Page 17 of What If I Knew You

I grin. “Yeah.”

“He told Roche that they all wear pajama pants to the last practice before the season opener and even got him a special pair for the occasion. They had pickles all over them.”

I gasp, sitting back in my chair and covering my mouth. “Oh no! Let me guess. He was the only one in pajama pants?”

“You guessed it. And now the team calls him Pickle Pants.” Dad laughs. “Definitely knocked the kid down a peg or two. He came onto the team with this righteous, pompous, star-child mentality, you know?”

I shrug. “Meh. He’s young. I imagine getting to be an Anaheim Star can get to just about anyone’s head. He’ll learn.”

“Yeah. The guys will set him straight. The kid’s a great player. He’s got tons of potential. I can see it.”

“Well, there’s nobody better than you to help bring it out of him.”

“Thanks, Sweetheart.” He gathers up his garbage and places it on the tray we were sharing. “I should probably get going. I’ve got an interview with Sports Network before we board the plane for tomorrow’s away game.”

I roll my eyes playfully. “As if you need to prepare.”

“The moment I don’t is the moment someone will get me to say something stupid and then I’ll really be in trouble.”

“Well thanks for lunch. Same time next week?”

“Absolutely.” We stand from the booth and Dad leans over to place a kiss on my temple. “I look forward to it.”

After a grueling workweek,I finally have a day off. An entire day to myself to do God knows what. Lying in my bed, I weigh all the things I need to do against things I would rather do. I could be scrubbing the bathroom or organizing my closet, but I would rather shop…or do nothing at all. There are still several boxes in my storage unit to pick up and unpack. I need to work on making this place look more like a home than a low-key dorm room, but when I come home from work over-stimulated and exhausted the last thing I want to do is put my home together. Dad would offer to hire someone to do all the work for me, but I want to do these things on my own.

It’s time to create my own happiness.

Build my life the way I want to live it.

I suppose that means a day of shopping is in order because I need more shit. And then I could grab some boxes and bring them back here to unpack.

But maybe I need a shopping buddy.

We could make a day of it!

Grabbing my phone from my bedside, I tell Siri to call Layken and wait for her to pick up.

“What up, Bitchachos?”

“Hey! Want to hang out and shop with me? Maybe have lunch or dinner somewhere?” I ask. “I’ll probably watch Dad’s game tonight if you feel like doing that too.”

“Oooh! A whole day with Corrigan Hicks? Who would I be to say no? And you know me! I live to shop. Can we go to that new ramen place?”

“Hopeless Ramen-Tic?”

“Yeah! It’s all everyone has been talking about for weeks and they’re finally open. There might be a wait, but I hear it’s worth it.”

“Alright. That’s cool with me. I can stop downstairs and get you on my way out.”

“No need. I’m already out so how about if I swing by and pick you up? Be there in ten?”

“I’m literally just getting out of bed,” I tell her with a laugh.

“Well, it’s eleven o’clock bitch! You’ve slept almost half the day away. Get yourself up and throw on some clothes. I’ll be there soon.”

“Alright, alright. I’ll drop the kids off at the pool and brush my teeth and be ready when you get here.”

Layken blurts out a laugh. “You know you can just tell me you’re going to poop, right?”

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