Page 67 of Totally Played
“That’s awesome, man.”
I groan.
“Okay, it’s not awesome,” he says, letting the door close and moving to the side to let others pass.
“It is, but I want to tell him that, and in person, but we’re not going to be in the same city for weeks.”
“Who says?”
“He’s on his way to New York, and I’m flying out to Montana.”
“Then fly to New York first and tell him.”
“Huh?”
“Look, Ash, I’ve never seen you this happy, so if you need to tell him how you feel, then go. I’ll have Patricia rebook your tickets. You can surprise him and tell him how you feel and then fly out to meet Jennifer a few days later.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“What if he doesn’t want…”
“You?”
I nod, because even thinking the words feels like my heart is at risk of being ripped from my chest.
“Then I’ll be there to help you pick up the pieces.”
“You’d come to New York?”
“You’re my best friend. I’ll be there for you whenever you need me, wherever you are. That’s what best friends do.”
“Thanks, Red.”
“No problem. Now, get off home and pack. I’ll have Patricia send off the new tickets and itinerary as soon as she has it all booked.”
“You’re the best. I’ll be sure to get that baseball signed by as many players as you want if this goes well.”
He shakes his head.
“I already gave it to Tony; he’s taking care of it for me.”
“Really?” I reply with a smirk.
“Don’t look at me like that. We’re just friends.”
“I didn’t look at you like anything.” I laugh, and he shoves my shoulder.
“Go already before I have her book you in economy.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I really would, now go.”
I jog toward home, a nervous excitement building inside me all the while packing and making my way to the airport. Patricia got me on the next flight out, so I’ll get in about an hour and a half to two hours after him. I’m grateful for the business class seat. Though I don’t mind flying economy, it can get tight with my long legs, so the extra leg room is nice. Once I’m connected to the flight’s Wi-Fi, I start searching for places we could go to chat. I mean, sure, we could talk at the hotel, but he might thinkI’m just there for a hookup, and that is not what this is about. I want to tell him how I feel. I want him to know this is more than sex for me, and I hope that last night didn’t freak him out. He seemed to be really into it at the time. But again, that was sex. This is so much more.
Duckie had mentioned the hotel they’d be staying at when we were at dinner last, so I zoom in on the map and do a search of the area for sports bars. Maybe setting the scene like the first night we met will show him my intentions are to make sure he’s okay, and that we’re okay. That he knows where I stand. He’s always been honest with me, even from that first night, telling me who he was, when he could have pretended to be his brother, I mean, I would have known the second they swapped back if he had, Tony doesn’t bring that rush of electricity through my body, and he doesn’t have that cute-as-fuck tiny heart freckle under his eye either.
