Page 57 of Totally Played
“About falling for Calvin. How do I not screw this up?”
“I’m sorry, have we met?”
“Very funny. I know it’s been a while since you’ve dated, or at least since you told me about a guy you were seeing, but you know me. Probably better than anyone. You’ve watched me burn every relationship I’ve been in from the inside out since college. How do I not do that with Calvin?”
“I guess maybe don’t try to make yourself the person you think they want.”
“What does that mean?”
“Well, with Bryce, you started wearing polo shirts and bought golf clubs that now sit in the closet in your office.”
“I was trying to show interest in his passions.”
“And with Robert, you were always on some kind of juice cleanse.”
“What was wrong with that?”
“You hate juice.”
“I don’t.”
“You always say it’s stupid to buy a bottle of juice when you can just eat a piece of fruit.”
“Okay, so what I am hearing is don’t be all about what they like.”
“Exactly.”
“So no more Banana Ball games?”
“Hey, woah, now I didn’t say that.” He laughs, tossing me the ball. “That ball is from when the Funky Monkeys beat the OGs last year, so if you can get the guys who scored the points to sign it, I’ll make sure your bonus this year is a big one.”
“It already will be with the contracts I’ve signed, but I’ll see what I can do about the ball.”
“And you’re coming with me to the next game. I’ve been wanting to take you for years; you can give me that.”
“Okay, deal.”
***
I meet Redmond at the main gates, and he’s wearing his Funky Monkey jersey and eyeing my outfit with a quizzical brow.
“That’s how you dress for baseball?” he asks, and I flip the sides of my sports jacket out at the sides and prop my hands on my hips.
“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” I ask. “It’s the team colors.”
It took me an hour to decide on what I’m wearing, finally settling on a dark green shirt paired it with a deep purple corset.
“I still don’t get how you find those things comfortable.”
I shrug.
“I guess I’m just built differently from you mere mortals.”
A familiar voice comes from behind me. “You sure are.”
I turn and find Calvin smiling next to one of the security guards.
“Do you want to sit with the family again?” he asks, and Red immediately steps forward.
