Page 36 of Rewrite the Rules

“Yoga instructor.”

“Oh, right. The vegan?”

“Vegetarian—in denial. She told me she doesn’t eat any animals except fish. When I asked her if she means she’s a pescatarian, she responded by saying she’s spiritual, not religious.” I glare at Cody but he doesn’t notice because he sprays the rooftop ledge with a mouthful of beer. He chokes as he roars in laughter.

“You’re lying.”

“And that was before she was five shots deep. I put her and her friend in an Uber and sent them home. She had that look in her eyes like she was going to vomit. So, thanks for that. From now on, I’ll find my own women.”

“You said you wanted a girl you wouldn’t get caught up on.”

“Yeah, but that was a little extreme.”

“Oh, please. You’re not chasing tail because you’re obsessing about one girl. I was trying to help you get over it. You said you didn’t want Addie-cakes. Leave the poor girl alone. Why are you calling her from a bar on a Saturday night? Hm? You’re screwing with her head.”

I grab at the glasses I’m not wearing. My nervous habit. My fingers find nothing but the skin around my eyes because I opted for my contacts tonight. “I didn’t say I didn’t want her. I said I wasn’t good for her…after I kissed her the weekend before last.”

“What?!” Cody hollers, again drawing the attention of several nearby clusters of people. We need to work on his talking decibel. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s not a big deal. I told her we should be friends.”

“Friends?” Cody’s skepticism is not subtle in the slightest. My behemoth of a buddy is not good at hiding his opinions. Especially not after he’s taken down half a keg of beer. “Like friends that get freaky?”

“No…like friends that are friends. I can’t do all that with Adler.” I wish I could. But I can’t. After nearly two months, I already feel like I know her. She’s not that kind of girl. “She jokes a lot but I get this feeling she’s innocent and inexperienced.”

“She does give off those ‘take me home to your mama’ vibes.”

My mom would love Adler. She’d love her sass, her quick wit, her sapphire eyes. My mom always told me I’d end up with a blue-eyed beauty, much to her chagrin. She’s Italian so as much as she wanted me to fall in love with abellezzafrom her home country like all my brothers did, she always said I had something different in store for me. Little does she know the closest I’ll get to celebrating a twentieth anniversary is probably with Cody.

“Exactly.”

“Well, if you don’t want a serious commitment, Sally was a perfect choice.”

“Sarah,” I remind him.

“Whatever her name is, she had D-cups and really plump lips and was hanging all over you. And you sent her home. So, I think you like your assistant way more than you’re letting on. Why not just ask Addie out?”

“You’re a bad influence…which makes this next part harder to say, but I was thinking—how do you feel about Denver? You’ve been here for a couple weeks, right?”

“You know this,” Cody grunts as the bottom of his cup points to the sky. He slams the cup down on the table like a Viking. I half expect him to shout ‘more mead’ to the bartender from across the patio in which case I will leave his embarrassing ass here, right now. “You picked me up from the airport.”

“Do you have anything holding you to New York? You’re not playing this season. All your other friends are still playing in the NFL. My penthouse is too big for just me. Why don’t you move out here for a while until you figure out what’s next?”

Cody’s face twists in surprise. “I have that consult for my final back surgery. There were complications from the first two,” he says, squirming. He hates surgeries. It’s not the procedure. Cody is the poster child of bravery in the face of intimidating situations. It’s the recovery that messes with him. The Bandits’ lead physician told Cody surgery had to happen fast if he wanted to be able to walk when he was forty. His year was filled with endless referrals, consults, appointments, procedures, and drawn-out in-patient recovery stays. He was there so often even I developed a taste for Jell-O from visiting him so much.

“Get your surgery in Denver. The Olympic Training Center is like two hours south. Athletes flock here. Some of the best orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine doctors in the world are here,” I say simply. “Plus, who is going to help you during recovery? There’s a full staff at the Four Seasons that you can call at any time. I’m here, and you and Adler seem to be chummy. She knows this city better than anyone.”

“Bro, are you kidding?” Cody asks, spluttering.

“No. Serious.”

“Don’t play, because I’ll do it. I’ll call up my insurance tomorrow and see who they cover out here.”

“Even if they don’t. I got you. Don’t worry about money. Just fly home in a few days, pack up your shit, and drive it out here.”

“You are my fucking brother. You know that?” Cody shuffles around the small high-top table and wraps me in a death-grip of a hug. He lifts me off the ground. Several clusters of attractive women clap for us and give their verbal approval.“So sweet!”and“Good for you guys!”

“Cody, you have to stop hugging me like this or I really will never meet another woman again.”

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