Before she met Tony, she’d never had much time to date. She’d started working for the Miners after school and on the weekends at sixteen, and climbing the corporate ladder after she graduated from Wharton Business School took most of her time and energy. She couldn’t believe she was lucky enough to meet a guy that was the living personification of her fantasies. She should have known it was too good to be true.
Tony lived in the San Francisco suburbs, like her. She’d been to his place, which looked out over San Francisco Bay. There wasn’t a trace in the professionally decorated home of the wife and two under-five kids who lived in Connecticut. He made frequent business trips, but she never dreamed he was going “home” on those flights, supposedly to suppliers and buyers on the East Coast. She found out about his wife and family when Tony’s wife called her at work one day and asked if she’d like to be named in their divorce filing. Kendall dumped him minutes later.
She couldn’t believe she’d been as stupid as every other mid-thirties single woman who met a guy that was everything she’d ever hoped for and believed his line of BS as a result. She flinched at the memory.
Sydney leaned over the seat across the aisle and said, “I have an extra blanket. Want it?”
The air in the cabin was still somewhat chilly, but Kendall wasn’t that cold.
“I’m fine. Thanks.” She reached out for the Kindle she’d stuffed into the seat back and waited for the pilot to announce it was okay to turn on electronic devices. She’d left the work in her briefcase for a change. She’d be home again in ninety minutes, and shortly after she bought a disposable phone at the local grocery store, she’d be talking to Drew.
THREE AND A half hours later, Drew was restlessly prowling his house. He’d tried reading a book. He attempted answering his e-mail. Video games weren’t even a distraction. He was always keyed up after a game, but tonight’s edginess was unusual for him. He should have gone out with the guys. A good dinner and a drink or two would have gone a long way to helping him settle down a bit.
He jumped a little when he felt Kendall’s phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out and stared at a number with a Los Angeles area code. She’d said she would call him; he’d better answer. He hit “talk” and said, “Kendall’s phone.”
“Hello,” the man on the other end said. “Who’s this?”
“Kendall has stepped away for a moment. May I take a message?”
“I thought her assistant was a woman.” The guy let out a breath. “It’s Rick Thomason. I’m Sherman Washington’s agent. I understand the Miners are looking to make a change at the strong safety position. Would you ask her to give me a call at her earliest convenience?”
Drew wondered if the Sharks’ front office knew Sherm was doing a little shopping ahead of free agency. He shouldn’t be surprised by this; he was used to teammates who were there one season and gone the next. He was a bit surprised at any Shark voluntarily going to the Miners.
“I’ll do that. Does she have your number?”
“You must be new. She talked with me last week,” the guy said and hung up.
He walked into the kitchen and pulled the refrigerator door open. A piece of fruit might hit the spot before he went to bed. Who was he kidding? He wouldn’t sleep until he talked with Kendall again. He hoped for a little more conversation. He was also a bit concerned about Thomason’s calling her at ten PM Sunday night on the West Coast. Did he want to talk about his client, or was he about to ask Kendall out on a date?
The cell phone in his other pocket vibrated, and he pulled it out. The display showed his parents were calling from their home in Wisconsin. He knew what time they went to bed. Midnight their time was too damn late for a social call.
He dragged breath into his lungs and hit “talk.” “Mom?”
“Son, it’s your dad. How are you doing?”
“I’m fine. How are you?” He grabbed an apple out of the crisper. “It’s pretty late there. Is everything okay?”
“We’re all doing well. Everyone came over for dinner earlier, and your nephew Hunter took his first steps. Your mother is thrilled.”
“He’ll be running before football season is over,” Drew said, ignoring the pang he felt every time he heard about the family things he missed during the season. He went home to visit during the offseason, but he didn’t get to see the first teeth/first steps/ /first bike ride and the other “firsts” his nieces and nephews experienced. Maybe his sister had taken some pictures with her cell phone camera. He heard his dad’s low chuckle.