlfriend’s vintage show posters to start off the décor. Everything else, Beatrice ordered and arranged.
My girlfriend started writing a new Shakespeare adaptation project when we returned from Vancouver. In typical Elise fashion, she’s all in, dedicating herself to a project.
Day and night, I’d catch her writing in a notebook at the corner of the couch or at the end of the kitchen counter. She spends time in the library down the street or goes back to the home she shares with her mother.
I want to show her that this place is her home, if she wants it. Really fucking hope that she wants it. That she wants me the same way I want her.
Need this redecoration project to say all that and more: Surprise! I hope you like the townhouse enough to move in so we can live together under the same roof for, like, forever.
Geraldine and Elise are in Lake Michigan visiting some of their relatives. I was invited but begged off with the excuse of not interrupting a summer family reunion.
More importantly, it was an opportunity to pull off the surprise makeover.
“It only works if we place it diagonally,” Beatrice explains.
She’s arranged for a carpenter to build fancy bookcases against one wall, which took the guy two full days. Furnishings and decoration need to happen before Elise returns tonight.
When Logan and I arrange the desk and cabinets where she wants them, Beatrice shoos us away so she can decorate in peace.
“Isn’t she something?” Logan says about his wife when we settle ourselves with beers on the balcony. I used to think it was ridiculous to be obsessed about a woman you had around all the time, but now I get it.
I want Elise around all the time; barely got through the last few days without her.
“Beatrice is incredible,” I agree. “And thanks for squeezing all that work into a few days.”
“I love it when she works in Columbus instead of driving all over the Midwest for jobs. Her next project is a mansion in Indiana, and I can’t go with her because training camp starts. By the way, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this ready for the season.”
“What do you mean?”
“C’mon, Randi. Usually in late August you’re still in some beach getting wasted.”
“Yeah, well, might as well stay in shape in case Jeremy isn’t one hundred percent recovered.”
“How do you think coach will work with you two? Now that you’ve proven you can be top goalie in any team.”
He’s bringing up something I hadn’t allowed myself to consider.
How will it feel to return to the ice in my role as second string? It’s always been enough before. Is it still?
Being in the playoffs gave me a taste of something. Not victory, obviously, but the promise of it. The sense that whatever I put in will actually matter.
I’m also in the middle of a contract. I don’t want to miss the chance to prove myself this year. If I plan to make a home for me and Elise, I need to be indispensable.
“All I can do is work hard,” I state. “Some teams are almost fifty-fifty with their goaltenders.”
“It would lower the risk of strain or reinjury,” Logan adds. “Anyway, you’ve come a long way. I’m proud of you.”
“OK, relax Dad. I don’t need you to get all weird about it.” I dismiss the praise although it’s nice to hear people notice how much more I’m putting into the training.
“It’s your woman. She’s changed you. Elise has made you want to be a better version of yourself.”
“Totally agree,” Gordon or Sean says. They join us on the balcony after letting themselves in.
“You’re about an hour late, fuckers,” I complain since we were all supposed to help move the furniture and clean up after the carpenter.
“Looks to me like we’re just in time,” Sean snickers, chugging down the beer he grabbed from my fridge.
“Is Elise coming back tonight?” Gordon asks.
“I’m sure Lily told you.”
“She didn’t. We’re not seeing each other anymore.”
We all turn to him cautiously, unsure how to take his deadpan declaration. It can’t be that simple. He’s been more into Lily than he’s been into anyone for all the years we’ve played together.
“Why?” Sean asks what everyone is thinking.
“Fuck if I know.” He sounds bitter before chugging the rest of the beer.
“Got any food? I’m starving.” Gordon enters the living area without waiting for an answer.
“Do you think he wants to, like, talk about it?” I ask the two guys left outside.
“You mean his feelings?” Sean makes a sour face.
“Well, duh, that’s why he brought it up, right?” Logan, the relationship guru, sounds confident.
“Technically, I’m the one who brought it up,” I correct.
“You know Lily. Maybe you should ask her.” Sean points at me. “So, we can help.”
“I’ll see Elise tonight. She’ll know what to do,” I decide.
We’re talking like a bunch of gossiping grandmas, sitting outside and yapping about who said what.
How is this my life right now?
“Gordon needs help today,” Sean declares. “I’ll ask Lily myself. What’s her number?”
“You are not getting her number!” Gordon hollers from inside.
Logan chuckles and enters the house.
“You obviously want to talk about this,” he addresses Gordon.
I need a refill anyway, so I follow inside.
“There’s nothing to talk about. We were supposed to grab a movie last night, but she canceled. And then the texts came in.”
He pulls his phone out of his pocket, unlocks the screen with his face, and throws it on the sofa like it burned him.
Sean reaches over and reads the text out loud.
“Hey Gordon, I’m sorry I missed tonight.”
Logan looks over his shoulder.
“No problem. We can catch it next time,” which was Gordon’s text in response.
They continue to read the back and forth, Sean altering his voice so it’s high pitched and feminine.
“I hate to do this by text, but the conversation can’t wait.”
“Oh shit,” I mumble because that’s the beginning of a breakup text if I’ve ever heard one.
Logan, in an exaggeratedly serious voice, reads Gordon’s text.
“What’s wrong? Want me to call you? I can come over.”
“I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and the time we’ve spent together” Sean continues to read in a bad impersonation of Lily. “But there’s a lot going on in my life right now and I need some space. I don’t want to lead you on so I think we should—”
“Enough!” Gordon interrupts. He grabs his phone.
“You got the gist of it. Now drop it.”
“Drop what?” Beatrice asks, emerging from the room and going straight into Logan’s arms like they’re magnets clicking together.
“Gordon’s having girlfriend issues,” Logan says before pressing a kiss to her temple.
Watching them makes me miss Elise something crazy.
“She was never my girlfriend,” Gordon says.
“Tell your dick that,” I tease and regret the comment immediately because Gordon is clearly not in the mood for our usual ball bashing.
“We’re here for you when you’re ready to talk,” Beatrice says with a kind smile. “In the meantime, are you ready to see Elise’s office?” she asks me.
“Can’t wait.”
Biggest understatement of the year.