20. Zane Ortiz
20
Zane Ortiz
It’s been a whirlwind of a week—practice sessions, a tough game, and a string of brand deals lined up by my agent have kept me busier than ever. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t carve out a moment to see Pearl. Twice I attempted to coax her into joining me for dinner at my place, only to be met with polite refusals. She insisted that such invitations were beyond the bounds of friendship.
Our phone conversations have been a lifeline for me each evening. It became a ritual—I’d dial her number first, my heart pounding with anticipation until she picked up. Each time she answered, it made me second-guess her supposed resolve to keep our relationship strictly platonic.
The fact that each call lasted over two hours proved she was comfortable with me, and there also wasn’t anything I felt I couldn’t tell her. We dug into our pasts, and despite our hard upbringing, Pearl managed to unearth childhood moments that had us both in stitches. Leave it to her to resurrect some fond memories from my early years. I never knew I had those; my mind had been fixated on the darkest chapters for as long as I can remember. Our conversations lightly grazed past relationships a few times; she seemed hesitant to share those, hinting at wounds still fresh. It was clear someone, who wasn’t even Duke, hadn’t treated her as the gem she truly was, and all I wanted was to reassure her that she was worth more than the world’s treasures.
The urge to pour my heart out is strong each time, but the thought of risking the easy rhythm we have—the very friendship that gives me the excuse to dial her number every night—keeps me silent. She isn’t ready to hear the depth of my feelings just yet.
Pearl has a knack for listening to me and always knows just the right words to say, even if those words often came straight from her Bible. Her gentle reminders of God’s unconditional love and His desire for my well-being stayed with me long after we hung up. I never imagined I’d start pondering faith and what it would truly mean if God did have a plan for me, and genuinely wanted what was best for me. Her words sparked a curiosity about the fulfillment found in wholeheartedly following Jesus.
As I dress in what I hope passes for suitable church attire—black jeans and a button-down—I can’t help but wonder why she withdrew her invitation for me to attend in person and insisted I watch the sermon online.
How could she not want to see me as much as I wanted to see her?
I can’t wait for Randy’s café to stop buzzing with gossip about my unexpected appearance. It’s crazy to hear that people and the paparazzi are still flocking there in hopes of seeing me.
The downsides of living in a small town!
Hopefully, by next week, they’ll have moved on, and I can swing by to see if I can return to my routine of catching glimpses of Pearl every day.
I glance at my watch, feeling my heart hammer. If I don’t get going, I might be late. But if I’m being honest, it’s not the prospect of attending church that has my heart racing—it’s the chance to see Pearl again. She has no idea I’ll be joining her today, but I plan to give her a call on my way there. I can’t risk her missing out on the service just because I’ll be coming.
“Hey, good morning,” I greet through the car’s speaker.
“Hi, any issues logging into the service?” she asks.
“No, everything’s smooth sailing. I was wondering if you could do me a favor and secure that low-key seat we talked about.”
“What? You’re here?” Her voice carries a hint of surprise, maybe even happiness.
“Yes, I’m in the parking lot. Red sports car.”
“You are just full of surprises. Okay. I’ll be right out.” The call ends, and moments later, Pearl, dressed in a peach ruffle dress, heads my way. I take a moment to admire her before stepping out of the car.
She is even more beautiful than I remember .
The wind tousles her curled hair, and though she’s trying to maintain a serious expression, I can tell she’s fighting back a smile. It reassures me that this surprise isn’t unwelcome.
She approaches and I get out to greet her with a side hug which is appropriate for being at church. Besides, the last time I held her in my arms at the engagement party, she gladly pulled away and created distance between us as if I’d committed a faux pas.
In the few seconds of closeness, her fruity scent and the hint of vanilla in her hair envelop me.
Her eyes, a lighter shade of green in the sunlight, reflect my own image back at me. Her face still spellbinds me like nothing else I’ve seen before.
“I’ll interpret that smile as a sign of a well-executed surprise, then?” I venture in a low voice, noticing the blush that tints her cheeks.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were planning to come?” she asks, her gaze meeting mine.
“You withdrew your invitation, so I assumed you might try to dissuade me or even skip church yourself.”
A smile tugs at her beautiful lips, but she quickly suppresses it. “I did no such thing. I’d never miss church to avoid you,” she dismisses with a huff.
“So you agree you were avoiding me? I knew it,” I tease, lifting one finger in mock accusation. “Care to explain?”
“You’re going to miss out on the best part of the service.” She quickly grabs my arm and pulls me along to start walking .
We are not holding hands but she still has her arm on my forearm. It takes everything inside me not to touch the small of her back as we walk.
This isn’t the same Pearl I was with a week ago. She could never have been this friendly with me before. I realize our evening phone calls have had a greater impact than I initially thought. She’s slowly allowing me into her circle.
Pearl ushers me inside and she directs me to sit between her and Robyn.
Robyn grins briefly when she sees me, then turns her attention back to the stage, singing along. I half-expected her to engage in some small talk, maybe about last week’s game where I saw her in the VIP section. I had given her a ticket to enjoy the game up close, and she hadn’t stopped thanking me since. Apparently, Coach usually hooked her up with decent seats, but never in the VIP section. I was glad I could do something nice for at least one of them. However, here in church, it’s clear that Robyn isn’t just a hockey fan; she’s also a Christian, like Pearl, who enjoys attending church.
The quaint little church, a far cry from the large ones of my childhood with Aunt Melissa, instantly puts me at ease. The soft, dim lighting creates an intimate atmosphere that makes me feel like I might blend into the background for the entire service. Especially since we’re seated in what seems to be the elderly aisle —everyone back here is at least sixty-five.
This must have been Pearl’s idea of a low-key spot. She is so thoughtful.
I wonder if Pearl and Robyn chose this section to accommodate me. Maybe they even passed up sitting with their friends to keep things discreet. It’s hard to miss that the middle and front left rows are where all the young people are sitting.
After the worship service, Kate joins Duke in the front row. Their not-so-subtle display of affection—a quick kiss before she settles beside him—doesn’t go unnoticed.
I don’t know everything about Pearl but it’s clear to me that Duke and she could never have been a good fit.
His words echo in my mind: “I would have faded into the background if I dated her.” The sting of those words still bothers me.
Duke could never appreciate Pearl the way I do—the little things, like her desire to remain unseen and her contentment with being different. It’s something I admire and even long for myself, especially the deep sense of contentment despite everything she’s been through.
I’ve never paid much attention in church before, but the preacher’s words are surprisingly easy to follow. Everything he says is accompanied by a Bible verse, which Pearl diligently notes down in her journal. She hasn’t glanced my way since the sermon began, and neither has Robyn. They are both so focused and intent.
Pearl’s arm keeps brushing against mine, and with each touch, a subtle flutter stirs within me. I doubt she even notices how often it’s happening. Probably not, but these little moments are making this whole church experience even more enjoyable than it already unexpectedly is .
After a truly intriguing message about Jesus and how even his closest disciples often misunderstood his earthly mission—to exemplify living in accordance with God’s will and demonstrate what a profound connection to the Father looks like—I’m left with even more questions and a desire for more.
I’m still sorting through what I just heard when communion begins.
Pearl leans in close and her delicious fruity scent wafts into my nostrils, and she whispers to me, “We have communion every Sunday, but it’s not a ritual. It’s a meaningful way for believers in Jesus Christ to remember his sacrifice for our sins.”
I sigh in relief, grateful that Pearl didn’t judge me for not going forward—though judgment isn’t something I’ve ever received from her, not even for a second. Still, I’m glad she stopped me.
Communion must be a really special thing for Christians then. I make a mental note to add communion to the list of questions I have. Maybe Tyler would be willing and able to answer all these. He’s been dying to talk to me in his Christian language without me cutting him off for years now. I can’t wait to see his reaction when I approach him with all this.
After communion ends, Pearl signals for me to slip out before the service concludes. I realize I had a skewed view of church; I thought coming here would feel like hanging out, but we barely had a chance to talk. Now, all I want is more time with her .
I turn to Robyn, knowing she could help me convince Pearl, and ask, “If you’re free, how about coming over for lunch at my place? Both you and Pearl, please.”
“You know you really just want to invite Pearl. Why not just ask her to come along with you?”
“You’ve got me there,” I admit with a chuckle. “But she won’t come if you’re not with her. Plus, I can see us becoming friends too. What do you say?”
I can really see myself being friends with someone as down-to-earth as Robyn. She shows signs of rooting for Pearl and me, but in a very subtle way, probably because she doesn’t want to upset her friend.
“All right. Want a piece of advice?”
“Please!”
“She needs to trust you. She needs to know that your intentions are pure and align with her values.” Robyn may be my biggest fan when I’m on the ice but she could not be more loyal to her best friend. I respect that about her.
“Got it. You’re the best,” I say gratefully and turn to Pearl as she rises for another song. Leaning close, I whisper, “Lunch at my place. Robyn is coming,” and swiftly walk toward the exit, not giving her a chance to refuse.
It’s just a friendly lunch at my house.