Page 4 of Somewhere Only We Know
“Are you ready?” She asks, calling up from the living room. A squeaky toy is squeaked in quick succession as Sully asks for her to play.
“Just about. Will you let Sully out and then we can walk over?”
“Yep. Let’s go silly girl,” I hear Kamryn coo.
As soon as I finish up in the bathroom, I look in the mirror at my outfit. I decided to not rock the boat with what I wear, so I have on a black mini cotton skort that hits mid-thigh, a red bodysuit, white hightop Converse, and a black baseball hat with a dainty baseball embroidered on the front. The red thankfully goes with both teams. Unlike my sister, I never ruined my curl pattern. But for the sake of the summer, I’ve pulled my hair into two dutch braids that lay over my shoulders. Knowing the stadium's stance on bags, I transfer the essentials to a phone sling and pop my phone in the holder last. The gold chains of the sling are cool in my hands, but when I loop it over my body the pieces instantly warm up on contact.
I walk out of my room and head down the stairs right as Kam comes back in with a happy Sully. Remembering my patterns, I pull up my phone to text Sophie.
Me: Hey, it’s Jax.
Me: From the dog park.
Why I am so awkward?
Me: Are you going to the game today?
Sophie: I am!
Sophie: Please tell me you’re coming too.
Me: My sister got us tickets.
Sophie: Perfect.
Sophie: Let me know when you’re here and we can hang for a bit.
Me: Sounds good.
“Ready?” I ask my sister although I can clearly see that she is if her tapping her foot is any indication.
My sister has mastered the art of sporty attire. It helpsthat she’s a fashion designer and a former WAG. While we’ve been in Cincinnati for the last few years, that’s not stopped her from wearing the opposing teams merch on the rare occasion that they’re in town. Her black distressed shorts, Philadelphia jersey, and Air Force Ones is what she went with today.
“So ready to crush them!”
I snort and fill up Sully’s water bowl then grab the house key. “Easy, tiger. How’d Mason feel seeing you wear another team?” I ask as I lock up the front door and hop down the front steps.
She lets out a wistful sigh. One full of love for her husband and I’d be grossed out if I wasn’t beyond happy that my sister got her happily ever after. “My husband doesn’t get jealous often. But him seeing another team on my chest really–”
Scratch that. I’m still grossed out. I hold my hand up to stop her. “Okay, I get the picture. I mean, I don’t but…can you not?”
Kamryn cackles as we jump onto the sidewalk towards the stadium. Silver Lining to moving is that my house is close to the baseball stadium. Well, if you count crossing the street a few times and walking under freeway underpasses close, then sure. But even when I’m not headed to a game that Cincy is playing at home, I can now pour myself a glass of wine and sit on my back patio and listen to the faint sounds of the crowd cheering. So, yes. The roundabout way to the stadium makes heading to the games a breeze.
“How are you holding up?” Kam asks and loops her arm through mine.
I let out a breath and look forward. We’re getting closer to the ballpark and fans pour in and out of the bars or out of friends' apartments, laughing and talking animatedly.
“I’m…adjusting,” I say the word slowly. “Yeah, that’s the word. I’m still adjusting. Having Sully helps too.”
“Has he texted you?”
I sigh. Thehemy sister is referring to is my ex. “He did at first. But after the first week of constant texts, I blocked him.”
“Good.” Kamryn says and gives my arm a squeeze. “I’ve missed you.”
I look over at my sister. “I never left.”
“You know what I mean,” she tells me.
