Page 90 of A Whole New Play

When she walks away, I unleash my scowl on my best friend. “Well, hello to you, too.”

Corey smirks. “Hey, don’t give me that shit. Your sister’s been bugging me for a week straight to call and ask what’s going on. She’s relentless.”

I can only imagine.

Carlee and our parents have been texting me about the story at least once a day. Other than confirm Valerie and I are in a relationship, I haven’t said much. They’re all wondering how long we’ve been together and when it started, and they’re worried about how I’m handling the unexpected social media buzz around my secret relationship.

I plan to talk to them eventually. I’ve just been busy navigating this situation with Valerie. And trying to find the right time to tell Abby and Andy about us.

“How did you manage to keep her at bay?” I ask him.

“I told her you’d reach out when you were ready.”

If there’s anyone who respects someone else’s boundaries, it’s Corey Johnson. Dane and a few of my other friends aren’t as considerate as my childhood best friend. They’ve been hassling me for details more than my family.

But it’s not a big deal. They mean well. Dane isn’t the only one who’s shared concern over my lack of romantic partners this past year. They’re all relieved that my drought has finally ended. Or so their texts say.

“Well, thanks. I appreciate you letting me work through this on my own.”

“Of course, man.”

The waitress returns with our drinks. Corey and I don’t waste time ordering our favorite barbeque plates. He and I came to this restaurant at least once a week during our senior year of high school. We were practically inseparable for most of our childhood, but once we started excelling in our individual sports, it became more difficult to hang out. But we always made time for Jerry’s Smoke Pit.

“So, what’s new with you? Have you and Carlee picked a wedding date, yet?” Corey proposed after he and the Lonestars sealed their World Series victory.

He’d bought the ring months ago, but I wasn’t sure when he’d finally pull the trigger and propose. When he told me his plans to do it when, not if, the Lonestars won the game in Minnesota, I was impressed. My reclusive best friend isn’t one to enjoy a scene. But for Carlee, he wanted to make the moment memorable.

It was a boss move to propose after becoming a baseball world champion. The pictures from the moment are incredible.

“No,” Corey answers. “Not yet.”

I’m happy for my sister and best friend. I hate that this mess with the photo has pulled the family’s focus away from their happy news. Not that Corey minds the reprieve from being the center of attention.

“Are there any updates on the custody stuff with Laura? You know… since all this stuff about you dating Valerie became news.”

“No, but Davis is confident it won’t be an issue.” I trust the lawyer at his word. I can’t afford not to. I have enough on my plate navigating things with Valerie.

No matter how many times she assures me she’s okay, I can’t help but feel like my girlfriend is on the brink of calling it quits between us. Her dad’s disapproval hit her hard. I’m not going to lie, it hurt me too.

I respect Coach Palmer, and it’s never a good feeling to have someone you respect openly disapprove of you. He’s told me before that I’m a good guy. I’d hoped that would’ve held more weight when he was forming his opinion about me dating his daughter. As a dad myself, I understand his concerns. But I don’t like it.

Eager to have at least an hour where I’m not talking about my problems, I prepare to change the subject when a feminine voice behind me says, “Carter? Is that you?”

I rotate in my seat and see a blonde woman standing a couple of feet away. Her hair is styled in loose curls and her face is covered with makeup. I don’t immediately recognize her, but then it hits me. “Sara?”

Her smile broadens, showcasing professionally whitened teeth. “Yes! Talk about a small world! I haven’t seen you in years.”

“Yeah.” I shift awkwardly in my seat. “Small world.” Sara was the girlfriend of one of my college teammates, Mike.

Mike, Sara, Laura, and I spent a lot of time together during undergrad. Laura considered her a friend. Until one night, senior year, when Sara had one drink too many and decided to make a pass at me.

No one saw it happen, and I obviously turned her down. I was madly in love with Laura at the time, or so I thought.

Now that I’m older, I know what I felt for my college girlfriend was more infatuation than love.

I thought about keeping my mouth shut and blaming alcohol for Sara’s behavior, but Mike deserved better. The two broke up not long after I told him what happened. When Laura learned of Sara’s betrayal, she cut her off as well.

I only saw Sara a few times after that, but every time I did, it was always a questionable situation. Like the one time I ran into her outside my economics class when she was a biology major. Or the time I saw her at my favorite burger joint on Thursdays when they had half-price meals even though Sara was a vegetarian. Every encounter with Sara was stilted and awkward, and this one doesn’t feel any different.

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