Chapter 2 – Phone Calls
Sunday, December 9th, 2018
"Gabi, sweetie," my eyes glanced up to see my mother talking to me and then my eyes looked back down to my paper I was looking at, I blinked and then went back to her face. I don't remember reading anything on the paper and I didn't hear my mom call my name out. "Yea?" I asked as I dropped my pen and rubbed my eyes, "You have been working since dinner, you should probably go home." She told me, she rubbed my shoulder and I glanced up at the clock in James' kitchen.
"I'm fine, James is going to need a break with Lucy in a bit and I can take care of her while he tries to get some sleep." My mom gave me a warning look, "You do not have to stay here, I can help tonight. You have to work in the morning and Blaine asked you to come to the game tomorrow." I brushed my fingers through my hair as I realized my head was pounding. I laid it back down on the sheets when I heard Lucy's screams grow louder. My mom turned and gave a worried look over her shoulder and I slid off the stool.
"I got it." I told her sliding by, I walked down the hall to Lucy's room and James was struggling with her, "I want mommy," her sobs grew louder and I went in and reached for her from James. James gladly let me take her and I walked the room with her. "I got you Luc, I got you," she gripped my shirt tightly between her fingers and I closed my eyes as her sobs began to rattle to soft cries and whimpers. "Is she okay?" I heard Blaine's concerned voice from the doorway and James moved towards him. He ran his fingers along his son's back and walked into the hallway.
"I want mommy," Lucy cried again, I kissed her temple and lay in bed with her. She squeezed me close and I kept rubbing her back until her eyes began to close. Her cries disappeared into a twisty dream. I watched her red, blotched face and her big sighs that occurred in her sleep as her body recovered. I leaned back against the wall and watched the stars glow on the ceiling. Lucy was always into the sky and would always lay outside with Zoey to watch them begin to glow at night.
Zoey, Beth, and I would always spend our nights together staring at the stars and now look at us? I am taking care of Zoey's kids, Beth fell off the face of the earth not coping well with the death of Zoey, and Zoey is gone…vanished. Now, Lucy and I would look at the stars together and we debated on which one Zoey was because she was always the source of the star lover. Once I knew Lucy was asleep, I got up wandering down the hallway, my mom was sitting with Blaine in his room and when she noticed me, she gave a glance up. "Did she finally fall asleep?" I nodded my head slowly, "Yea,"
"Good," she breathed and Blaine stood up, "I think I am going to lay with her. On nights like these she will wake up with nightmares and she normally will come to my bedroom." He slipped passed us and into Lucy's room. I rubbed my arms up and down as I looked over at my mom, "Have you heard from Beth recently?" I asked quietly, tears welled in her eyes at the mention of my younger sister who left a note a two and half months ago claiming she needed to get out of Charleston, to find herself. "No, I called her a couple of days ago and I got her voicemail, per normal."
"I guess I really am going to go now, do you need a ride?" she shook her head and we both stood up, James was leaning against the wall looking at a picture of Zoey and the two kids. "Good night James," I said quietly, "I swear, I am trying," his voice cracked and I turned to look at him, his eyes grew in stress and I nodded, "I know,"
"You have to think I am not capable of being a parent and that I don't know how the hell to do any of this, I am just…" he breathed and pressed his palms into his eyes. "James, you are doing the best you can right now. Lucy is confused and just as scared. She just doesn't understand what happened and why Zoey isn't tucking her in at night. Blaine is a teenager and was a complete momma's boy from the day he was born. You are trying, that is all that we ask of you okay?"
"But you aren't grieving, you are taking care of us," flashback went straight through my mind and I shook my head, "James, I am fine. This is a lot harder for you and the kids. I am more than happy to help," James nodded his head and I gave him a quick hug, "I'll see you tomorrow at the game." I slipped out and my mom lingered to talk to him. I pulled my phone out of my purse and stood outside my car as the December breeze swept over me.
I hit her name and it rang several times before going to voice mail.
"Hey! This is Beth, I am probably busy but I guess you could leave a message? Or you could just text me. That would be a lot faster, anywho…" it cut off after that and I hung up my phone. I rubbed my face and looked straight up at the stars. My head leaned against the roof of my car and I stared until my eyes began to blur with tears. I stared at the stars until my chest felt like somebody was stepping on it so hard that it was cutting off air. I stared at the stars until the pain turned to complete numbness.
Tuesday, December 11th, 2018
I typed on my Mac as the morning swiftly passed into the afternoon. I spent last night at Blaine's game holding Lucy who was buried in the past couple of days in complete grief. It was like the cycle was starting all over again. My eyes were exhausted because I spent the rest of last night after his game getting caught back up on work that had been slowly falling behind. My stomach lurched at the thought of getting behind.
My phone vibrated on my table and I picked it up and answered it without looking, "Gabi," I answered quietly, my mind still focused on the computer in front of me. I read over my previous sentence, "Gabi, hey, its Troy," my iPhone slipped through my fingers and hit my desk with a loud thud, my heart began to race and I picked up the phone quickly fumbling with it in my hands. "Hello?" I answered again, he laughed from the other end.
"You okay?" he asked me with another god sent laugh, "You caught me off guard, I have been working," I glanced at the clock in the corner of my computer to see it was well after five-thirty. Where did the day go, I ran my fingers through my hair, "You're still at work?" he questioned, I leaned back in my chair to peek outside at the dusk glow around the earth. "Yea, I had to leave early yesterday so I could go to Blaine's game," I voiced, "Oh, I had one of those myself last night."
"Did your team win?" I questioned, "We did. It was a good night for one of our first games. Did Blaine's team win?"
"How come I feel like you already know the answer to that?" Troy let out a rich laugh and it struck my completely funny that I wasn't jumpy with talking to Troy. I didn't question his motives and I didn't wonder why a person I barely knew talked to me with such ease. "I know the final score; I don't know how the team did though. If they played sloppily and barely snuck it out or it was a hard-fought game."
"They played well," I said after I wiped a smile off my face, I twisted in my chair to look at the skyline. "Good, I was wondering if you were busy Thursday night," my heart pounded in my chest and I didn't respond for a couple of seconds, I twisted in my chair to look at my calendar to see a meeting penciled in, "What time?" I questioned, "I don't get out of practice until 6 or so, I was thinking 7:30?" he asked me with a hint of hope and my gut sank, "I'm sorry, I have a meeting at 7."
"You work that late?" he questioned, I bit down on my lip, "On Thursday's," I responded and I sighed, "I'm sorry, what about Friday?" Troy sighed, "We have a game Friday night," I twisted my fingers together and I closed my eyes leaning back, "You are pushing for that first date awful quick," I said to him, "You haven't questioned one thing about this phone call." He said, "I think you like me." I shook my head with a laugh, "You are getting ahead of yourself."
"Mhm, how about Saturday?" he asked pushing it one more day forward, I glanced down at my calendar again, my holy grail, to see that I penciled in time for Jenna. "I'm not sure. I would have to call my friend Jenna to see if we could rearrange our night out. We were supposed to be going out that night," I cringed at how awful that sounded, "I swear, I am not putting you off," I told him quickly, "I am just pretty busy."
"I am not helping with my schedule." He said with a chuckle, "Maybe I'll let you see how this all plays out and you can call me…" he said, "Hmm…sounds intriguing." I responded as I twirled in my chair as I quickly typed out an email to Jenna. I asked Jenna if she would mind moving our day back to Sunday so that I could go out with Troy. "It does sound intriguing," he replied, "What would you want to do one such first date?" he asked me after a second, I kicked my legs up on my desk as I let out a ripple of a sigh.
"I'm not sure. I haven't been on a first date in some amount of time. What is the standard protocol?" I asked him, he laughed, "Uhm well, the last first date I took a girl to a nice restaurant and well we never spoke again," I smiled kindly towards the glass watching the city life reflect back to me, "Then maybe we should try something else, I mean if women are turned off by you eating…" Troy hollered with laughter, "Mmm…good idea."
"What was your last first date?" he asked me, I thought back to my first date with Brad and I laughed, "You went to dinner didn't you?" I nodded with a laugh when my phone buzzed on the table. I picked it up and Jenna gave me the go-ahead to go out with Troy. She sent back extra smiley faces and heart eyes. "I can go out with you Saturday night," I announced crossing my legs, Troy didn't speak for a moment, "Well, you just made this night a little bit better." He said quietly, I let a small smile cross my lips, "You made my night a little bit better too."
"I have an idea but I believe it will be a surprise for you." I twisted again in my chair and I watched the lights twinkle, "Can you be ready early in the morning?" he asked me, "Nine?" I questioned hesitantly as I didn't know if I wanted to be ready that early. "I was actually thinking before the sun rose," Troy said back to me and I couldn't help but gulp at the thought of getting up that early. Sleep was my favorite thing to do anymore.
"You can do it," Troy encouraged, "I promise. It will be worth it."
"It better be worth it," I balked, Troy chuckled, "It'll be worth it." He confirmed and I couldn't help but smile, "I'll pick you up at five," he told me and I closed my eyes almost pained, "Coffee is involved, right? Because I might be out if there isn't any coffee." Troy chuckled, "I'll bring you coffee." He confirmed, "How much coffee do you require?" I smiled, "It depends, do I get a nap?" Troy laughed again, "After I drop you off…sure."
"A large coffee,"
"Yes ma'am,"
After I hung up, I couldn't wipe the smile that was plastered on my face. My stomach was knotted with butterflies from top to bottom and I hadn't felt like that in years. I crossed my legs and I stared out at the city for the quiet moments that filled the office with the first sense of hope in months. The pure excitement of getting to go on a first date that had a mystery surrounding it thrilled me. Brad told me exactly what we were going to do from the very beginning. Every date was detailed thoroughly so that I knew. There was never a surprise.
When he asked me to move in with him, I knew it was coming because he couldn't stop hinting about it. We would look at homes together from afar and he would describe ours and two weeks later he asked me to move into his apartment. It was the same thing with everything, we picked out my engagement ring together and he basically told me how he was going to do it. It was boring. It lacked romance and surprise.
He hated it when I surprised him.
But I had a feeling Mr. Bolton thrived on it.
Wednesday, December 12th, 2018
Ethan cooked on the grill as Jenna and I worked on classroom decorations, she took a drink of her wine while she rambled on about a mom who didn't know how to take care of her daughter. I let her babble constantly into my ear as I focused on the task, she gave me. "Jenna, you do know that Gabi isn't listening to a word you are saying, correct?" my head snapped up to Ethan. "What?" I questioned looking at him.
He laughed and Jenna stared at me, "Gabs, you okay?" she asked me and I nodded as I continued, "Just another long day at work. I was there until almost eight last night." Jenna frowned, "Gabs, you need to find another hobby besides work."
"I take care of James and the family." I told her and she sighed dropping her work, "Gabs, something else besides all of that." I fiddled with the glue in my hands and I looked up at her, "I have a date on Saturday," I blurted, scissors clattered to the table and Jenna's wine sloshed to the side, "With hot teacher? I figured you were just trying to get out of going out with me!" I shot her a look and rolled my eyes, "I asked you for a reason. I figured with the number of heart eyes and hearts that you figured I was telling the truth." Jenna rolled her eyes this time, "You never followed up that it was a go. I figured you were just bullshitting me." I bit on my lip with a small laugh, "Well we are really going on a date," I blurted and Jenna grinned from ear to ear. "A real honest to God date?" she questioned and I laughed, "Yes, and he is keeping it a complete surprise from me which is crazy,"
Jenna smiled, "Gabi! This is what I am talking about!"
I smiled shy, "No promises." I answered, "He called me last night and it was the most natural conversation I have ever had and I have only spoken to him twice before. I don't know, the conversation flowed and I told him yes, that I would go out with him because I have nothing to lose."
"Atta girl!" Ethan called from the kitchen, I smiled and Jenna laughed, "So you have no idea?" I shook my head again and Jenna grinned like a wild cat, "I just know that he is picking me up before the sun even rises," Jenna laughed aloud as Ethan snorted, "This has to be the first date," Ethan said with a laugh, "The man is trying to get you up in the morning!" I smiled as I went back to work on the classroom decorations for Jenna.
My eyes were tired and I was ready for bed but I had promised Jenna dinner tonight. "Are you going to stay over tonight?" Jenna asked, "No, I have a big presentation tomorrow." I told her as I glanced up towards the clock to see what time it was. My eyes then went over to my phone, as Jenna snatched it, "No," I sighed, "I just need to make sure Lucy did okay today!" I protested reaching for my phone, "You know she calls me every single night and tells me good-night."
"Jen," Ethan warned as he seemed to be finishing up, "You do know that she needs to learn that things have changed!"
"Jenna, she is still young and that is her reward if she has a good day," she only rolled her eyes as she got up to refill our wine glasses. I began to clean up the mess on the table as I tucked my phone away. I stood up going into the kitchen as I tucked my hair behind my ears. "I'm sorry," Jenna, said to me, "I would probably do the same if my situation was similar." I shrugged as Ethan pressed a plate against my chest. "Eat up, you are looking thin."
I let them fill my plate up high with food but we all knew that I would only eat half if they were lucky. We all sat around the table as we did aimless small talk about work and gossiping about old college friends that were letting their lives drain down the toilet. My eyes were growing heavy towards the end of dinner as I pushed my plate away with more than half left. "Gabs, how about you sleep in the guest room?" Jenna said softly, "You look like you're about to pass out."
My head bopped up and down while I stood up, I had a change of clothes already for pajamas. I also had a set of work clothes that were here but I normally raided Jenna's closet before I went to work. Jenna followed me to the room as I set my alarm for fairly early because my presentation was at home. My phone buzzed in my hands and I jolted and glanced at the screen to see that Troy was calling me. I felt a smile pull onto my face.
"Hello," I answered, "So I was just getting ready to go to bed and I could only think about this brown-eyed girl who I am lucky enough to get to go on a date with later this week. I got really excited and I just had to call her." I laughed quietly as I tucked my knees up to my chest while then resting my head on my knees. "I am glad you called. I think I really like talking to you."
"I'm flattered." I giggled again and Jenna came into the room giving me a curious glance. I held my hand up and she just nodded as she laid on the end of my bed. "How was your day at work?" I asked him and he sighed, "Oh man…high school kids are just my favorite." I laughed at the sarcasm, "I am adding a whole unit for next semester on marketing just so everything makes since when you come to visit." I couldn't stop my smile. "I'm excited to come to visit."
"Maybe another time after our first date we can talk more about your job."
"I think that is a first date topic," I mused, "And you think you're getting more than one date?" Troy laughed from the other end and I now had Jenna's attention in front of me. She sat up and circled her legs as she was intently listening to my phone conversation. "Absolutely." Troy said with a laugh and I smiled, "We'll see about that Bolton,"
"All right Montez,"
"Wanna make a bet?"
I thought about it and I smiled glancing down at my legs, "If I agree to have another date with you after our first date…"
"Then I'll treat you to another fantastic date." I laughed, "Okay," I agreed, I looked at the clock again and I knew that I needed to get to bed. I also knew I was going to have to have a conversation with Jenna. "As much as I absolutely love talking to you, I have a big meeting tomorrow morning that I need my sleep for." Troy sighed from the other end, "I'll talk to you soon. Thanks for having a bit of a conversation." I smiled, "I enjoy it. I'll talk to you soon. Good luck with your game on Friday if I don't talk to you before then."
"Thanks, Gabi, I'll talk to you later." I hung up the phone and Jenna sat up on her hands and grinned from ear to ear. "He called you to say good-night?" I couldn't stop a grin from crossing my face and she wrapped me in a hug. "We can talk more about that conversation later. I am so happy for you though." I shook my head because I had yet to even have a date with this man. "Go to sleep." She said pushing me down and I laughed as I snuggled into the pillow with a smile on my face for the first time in a really long time.
There was a constant buzzing in my dream that was catching me off guard. I rolled over and it continued to buzz until I opened my eyes and I realized it was my cell phone. I fumbled for it and I looked to see that Blaine was calling me. I bolted upright in my bed and I answered it, "Blaine?" I heard Lucy screaming in the background and I felt my heart stutter. "She will not calm down Aunt Gabi," I put my hand over my heart as it was racing to bring back a nightmare.
"What's wrong?" I asked as I stuffed my legs into a pair of sweatpants and found a jacket that was laying on the floor as I pulled it over my head. "I don't know. She woke up screaming and I was already with her as she wanted me to sleep with her. I couldn't calm her down so dad came in here and he can't calm her down. He told me not to call you but I'm scared Aunt Gabi," I nodded as I grabbed my backpack with my laptop and then my keys. "I am on my way okay? Unlock the front door." I walked through Jenna's house as I sent her a text that I was going to James's house because they needed me.
I walked out of the front door and turned around to lock it with my keys. I moved down the stairs to my car as it was chilly outside right now. I got into my car as I turned it over and sped through the empty streets until I pulled up to their house. The entire drive a bright star was staring at me, taunting my emotions. It wasn't the first time that Lucy was inconsolable in the middle of the night. She'd have nightmares or dreams about her mom that she just wouldn't relax until she felt better. Sometimes it took me to get here there.
Lucy and I had been close ever since she was a baby and we just had a connection. Now, I looked just like her mom and she found comfort in that. I pulled into the driveway and I parked my car as I double-stepped it up the stairs as the door was unlocked and she was still screaming. Blaine was sitting on the top step and I walked up to squeeze his shoulder. "It's okay, alright?" he just nodded running his fingers through his hair as I went down the hall to Lucy's room where James was crying with her.
He was just holding her tightly against him and she wasn't resisting but she was screaming. I touched his shoulder and James looked at me, "Gabi, I didn't…" I shook my head, "Blaine called me and he should. You need a break. Go." I said as I pulled Lucy from his grasp and she quickly grabbed onto me as I rocked her back and forth in my arms. I then began to sing her a song that I would sing with my sister all the time.
It was a song all about the stars and galaxy. My words whispered into her ear and she continued to cry but I just held her, rocked her, and let her cry as I continued to sing. The words were soft and quiet as I then laid down in her bed with her as I looked at the stars above her bed. She was beginning to quiet a little bit as I let my voice come out, "Luc, I was driving over here and there was a big star just staring at me the entire drive. It was the brightest of all the rest of them and it was just…a beautiful star. I could only think of your mommy. She was telling me that you need snuggles from Aunt Gabi. She was telling me that everything is okay, she is okay," Lucy pulled on my shirt and I reached over to kiss her forehead.
I wiggled down to face her as she was exhausted and those eyes were staring right back at me. I stroked her face with my thumb and her eyes welled with tears, "I want my mommy," she whispered and tears filled my own eyes this time as I stared at her little face. "I want your mommy too," I said and she pressed her face into my chest. I stroked her hair as I looked at the stars again as my own eyes were blurred over.
My fingers continued to play with her hair and she had the hiccups, James brought warm milk for her and I handed it to her as she took a few sips. James sat on the edge of the bed, "Thank you, you remind her so much of Zoey that I think she is just comforted by you." I smiled as I looked at him, "I am happy to help. She reminds me so much of Zoey." James nodded his head and he took a deep breath, 'I can take it from here."
"I'll stay right here." I said to him and James looked at me, "Are you sure?" I nodded my head, "Yea, I'm sure." I said and James nodded, "Go get some rest," James thanked me again as I laid awake next to Lucy as she had crashed finally. I pulled out my cell phone as I scrolled through pictures on my phone. Our last photo together was the day before she died. We were goofing around and she made James take a picture of us against a brick wall. We were just being silly and she had him take a million photos. Most of them were laughing in.
It was now my cover photo as I missed calling her after a bad day. I missed talking to her. I just missed her. I understood Lucy's nightmares or her need for Zoey because I needed Zoey. Zoey was always there for me and now I had to always be there for her kids. I rolled to my side to look at her and she was peaceful in sleep but I knew that she had good dreams about Zoey and I knew sometimes those good dreams would trigger that response. She would wake up and walk to James' room and look for Zoey forgetting everything.
How in the hell would that feel to feel like your mom was alive but to walk into her room and she was gone?
Lucy was five. She didn't know any better. She didn't understand that her mom wasn't coming back. She didn't understand why.
I still didn't understand why.
Thursday, December 13th, 2018
I walked into the office building, running to my office, hoping that I would make it in plenty of time. "You're late!" Rachel yelled and I waved my hand, "I'm sorry!" I hustled into my office as I grabbed my file and then went scrambling to our executive office. "Gabi," Christen sent me a look and I apologized with my face as I smoothed down my skirt. "Good thing the client is late," Brad whispered into my ear and I didn't respond to him.
The client showed up five minutes later and I presented my big presentation. The whole group absolutely loved it and I thanked them as I backed out of the room after the dotted line was signed with everybody's signature. I escaped to my office where I finally melted into my chair and let my head rest against my desk. "Long day?" Brad walked into my office and I just shook my head. "I do not want to talk Brad,"
"Why so hostile?" he asked sitting in the chair across from my desk. "I have had a really long night, okay? I just need to be alone." Brad gave me a sympathetic look and I looked right back at him. "What was it about? Lucy?" he asked and I finally just nodded my head and he nodded his own head, "I'm sorry." He said and I shook my head, "Brad, I can't do this anymore. We aren't together." I said and he looked at me, "Why aren't we together?"
I huffed and I looked down at the desk, "We aren't together because our life was boring."
"We can spice it up!" he protested and I just shook my head with tears threatening to spill, "Brad, please, leave my office," I said as I couldn't do this right now. He just looked at me and he came closer to me, "No," I said loudly and he looked surprised but ended up walking away. I watched him walk out of the office and I turned my chair away from the walls to hide the tears falling down my face. I didn't know what to do because I needed to talk to somebody but the person, I would normally call was Zoey and I couldn't call her.
My mom would just cry. Jenna was in the middle of class. I took in a deep breath as I tried to calm myself down. It was just a long morning trying to get up and out of Lucy's grasp this morning. Then I was running behind because of traffic and I just needed this day to be over already. My phone buzzed on the table and I sniffled before sliding it over and pressing it to my ear, "Hello?" I answered, "Oh…is this a bad time?"
I was caught off guard by Troy's voice and I shook my head, "No, I actually needed somebody to talk too." I said, "Oh…is everything okay?" he asked and I sighed as I rubbed my eyes to wipe away the tears. "It has just been an interesting twelve hours." I said, "I was late to a presentation and then my ex was giving me a hard time this morning." I told him. "Ouch, you work with your ex?" I nodded my head even though he couldn't see.
"Yea, sadly," I told him and Troy took a deep breath, "I'm sorry you've had a rough morning, anything I can do to make it better?" he asked and I smiled, "You did by calling when you did." Troy laughed, "I am just on my morning plan period and figured that my conversation last night just wasn't long enough." I smiled like a schoolgirl with giddiness. "I am pretty excited about our date," I admitted to him and he laughed, "Oh man…me too."
"How is your work today?" I asked him and he laughed, "Oh well…I've had my own interesting morning with teenagers who just refuse to do what they are told but I knew what I was doing when I wanted to be a high school basketball coach."
"What made you want to do that?" I asked him, "Sounds like a first date question," he said and I laughed, "Would you like me to hold that question?" I asked him and he laughed this time, "Hmm…maybe." He said and I smiled to myself while I doodled on a piece of paper. "Where do you play tomorrow?" I asked as I decided I would hold the question for Saturday. "Stratford," he announced, "I've been watching basketball film for most of my morning and we have our work cut out for us."
"I think you have a hold on it, Coach Bolton," he laughed, "I bet I do. We'll see. We're a little on the young side but the man in a few years this team will be lethal." I could only smile listening to him talk about his team. I glanced at the clock. I knew I needed to end the phone call but I also didn't want to end the phone call. I suddenly knew that I was going to have to miss Blaine's game tomorrow but I knew he would understand. I sometimes didn't go to the away games and he was technically further away than Troy was so I figured I would find myself at a Stratford game.
"Any big plans Friday?" he asked, "Nah, Blaine is going up to Ashley Ridge to play. I have been debating about going to his game or staying for a night of work."
"Basketball, of course," I laughed, "Maybe." I mused as I wasn't going to clue him in to my plan to show up to his game unannounced. I heard the bell ring in the background of his bell and he let out a groan, "You have to go huh?" I said and he laughed, "Sadly, I do. I will talk to you soon. I'll call tomorrow with more details…okay?" I just nodded as I continued to doodle on the notepad. "You know, you could have told me those details today." I called him out and he laughed, "But then I wouldn't have another excuse to call you."
My cheeks light fire and I could only grin from ear to ear, "You're smooth Troy Bolton,"
"I try my hardest."
I laughed and we both bid a good-bye as I relaxed back in my chair with the stupidest grin on my face but damn…it did feel great.
Friday, December 14th, 2018
I was able to exit work in an early fashion after wrapping up my entire workload and I knew I was going to have a weekend of my life. I was going to be able to be with my family, I had my date with Troy, and I was surprising him tonight at the game. Jenna begged to go with me when she heard my plans but I told her I wanted to do this alone tonight. It was too early for friends. I just wanted to watch him, coach. I wasn't even sure if I was going to tell him that I was there.
My car buzzed along the highway as I was going against traffic making it take longer than I wanted it to take to get to Stratford. I looked down at my skinny jeans that had a few tears in them with a pair of white, sort of, converse. I put on a plaid button-down with a vest as I felt like I was on top of the world in my outfit as it was something other than business clothes or leggings. I listened to the radio as I did the daily thing that I did every single Friday.
I called Beth.
My phone was pressed against my ear as it rang a couple of times before going to voicemail per normal. Except for this time, her voicemail box wasn't full. Defeat filled my chest because that meant she checked her messages and didn't return any calls to anybody. I decided that I was just going to leave a plain voicemail without begging her to call me. Maybe this was something new I would start. The phone beeped and I cleared my throat.
"Hey Bethy," I said as I tilted my head back against the headrest in the standstill traffic. "I miss you but I am going to skip that part of this voicemail and tell you that I am going to surprise a guy tonight. A different kind of guy than Brad. His name is Troy, he's a basketball coach at James Island and man Beth, he's hot. I wish I could send you a picture of him but I know you aren't getting texts anymore. It's okay, whenever you decide you are ready to talk, I will have plenty of pictures." I paused trying to think of what else to say to her. "Troy's actually taking me out on a date tomorrow and I am really excited about it. He's surprising me and making me get up at the ass crack of dawn to go. Jenna thought it was funny," I mused and I knew it was time to wrap it up before the phone cut me off.
"I love you, Beth," I said quietly before hanging up. I tossed my phone into the seat next to me and I exhaled moving through the traffic steadily for the seven o'clock tipoff. I maneuvered off the highway and found my car in the parking lot of Stratford High School. I got out my car and pulled on my Michael Kors purse and headed inside. I dug out the five-dollar charge as I walked up to the gate as I looked around to see a lot of James Island fans here but a decent amount of Stratford fans heading to their side of the bench.
I went to the other side of the gym where I could hide in a corner, I climbed the bleachers as the JV game was finishing up with forty seconds left on the clock. I let my eyes sweep the area until I landed on him leaning back against a wall and I felt my mouth drop slightly. He was in a pair of black pants with a James Island polo that was very sharp that made him look lean and very muscular. He laughed with another coach as his hair was done for the game and his shoes were some of those desert boots.
He took a drink of water as he had on a watch and a tight black band around his wrist. His assistant coaches seemed to be right around his age as they were all talking and watching the end of the game. The final buzzer to the JV game went off with James Island winning. Troy smiled and patted the backs of the kids who were working hard to impress him. He shoved one and they shoved him back and he laughed. I smiled watching him as I leaned back against the wall as the varsity team took the court and Troy went to say hello to the other coach. He nodded and talked as he crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head back with a smile on his face.
He truly loved his job. I could tell.
The gym was thumping with music as the boys warmed up both teams looking serious and not trying to do too much. They all stretched on the court and with one minute left the buzzer rang through the gym calling the teams to stand on the line for the National Anthem. Everybody lined up and I watched Troy stand at the end of the line as I put my hand over my heart. A young lady sang the anthem and she did a beautiful job as everybody gave her an extra round of applause. Troy went over and gave her a high-five as if it was one of James Island kids and she laughed as he said something to her.
That girl was smitten as hell.
I was smitten as hell.
They did the introductions for James Island first. They received a fair share of claps but a handful of boos as well. Once all of his kids were announced Troy brought them into a huddle as they began to gameplay their beginning plays. Once it was time to take the court, he had his starting five as he shoved his clipboard underneath the chairs and picked up his water bottle again taking a drink. He looked over at one of his coaches and he gave them a fist bump as if it was their routine.
The game started in fast fashion as the two teams were neck and neck almost the entire time. Troy paced back and forth down the bench as he yelled out plays and helped move around the defense. He did have control of the team but also knew when to let them make their own calls. He squatted down at one point to observe his offense in the middle of the second quarter and those blue eyes were intense as he didn't say anything but he just watched.
When his star player hit a three to put them up by ten a wicked smile wrapped around his face as he gave a fist bump while his bench exploded with happiness. Troy shook his head smiling as he leaned back watching the game unfold for a little bit. He let them just play the rest of the second quarter when the buzzer announced the end of the first half. Troy slapped hands with his team as they all headed back to the locker room in the corner.
Troy and his four coaches stood outside the locker room as they were all talking amongst themselves. One of his coaches was taller but still shorter than Troy. He had dirty blonde hair and a wedding band on his ring finger as they were all dressed the same. Another man was shorter than the dirty blonde and must have been mixed by the looks of his skin tone. He looked familiar to me but I couldn't place him. The other two were both about the same height as Troy. One had blonde hair while the other had a dark brown type of hair color. They were all on the younger side but I was sure only one of them supported a wedding band.
They broke up the meeting to go into the locker room to tell the team the new game plan. I pulled out my cell phone to scroll through Facebook and Twitter while I waited for the second half to start. James was sending me updates every so often about how Blaine was doing and he was having another stellar night. I couldn't stop the smile but it officially broke when my phone rang with Brad's name coming across the front.
I rolled my eyes and dismissed his call for him to only call me back again. "What?" I snapped into the phone, "Ouch, I guess you really didn't want to talk to me." The cheerleaders were in the middle of cheer and the gym grew loud. "Not really," I muttered and he sighed from the other end, "I forgot you were at Blaine's game." I bit my tongue and just nodded because that was probably the best answer for him. "Yup," I mumbled again and he sighed, "Really Gabi? You are being so mature about this."
"You won't leave me alone," I hissed into the phone, "I would be friendlier if you would just leave me the fuck alone." I lost my cool for a second and I knew Brad was probably stunned. "Well…I guess I will just talk to you Monday." He said and I hung up my phone as I looked around hoping that children were not sitting around me. Thankfully, they were not. Troy and the team came back out of the locker room as they warmed back up and Troy took a seat.
He had a freshwater bottle and he laughed on the bench completely relaxed about the current score putting James Island up by 18. His assistant coaches were joking around with him and before we knew it the game was starting back up. I watched each player individually as they were all very talented. Troy was back in his squatted position watching the team and he seemed highly satisfied. I bit down on my lip as I did want to talk to him tonight. In-person.
I knew it was only mere hours until our date tomorrow morning but I was thrilled. Troy was relaxed and talked to each of his players calmly about mistakes. He played his most talented group and subbed them as they needed breaks for their back-ups to be just as good. He took control of the game and pointed around directing everybody on the court and commanding their attention. Another three went through the hoop and he slapped hands with another player.
I bet those kids all loved him.
The game was over before I knew it and James Island had crushed the other team. So much for having a lot of work cut out for them. I stood up as the team slapped hands with the other team and Troy talked to their coach for a moment and he shook his hand before he returned to the locker room with his team. I took steps down to the court where the janitor was putting away chairs, another was going through the bleachers collecting trash.
Teenagers were meeting up on the court to make their evening plans after cheering for their teams not so victory. I moved over towards the hallway that the team disappeared down too and I found their bus leading outback. I bit on my lip as I pressed my back against a wall as I waited for the team to show up. I wasn't sure what Troy was going to think of this but I knew I at least had to say hello. I did come here for him.
Biting down on my lip the players began to trickle out of the locker room and towards their bus. I heard a few coaches moving this direction and they passed by me giving me a glance before whispering to each other. They walked out the door but not before giving me one more look. I heard his voice before I saw him as he was laughing with one of his players. He rounded the corner and he was looking down but the moment he looked up he caught sight of me.
He stopped dead in his tracks as the player stopped as well. He had on a Columbia jacket with James Island logo in the corner. A backpack slipped around a shoulder, "Austin, head to the bus," Troy said as he locked eyes with me and I couldn't stop a smile on my face. Austin disappeared out of the doors and his own goofy grin came over his face, "Ms. Montez," he said tilting his head to the side, "What brings you here to Stratford?"
I laughed as I took a step away from the wall, "I don't know. This guy keeps calling me all the damn time and I figured maybe I would see if he's a decent coach or not." He couldn't hide his smirk or small laugh as he also couldn't take his eyes off of me. "And?" he asked, I bit on my lip, "He's pretty good. Might be worthy of a date tomorrow." Troy cracked a bigger smile, if that was even possible, "Really?" he asked and I laughed myself.
He peeked over his shoulder to see if anybody was coming and he bent down to whisper into my ear. "I'll see you at 5:30." I looked up at him and he winked before he slipped around me but before he went through the door, he turned around to face me. "Gabi?" I looked up at him and he smiled, "Thanks for coming tonight," I nodded my head as I wrapped my arms around me. "It was fun to watch," I replied back to him and he smiled with one more wink before turning to head to the bus.
My knees went weak and I leaned back against the wall again, hot damn.
Troy's POV
When I saw her standing in that hallway, I was terrified at first that she was canceling our date. Yet, that girl was there just to watch me, coach. Fuck, I was in deep trouble. It took all control tonight to not press my lips against hers and I was sure as hell knew I wasn't going to make it through tomorrow without. Pace yourself, buddy, you sure as shit don't want to scare that one away. She looked fantastic in her skinny jeans with flannel and vest.
Drop-dead gorgeous.
I stepped onto the bus and four pairs of eyes met mine immediately. Ah fuck, they all saw her, and I sure as shit hadn't shut up about her. Jax, Jesse, Cameron, and Dylan all gave me a look. Jesse was the only married on in the group, Jax had a serious girlfriend, and Cameron had just gotten into a relationship not that long ago. Leaving Dylan and I the only bachelors on the coaching roster. Yet, they all knew I was talking to a girl, and had I shown them a picture?
Duh. Have you seen her?
"Stop," I hissed sitting down, Jax got up to do a headcount to make sure all of the boys got back on the bus before we lead Stratford. "Was that her?" Cameron asked leaning over the seat and I could only let a smirk cross my face. "Coming to watch you, coach, before your first date? Hot damn you charmed that one." I rolled my eyes as I looked over the book in my hands to see the stats. "No, seriously, how did you get her out here?" Dylan asked and I laughed, "I don't know. She surprised the hell out of me."
"Did you kiss her?" Jesse asked leaning up and over the bus seat as I shook my head, "No. We haven't had a first date yet but did I want too?" I just looked at them and they all laughed. It had been a while since I had a serious relationship and the most anxious person about that was my mother. My eyes glanced at my best friends sitting in the four seats by me as we were the five coaches to the James Island boys' basketball team. I had known Jax and Cameron since we were toddlers. They were both high school teachers respectively at James Island with me. Jesse was a math teacher at our middle school and Dylan was a gym teacher at an elementary school waiting for a PE position to pop open at the high school.
Jax and Cameron and I played high school ball together and then going to college together. We had been buddies for life. It was an easy decision when I took over the basketball program at James Island to include them in my staff. Jax was an American History teacher while Cameron taught English. "Want to get a beer tonight?" Dylan asked and I glanced at him, "I'm getting up early tomorrow for my date with Gabs,"
"Gabs?" Jesse boasted at the nickname I had already called her, "Are you sure this isn't like your fifth date?" he asked me and I laughed, "Guys, easy does it, you are all a little excited here." I mentioned casually and they rolled their eyes this time. "If that gets Laura off your back about finding a wife then…" Jax drug out and I grunted, "Stop." I said with a laugh and they all knew my mom was dying for me to get married. I was her oldest child and her other two were closer to marriage than me.
"Plus, Sage wants another wife in this group. She's sick of being the only girl constantly around. She can't keep up with Cameron's constant revolving relationship and she really thinks Jax should just propose," he paused looking at me and Dylan, "And you bachelors…" he sighed, "She has zero hope for you Dylan,"
"Hey!" he shot and I laughed, "And well...Troy, it has been a long while for you."
"Don't remind me," I mumbled and the group laughed.
"Coach B!" I looked up to see one of my juniors standing up, "Austin said he saw you with a girl? Is this true" I rolled my eyes heavily, "Sit down," I hollered and I smoothed down into my seat causing the men around me to snicker.
"Anyways, Jax, about you getting married…" Jesse turned the conversation and Jax rolled his eyes, "Sara isn't ready," he said and I laughed, "Whatever. She's been planning your guy's wedding since your six-month anniversary." I commented and he rolled his eyes this time trying to ignore all of us. "What is your date with Gabi?" Cameron asked me to try to push the conversation back to me. "It's a secret," I told all of them and they glared at me.
"Do you think we're going to call her and be like hey uh this is one of the assistant coaches and we're telling you about your date at the ass crack of dawn." I laughed shaking my head, "Exactly. One of you would do it." We all looked at Dylan and he threw his hands up, "Why me?" he questioned and we all laughed this time because we all knew why we were looking at him. He was the prankster of the group and did everything we told him not too.
My phone dinged in my pocket and I pulled it out to see I had a missed call from my dad, probably wanting to talk about the game and a text from Gabi. I smiled as I slid the text over to read it.
I hope I didn't embarrass you or anything. I was really happy to come to watch though.
"Uh oh, he's grinning from ear to ear guys. She's texting him," Cameron said and I kicked him with my foot as he was sitting in front of me. I just shook my head because I really couldn't stop smiling as I pressed down on my iPhone texting her back
Not at all. I was really happy to see you. It was definitely a surprise. I loved it.
I tilted my head back and turned my phone off as we pulled back into James Island. Thank God.
Everybody gathered their stuff as I stood up before the team let off the bus, "No practice this weekend. You guys better bring your A-game at practice next week or you will have practice all next weekend." I told them and they all huffed as I moved to let them off the bus. I pushed each of them causing them to all laugh or push me back and we were all happy about this win this evening. Once they were all off the bus the coaches did a sweep for trash before gathering our stuff and heading to put it inside the school.
Thanking all of the guys as they put the stuff away, I relaxed after another win. "See you guys Sunday?" I asked and they all nodded in agreement. We had a standing date on Sunday to watch football together. "I'll see if we can have it at the house." Jesse said and I nodded, "Thanks if Sage doesn't want company just come to my place." I said and they all nodded as this was the normal procedure. "No canceling because you wake up with that girl in your bed."
I laughed rolling my eyes, "That is not happening tomorrow."
"You wish."
I shrugged because I mean…she's beautiful and because it had been a long while but still. I was raised better than that. "I'll be there Sunday so you guys can interrogate me about the date." They all laughed and agreed as we were leaving the school. My phone buzzed again. This text made me laugh out loud.
Don't forget my large coffee. Two sugars. One cream.
A shake of my head caused the smile to come back.
Yes ma'am.
Yea, I was in trouble.
Gah, they are already too adorable. I am so glad you all loved this story! I can't wait to share so much more with you! I hope everybody is staying safe and healthy!
Please REVIEW!
Next Update: June 14th (probably in the evening. I'll be getting back from a family function that day!)
