9. Joey
9
Joey
I exhale in relief when the train conductor announces the upcoming final stop in Danbury, Connecticut. Between my two-hour commute to the Firebirds sports complex in Queens for the job interview and the three-hour trip to Connecticut, I’ve done nothing but switch between trains and buses all day.
Well, there is one other thing I’ve done today. I got the job with the Firebirds, albeit temporarily. I’m still in shock at how fast it happened. While it concerns me they hired me on the spot for reasons other than my own merits, I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn whatever I can in the short time I’ll have with the team.
When I exit the train, I immediately spot the sporty gray Beamer that Brent bought Charlie when she graduated college. I smile and wave and head for my best friend, who’s getting out of the car.
Without trying, Charlie looks like she stepped out of a fashion magazine, showcasing the perfect casual summer outfit. She’s wearing a denim miniskirt and a white sleeveless button-down shirt tied at the waist that shows off her tall, slim body. Not self-conscious about her height like me, she wears beige canvas sandals with a two-inch heel. Her straight blonde hair in a short, high ponytail completes the look.
When I reach her, she throws her arms around me and squeezes all the air out of me.
“I’ve missed you, Joey!”
I wonder if I’ll ever become used to the unconditional and exuberant love Charlie offers me. With most people, I’m awkward with the touchy-feely stuff, not having any experience with it as a child. It took some time to becoming used to receiving it from Charlie and her family—except Brent—and I return the hug with all the love I have for her. “I’ve missed you, too, Charlie.” It’s only been a month, but it’s still true.
She gives me a kiss on the cheek before letting go. “So, how did it go this morning?”
“I got it!”
She squeals and throws her arms around me again, swaying in excitement, almost making me stumble. “I knew you would! How could they not hire you? You’re the smartest, most qualified person ever.”
I laugh. “Not that you’re biased or anything.”
We catch up during the twenty-minute drive to the rural town where Charlie grew up and where I finally felt like part of a family. Though the house is no longer small and run-down like the first time I saw it, it still evokes warm, happy memories.
And when I catch sight of the figure sitting on the wide railing of the front porch, drinking from a tall glass, the familiar butterflies dance in my belly. Bracing myself to encounter him again, I exit the car and grab my overnight bag from the back seat. I follow Charlie, but I falter when Brent straightens as I reach him.
“What’s with the suit?” he asks in greeting.
I glance down at my black slacks and matching jacket. “Oh, I had an interview today.”
“Oh yeah? How did it go?” he asks, pulling the screen door open and holding it.
I approach the door, thinking he’ll move to give me room to pass, but he stands still, staring at me. My breath hitches at the intensity in his eyes. What on earth is he thinking? Blushing, I move past him, turning sideways to avoid touching him. “I got the job. It’s actually with—”
“Josefina, sweetheart!” Sandra calls out.
Grateful for the distraction, I face the Hutchinson matriarch, limping toward me yet exuding strength and comfort. She’s in her early fifties, with fine lines around her eyes caused by too much tragedy and stress in a matter of years and a few gray strands in her mostly caramel-brown hair. Her warm blue eyes and welcoming smile make her the most beautiful woman in the world to me.
I put my bag down and go to her, the love in my heart for this woman overflowing into my smile. I clasp her in a hug, and tears threaten as they always do when Sandra places a soft kiss on my cheek and a loving hand on my head. She cups my jaw when I pull back.
“How are you, honey?”
“Christ, you always act like it’s been years since you’ve seen any of us when we come home.” Brent shakes his head in disgust.
“Hush up, son,” Sandra chastises. “After having you all here every day for years, a month is too long.”
We make our way into the large eat-in kitchen where Stevie and Bobbie greet me as they set the table. I haven’t seen Stevie since her last visit, months ago.
While the oldest sister resembles her mother, Bobbie has Sandra’s blue eyes but their father’s golden-blonde hair, like Charlie and Brent. To me, she looks like a cute little pixie, but I would never say it aloud to the teenager, who is sensitive about her height. I think of her as my own little sister. I greet and hug both sisters.
“Joey, go wash up and change if you want. Dinner’s ready,” Sandra says as she pulls a baking dish out of the oven.
“Hurry, I’m starving,” Brent adds. Something in his voice makes me glance back at him. My breath catches as I meet his gaze. Those beautiful eyes of his that are normally soulful are positively sultry as they stare at me. Is he flirting with me? He cocks an eyebrow, then turns away to grab a dinner roll and bite into it. I flee as the usual lighthearted teasing and bickering between the siblings begins.
I come back a few minutes later, dressed in jeans and a loose-fitting T-shirt, a light summer scarf around my neck with the ends dangling over my chest. Everyone is seated and filling up their plates. The only chair available at the oval table is between Brent and Bobbie, and I wonder if he somehow deliberately manipulated that. But why would he?
He hands me the bread basket once I’m sitting next to him. I take it and pick out a roll, knowing I won’t be able to do more than nibble at my food with him sitting so close to me. It’s a good thing he’d lived on campus at his college during the two years I stayed here. Otherwise I would have wasted away to nothing if I had to share every meal with him.
“Congratulations, sweetheart, on getting the job,” Sandra says.
“Thanks, Sandra. It’s only for a few weeks, but I’m excited about it. I still can’t believe they called me, considering they didn’t have my résumé on file.” A thought occurs and I turn to Brent. “Did you say anything to the Firebirds about me?”
“Why would I tell them about you? I didn’t even know you applied there until Charlie just told me.”
“Well, they asked me who I knew on the team, and since I’d just met most of the offensive line at the club…” I trail off, biting my lip, realizing what I’ve revealed to the others at the table. Charlie, of course, doesn’t miss my slip.
“What? You met his teammates? More importantly, you went to a club?”
I concentrate on piercing a green bean with my fork. “I told you I went out with my coworkers.”
“You didn’t tell me about clubbing or running into Brent there.”
I peek at Brent out of the corner of my eye, wondering if he’s going to say anything. But he is focused on his food.
“Nothing really to tell,” I say. “Brent saw me with my coworkers, invited me up, introduced me around, and that was it.”
“Except for the fact that she got shit-faced.”
“Brent!” Sandra admonishes. “Language.” She glances at Bobbie who rolls her eyes.
“Please, Mom. I’m fourteen. I’ve heard worse.”
“Doesn’t mean you have to hear it at the dinner table.”
“Okay, we’re getting off topic here,” Charlie says, turning to me. “You got drunk? But you hardly drink.”
“That’s probably why,” Brent chimes in. “She was a lightweight doing shots.”
My face on fire from being the center of attention, I glare at him, silently telling him to shut up. He merely grins at me.
“How did you get home, honey?” Sandra asks in concern. “Brent—”
“Don’t worry, Mom. I took care of her and made sure she was safe.”
I hold my breath to see if he'll reveal the embarrassing details. I sigh in relief when he says no more and goes back to eating. He raises an eyebrow at me, and I can’t help the blush that heats my cheeks. I quickly change the subject.
“Well, I’d hate to have gotten the job just because we know each other.”
“Wasn’t me,” he says. “But it might have been DeShawn. He asked me if I’d heard from you today.”
DeShawn recommended me? I vaguely recall talking to him and Alicia about what I do. It’s possible I poured out my hopes and dreams to them while under the influence.
“So what?” Charlie waves her hand. “Almost everyone in any industry gets a foot in the door because they know someone. It’s the way the world works.”
“Right. Take her, for example.” Stevie grins and points at Charlie with her fork. “She works for a sports show and just happens to have a brother who plays in the NFL.”
Charlie shrugs. “It’s true I probably wouldn’t have gotten the job otherwise. And it sucks that it means I have to work harder than everyone else to prove myself.”
“Besides,” adds Brent, “no way they’d allow you to put your hands on the bodies of multimillion-dollar players if you weren’t qualified.”
“And I’m sure you were the most qualified candidate,” Charlie chimes in loyally.
“I can attest to that,” Sandra says, smiling at me with pride. “I always feel so much better after a session with her.” Switching her gaze to Brent, she adds, “You should have Joey check your knee, honey.”
I stiffen in surprise and notice Brent does too.
“What? There’s nothing wrong with my knee,” he protests.
Sandra raises her eyebrow at him. “I may be growing older, but my eyes still work. I saw you limping earlier.”
I turn to him. “Is this from the injury at the end of last season?”
“It wasn’t an injury. My knee twisted a little the wrong way on a play. Some ice and a shot of painkiller and I was fine,” he says.
“Numbing it doesn’t mean it’s fine, Brent! I hope someone treated it in the spring and you’ve continued strengthening to make sure it’s strong enough for the upcoming season. That’s nothing to fool around with!”
I stop when he pauses in his eating to stare at me, surprised by my outburst. My cheeks flush with embarrassment. “Sorry. I know the team hires the best people, so of course you got it checked out.” My voice lowers again to its usual diffident tone.
“I bet he didn’t,” Stevie says. “He’s pigheaded like that. Mom’s right. You should look at it, Joey.” When Brent opens his mouth to protest, she tells him, “Don’t be an idiot, dude. I bet you’ve been working through the pain during the mini-camps. Do you want to start the season when you’re not in peak condition?”
Brent’s mouth tightens in annoyance. “I’m fine, but if it will make you all happy, go ahead.” He turns to me. “You can check it out later.”
I gulp in nervousness. I have to touch him?