Page 75 of One More Round

“When is this move back happening?”

Morgan and Ruby briefly go into more detail and then the conversation switches to our tournament and how we did. We won of course, but none of that matters to me at this moment because all I can think about is that Gia is coming back.

They talk about how they are going to plan a welcome-home party, much like the going-away party they had. I don’t miss the way Ruby subtly informs the group that everyone must be in attendance. Then she gets serious.

“Gia hates it in LA because she’s utterly alone. She’s made some friends, but it’s not like you could ever replace the likes of us. So, this party, all of us being there—plus her other friends and her parents—it's going to mean a lot to her.”

I’ve tried to hear very little information about Gia over the last several months, I even try to ignore it when I do hear it. Honestly though, I soak it up like a sponge does water. But the one thing I don’t think I ever recall hearing is whether or not Gia was happy in her new life. I’d never wish her anything but happiness, but it never occurred to me that she might not have any. Shit, I don’t think I would have been able to move across the country on my own, for just a job, knowing no one. I kind of did, when I moved to Chicago to live with the team and go to college. But at that point, I knew Dex, Link, Bernie, and Ben pretty well. So, I already had people here I knew, which was the whole point of the move.

I’ve thought about this so many times … what I would do when Gia visits. What I would say to her. What I would do if she, for some reason, moved back. Would I try to fix things? Would I want to get back together with her? Would she want that? How long would I stay bitter? Would I still be angry and annoyed every time she came around, like I was for so long just a year ago?

I don’t know the answer to any of those questions. I do know that I miss her like crazy but at the same time, would I want to risk losing her again? A third time? History has a tendency to repeat itself when it comes to Gia. At what point does trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome just make me a fool?

Chapter Thirty-Five

Gia

I toss my messenger bag onto the bed. Well, it’s Morgan’s old bed, but she didn’t need it anymore. Morgan and Dex moved into their new apartment last month and they bought a lot of new things to fill it with. I think Dex is pretty wealthy, from what I’m told. It’s strange to think of him and the team as millionaires, which I’m about 85% sure they are. But unlike my fully furnished apartment in LA, everything here is either mine, or new to me from Morgan.

I’ve been back in Chicago for an hour and this new place already feels like home. But then again, Ruby and Morgan have had the keys to it for two weeks and have gotten it live-in ready for me. They are also in the living room waiting for me to check out my new space.

I wander back down the hall to find them.

“Well, I think it might be a little bit bigger than our old apartment,” I tell Morgan.

“Yeah, but the layout is pretty much the same. It's nice that the second bedroom has a walk-in closet and this kitchen is a lot bigger,” she says, shoving some of the food that Ruby just brought into her mouth. Morgan picked me up from the airport, but Ruby had some kind of last-minute errands to run, so she met us here with several grocery bags in hand.

Ruby shoves boxes of Lucky Charms and Kix in my pantry and turns around, pointing a finger at me.

“Gia, we are taking you out tonight. Go put on something cute. I’ve already hung up and put away all your clothes.”

“Speaking of, Rube, you did not need to do that. Thank you but I could have unpacked myself. When you texted me throughout the week about where I wanted things, I thought you just wanted to make sure boxes got to the right spots,” I say with my hands on my hips. I had shipped most of my stuff earlier in the week.

“Well, it took me all of about an hour. You need new clothes.” She levels a stare at me. I roll my eyes with mirth.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

Morgan replies, but doesn’t answer my question. “Oh, wear that super cute black dress that shows off your shoulders,” she says, hopping up on the counter, her legs dangling.

I love that dress. I bought it in LA when my mom visited and we went shopping. I told Morgan all about it.

“So, we are going somewhere fancy?”

“Does it matter? Let's just dress to the nines,” Morgan replies.

“Are you going back to your place to change?” I ask because she's wearing a pair of capris, a black tee, and Chucks.

“Nope, my outfit is in the car, we are getting ready together!” She smiles.

“Alrighty then. Let’s get our girl time on,” I laugh.

A couple hours later, we pile out of a cab in front of The Bar. What?

I got all dressed up for a pub?

“You guys, I thought we were going somewhere fancy. We are way overdressed,” I tell them, pausing in the middle of the sidewalk.

Both of them have knowing grins on their faces. “Come on, just go with it.”

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