Page 119 of The Americana Playbook

Fitz rolls his eyes.

“I’ll be fine,” I promise. “Areyougoing to be alright with Foller?”

I get that I’m new to this whole football thing, but I can’t imagine being on the outs with your head coach sets the right tone for a successful season.

He shakes his head. “Don’t worry about Foller?—”

“I’m worried aboutyou.” I clarify. “Foller can take a hike and never come back.”

Fitz smiles. “I like that you’re worried about me, but don’t. I can handle it.”

“I can too,” I whisper, pulling him in for one more hug.

Fitz wraps his arms around me. “I know.”

MADELINE

I’m going to need you in Philadelphia next week.

Mom said I was off until the convention.

MADELINE

Well, things change. Can Fitz do Wednesday?

I roll my eyes.Fitz can’t do Wednesday because he’s still at camp and won’t be back for another week. Considering Madeline basically runs the country, she should know that.

No.

Madeline

Nevermind then.

Laughing, I drop my phone to the floor beside my folded legs and resume my attention on the puzzle at hand, which—even though he didn’t have to—Fitz gave me permission to do while he was away. If I’m being honest, focusing my energy on the task at hand helps, but not in the same way it used to. I find it funny that when I first moved into this apartment, I was overwhelmed by the noise, by the people after getting used to quiet and solitude for so long. But now? Coming home to an empty apartment is my least favorite thing in the world.

My phone rings, and I brace myself thinking it’s Madeline, but as soon as I see the name, I smile.

“Hey.”

Fitz sighs into the phone. “God, I miss you.”

“You sound exhausted.” I push the pieces of the puzzle I had been working with further across the coffee table and push off the floor, flipping off the light and heading into our room. “I don’t know if that’s good or bad.”

“Long day.”

There’s a distance to Fitz’s voice. “What happened? Are you okay?”

Fitz ignores my question. “You also sound tired. Have you been sleeping well?”

Pulling the phone away so he doesn’t hear me yawn, I nod. “Almost like a baby.” I plop down onto the bed.

“Almost?” Fitz asks. There’s worry in his voice now and I feel bad. But the truth is, I’ve felt more at peace than normal, even without him here. I don’t want to tell him to know that. I still need him around.

“Abby worked me hard.”

“You? Or Bernard?”

“Hey,” I say. “Horseback riding is an Olympic sport. Last I checked, football wasn’t.”

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