My phone rang as I pulled into the garage. I parked and killed the engine before glancing at the screen.
“Hey,” I answered, surprised to see Chance’s name and just as surprised when he actually spoke, confirming it was really him.
“Hey, mate. Long time, no talk.”
“Yeah.” I chuckled nervously. For the two weeks I’d been staying at Adele’s, Chance and I had spent a good amount of time together. He came over nearly every day while Adele was at work to make sure I wasn’t bringing booze or girls back. I’d avoided him since, if I was being honest. He’d texted a couple times to see if I wanted to get together, but I’d blown him off. Too afraid that he might tell me she was happy or that he’d see right through me and know I had not-so low-key feelings for his sister. My poker face was shit.
“How are you? Saw online about the strain. Are you going to be able to play next week?”
Our first regular season game was next Saturday and though I knew I could grin and bear it to play, I most likely wouldn’t be cleared for a couple more weeks.
“Probably not, but I should be back by the end of the month.”
“Glad to hear it.”
There was a beat of awkward silence. If I knew Chance then there was a reason for this call, but he wasn’t spitting it out for some reason.
“How are you? The family? Everyone doing well?”
“Yeah, everyone’s great. CJ is still talking about you. Going on and on about how he wants to be like you someday.”
“Yeah?” I smiled. “You should bring him down to the field. Let me show him around.” I don’t know why it hadn’t occurred to me before. I would have shit myself for that kind of opportunity as a kid. CJ was still a bit young to fully appreciate it, but he’d still be excited to run around and kick a few balls.
“He’d love that.” His quiet chuckle sounded in my ear. “I might take you up on that.”
“Do. Bring him tomorrow. I’m doing activation with the team, but I can take you around while the rest of the guys are training. Should be a light day for them with the upcoming game. Around ten work?”
He hesitated for only a moment. “Yeah, alright. That’d be great. Thanks, Finn.”
“No problem.”
“Alright, well I guess we’ll see you tomorrow then.”
Looks like I had less than twelve hours to work on my poker face.
CJ bounced beside Chance as we walked along the outskirts of the field.
“Are you going with the team to Vegas?” he asked, holding on to CJ’s hand to keep him from charging out onto the field.
“No. I’ve got a follow up with the doctor Saturday morning so I’m staying behind, get a few extra days rest. I’m hoping to be training again by the end of next week.”
“Hard to be on the sidelines.”
I wondered if he was sympathizing or if he still missed it. He’d had a career ending injury on his very first game. That’d been years ago, but the look on his face when I glanced over at him watching the guys told me it still struck a chord.
“You guys want to head inside and kick the ball around a bit?” I asked, looking around Chance to CJ. Chance had to tug his hand and re-ask the question to get his attention. The kid was enthralled with the action on the field which made me smile.
“Maybe we let him watch a little longer. Kid is never this still.”
CJ still bounced, but he was at least in one spot.
“Yeah, alright.” I motioned with my head to some chairs at the north end line. Chance and I took a seat while CJ continued to hop around next to us, taking it all in.
“Which position do you play?” I asked him.
CJ shrugged.
“At his age, it’s sort of a cluster. They just run from one end to the other and try not to fall down.” Chance ruffled CJ’s hair absently and it hit me. A pang of a future that I couldn’t see anymore. A wife, kids…
“Look, Daddy.” CJ’s voice interrupted my thoughts. He was pointing to the man closest to us. He pulled out a pair of winter gloves from his coat pocket and put them on, so he matched the goalie.
It pained me, honestly pained me, that CJ was even giving Martins more than a passing glance, but the kid didn’t need my baggage, so I let it go without commenting. Though, I really, really wanted to. Nothing remotely nice or kid appropriate either.
We watched the team for a little while longer. The scrimmage on the field the only noise. Arguably my favorite noise. The buzz of adrenaline and competition. The cheering fans were a nice touch on game days, but not necessary to get the energy flowing through my limbs. I couldn’t wait to get back out there.
“Heard from Adele?”
“Huh? No. Why would I hear from Adele?” My voice sounded tight and too high. I discreetly cleared my throat before I spoke again. “No, not since she left. How is she?” I forced a dismissive and upbeat tone into the question like I wasn’t desperate for any news on her and wasn’t borderline electronically stalking her.
“Good. Good.” He nodded. “At least I think so. Aubrey is worried. I’m sure it’s just her missing having Adele around and projecting. We’re going to surprise her this weekend. Make a road trip out of it.”
“You’re going to visit her?”
He nodded.
My heart hammered in my chest. “Aubrey’s that worried?”
“I don’t know. Says she doesn’t sound like herself.” He shrugged and gave me a rueful smile. “She sounds the same to me, but I haven’t always picked up on Adele’s changes in behavior. I’m sure it’s nothing, but it’ll be good to see her. Surprised you two haven’t stayed in touch though. I thought for sure you’d made a lasting impression.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. Oh, I’d made a lasting impression… I was sure of that, but I wasn’t about to tell my buddy the details. “She’s probably just busy getting settled in New York.”
I wasn’t sure if I was consoling him or me. I still hadn’t heard from her and I didn’t understand it.
It was true that I was used to women falling over me. Even when I was with Cindy, it didn’t stop girls from trying, but I didn’t think the time I’d spent with Adele and the pang of sadness I still felt without seeing her every day was simply because she was unobtainable.
Unobtainable wasn’t all that appealing to me. Not because I wasn’t willing to put in the effort, but because I didn’t want a woman that was playing games. Adele wasn’t. She’d made her choice and stuck by it. I admired the hell out of that, I just couldn’t help but think she made the wrong choice.
The team took a break and CJ got bored. We took him inside to the indoor turf and kicked the ball around with him.
“Nice kick, little man,” I told him, offering my fist. He didn’t know what to make of that, so I opened my palm and he slapped it.
Far sooner than I wanted, Chance and CJ were heading out. I’d enjoyed having them. It gave me some purpose to my day that I’d missed. I walked them out, shuffling my feet as Chance got CJ in his car seat.
“When do you get back? Maybe you two could come back to another practice or maybe a game.”