Page 95 of The Keeper
“Alright! I’ll be ready in an hour. Leave me be until then, por favor.”
And she plops back down on the mattress.
While Piper rests face down in who knows what, I plunk in my headphones and crank up my tunes. Unpacking is unnecessary for just a two-night stay, but it’s something to do with my hands that doesn’t require a lot of brain power. My hope is to focus on this meaningless task instead of the other million things I want or need to think about.
After about 10 minutes, there are no items left to unpack and I glance around the room, trying to find something to keep me busy. I roll my eyes and smile when I realize I can hear Piper snoring softly, her face still buried in the bed spread
When I walk to the window and pull back the curtain to look out, I bark out a small laugh when I see we’re facing a brick wall. Classic. But when I press my forehead against the glass, I can see a sliver of life beyond and the ocean in the background.
Such a perfect metaphor for my life.
When I finally get brave enough to look out the window and into my future, I can’t actually see anything. But if I press a little harder, I can see hints of things to come, and I can try to prepare for them.
As my mind flips over and over the conversation I had with Regina yesterday, I realize that if I’m going to begin looking forward, I need to focus on building foundations for the important relationships in my life.
And I know exactly where to start.
* * * * *
“I’m just gonna get a few more laps around the block to cool down,” I say to Piper as we finish up our required run two hours later. “I’ll catch up with you in a bit, okay?”
Piper strikes a pose, her hands on her hips.
“Girl, come on! Don’t push yourself too hard the day before a game.”
I giggle at her wrinkled nose.
“I promise, cool down laps. You know I’m intense about cool downs.”
Piper huffs but gives me a small smile and waves as she heads into the hotel.
I start into a slow jog around the block, and when I’m a decent ways away from the hotel I pull my phone from the band on my arm. My heart pounds loudly in my chest as I scroll to Mack’s number and press the green button.
I spent the entire jog with the girls thinking about what I will say to him. Do I have the ability to really express how I feel? Am I brave enough to be honest? Will he be open enough to meeting me half way?
“Hey.”
His voice is a low rumble through the phone, and it sounds like he’s trying to be quiet.
“Hey, it’s RJ.”
He chuckles, understated and warm.
“Yes, I know who it is. What can I do for you?”
I lean up against the back of a bench on the side of the road.
“Can we talk?”
And I’m met with silence.
“I mean in person. I just have a few things…” I let my voice trail off, feeling a little unsure now that it seems like I will have to convince him to see me.
“Sure, just… give me 10 minutes and I can head out. Where do you want to meet?”
I exhale a relieved breath and look around quickly for points of interest or ways I can tell Mack where I am.
“There’s a park about 3 blocks away from the hotel on G Street. Wanna meet there?”
