“Wait, what? They go to Florida willingly?”
“Melissa!” I giggled. “It’s a quick flight and the weather is way better! It’s no different than everyone in So Cal heading to Hawaii.”
“Uh, yes it is. It’s H a w a i i and really, who goes to Florida on purpose?” Her voice sounded so exasperated, it made me smile. “So, have you heard from Jack?”
I should have known that was why she called. The Diamondbacks were coming into town, and she and Dean wouldn’t stop blowing up my phone.
“Nope.”
“Really?” she said, her voice laced with disappointment.
“Really. We have to stop talking about him, Melis. I mean, when will we stop talking about him?” I hated that we had to go over this again; it really didn’t help.
“You’re right. You’re totally right. I’m sorry, Cassie, I really just don’t get it.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.” I sighed. The sadness still got to me sometimes.
“So tell me, how’s Joey from Bahhston?”
“He’s good.” I laughed at her attempt at his accent.
“Still making him beg?”
My lack of an answer was all the answer she needed. “Cassie, you can’t stay closed off forever. You need to open up your heart again.”
“I know, it’s just…I’m scarred.”
“We’re all scarred. That’s how we know we’ve lived a life worth fighting for. Love is a battlefield! Thank you, Pat Benatar.” She belted out an off-key rendition of the chorus that made me giggle before continuing. “Our scars don’t point us in the direction we’re headed, Cass, they simply remind us of where we’ve been.”
I remained silent, taking in the very truth of her words. “Cass?”
“I’m here.”
“I think it’s time to let him go,” she suggested, her voice tinged with pain.
My breath whooshed in and out of the phone before she spoke again. “I’m just saying that sometimes letting go is the only way to find out who you’re meant to hold on to.”
“Oh, I like that. Did you make it up?”
“I think I read it online somewhere before.” She laughed. “But let’s pretend it came from this gorgeous head of mine.”
I rested my camera on top of my messy desk and watched as Joey waltzed into the building, his business attire looking more than good on him. He flashed a smile in my direction before walking into the kitchen. I followed him, pretending I needed to fill my already half-filled coffee mug.
“Are you ever going to go out with me?” he asked, his confidence reminding me of Jack.
“Are you ever going to stop asking?”
“Not until you agree.” He stirred his coffee before taking a sip.
“Fine. This is me…agreeing,” I responded, an eerie, all-too-familiar feeling creeping over me.
“It only took me six months. I think that’s a new record.” He leaned in and planted a peck on my cheek. “We’ll leave at six. No overtime for you tonight.”
“Tonight?” I repeated, horrified.
“Tonight. No backing out.”
“I’ll make it work.” I pressed my lips together to stop them from smiling.
“So where are you taking me?” I leaned my head back in the passenger seat of Joey’s car and watched as the city whizzed by us in a blur.
“It’s a surprise.” Joey glanced over at me and smiled.
I really hated surprises. But this guy didn’t know that. He didn’t know anything about me.
He turned onto Grand Central Parkway and I almost started hyperventilating. “Where are we going? Are we going to the game?” I choked out, noticing the stadium on the horizon.
“I overheard you one day talking about baseball and how you went to college with one of the guys on the Diamondbacks. So I got us tickets. Maybe you can see your friend.”
“Oh God. Joey, that’s really sweet and thoughtful and romantic, but I…can’t go to this game with you.”
“Of course you can. Don’t be silly. We don’t have to stay for the whole thing. Have you even seen a game yet? Or been to either stadium?”
I shook my head, unable to come up with a reasonable explanation to stop this train wreck from happening.
“It will be fun. New Yorkers are pretty cool fans. I mean, as long as they aren’t playing the Sox. But you have to experience it.” Joey sounded so excited as he tried to sell me on it while he parked the car.
I’ve already experienced pretty cool fans. Back in college. You have no idea, buddy.
“Promise me that if I want to leave, we will. No questions asked. Okay?”