Lainey’s List Chapter Twenty-One
Lainey
“A reporter stopped you in the hall to ask about locker room issues?” Incredulously, I stare at Nick who nods glumly over the Scotch I poured him. It’s his third drink tonight. The liquor is a testament to how upset he is because usually Nick doesn’t drink during the season. He’s of the my body is my temple line of thinking. Also of the garbage in, garbage out.
“That was after I had the awkward conversation with the coach and after I had to stare down Darnell.” He shakes his head. “Don’t know what the hell happened.”
Nick looks like he got sucker punched. I glance over at the Mustangs who Nick is buying drinks for. Darnell looks happy. He holds up a glass in Nick’s direction and Nick returns the unspoken toast. Curfew is just around the corner, and they’re all enjoying one last drink before they have to be back in their beds.
“You know I’m not a diva,” he continues. His wounded eyes plead for my agreement, which I readily give because, no, he’s not a diva.
“I know. It’s just a misunderstanding.”
He toys with the glass. “The whole thing came out of nowhere, you know what I mean?”
“Yeah.” As Nick leans against the bar and tries to puzzle it out, I move down toward the cash register on the pretense of ringing up a bill but instead pull out my phone and type out a text message.
Before a response can arrive, the door swings open and in walks Charlie wearing a disgusted look on her face. A few of the players yell her name. She holds up a hand in greeting but doesn’t join them, instead, opting to climb onto a stool next to Nick.
I mix up a whiskey sour and slide it in front of her. “Bad day?”
“Yeah, I just got off the phone with Rydell Griffin. He says he’s cancelling our contract because he heard I’m indiscreet. What the heck does that mean? Does he think I’m taking pictures of his underwear drawer and posting them on the Internet? I’ve never done that.” Charlie’s tone is full of indignation. She takes a long swallow of her drink and slams the glass down so hard that some of the remaining liquid spills over the side.
“Wait till you hear about my day,” Nick starts.
I move away again. I don’t get why it’s so obvious to me what’s going on but such a mystery to Charlie and Nick. I suppose they don’t really have any dealings with Chip. Not on this personal level. He’s never had a reason to take an interest in them like he does me so they don’t know that he’s lower than a snake’s belly.
Oh, Charlie knows he’s Cassidy’s dad. I told her one night when Cassidy had a terrible fever and I was scared out of my mind. Charlie held my hand and then, afterwards, I had to swear her to secrecy. She’s never told anyone, particularly not Nick, because if she had, he’d have never looked at Chip with anything but contempt. For all Nick’s flaws, he loves Cassidy, and he thinks whoever the asshole is who abandoned her is not only dumb as shit but more worthless than tits on a bull. My analogy, not his. His is so profane, I can’t repeat it.
The phone vibrates in my apron. I pull it out and read the message.
Sure we can meet. Hornby’s. Tomorrow. 8 PM.
Of course, he would pick a time that is inconvenient for me. I look down the bar at my two regular babysitters who are staring dejectedly into their early evening drinks. I can’t ask either one of them to take care of Cassidy tomorrow. I signal my waitress, Ruby, and retreat to the back room make a call to a placement agency to get a babysitter for Cassidy.
When I return, it looks like their mutual commiseration has lightened their spirits.
“What are you up to tomorrow night, Lainey?” Charlie asks.
I rearrange a few glasses before responding. Cassidy would tell Charlie the next time they see each other that she had another babysitter so I have to be careful in the story I tell Charlie. “I’m catching drinks with an old friend from high school. No one you know. I don’t really particularly like him, but I feel compelled for old times sake.”
Always go with the closest approximation of the truth. Charlie nods. “Not really in the mood to go out anyway. Maybe this Saturday we can do something together. Take Cassidy somewhere,” she suggests.
“How about Reese’s farm? Cassidy would love that.”
Charlie immediately brightens. “That sounds like a great idea. Do you want to come?” she asks Nick.
Nick raises his eyes to me, seeking approval. I give a terse nod. Before today, I would’ve said no. I would’ve tried to keep my emotional barriers up, but there’s no point in that now. Soon I won’t need artificial barriers and fake excuses.
“I’ll meet you there after practice.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Charlie excuses herself to use the restroom.
As soon as Charlie’s out of earshot, Nick asks, “You sure it’s okay?”
I hardly remember what we were fighting about. “It’ll be great,” I reply. “We both love you, you know.” This time it’s not an approximation of truth, just the truth. The whole truth.
Nick smiles as if I just told him it was sunny and seventy out. And I die a little inside. “Good. I’ll see you then.”
He slips out with his teammates. Charlie gives me a kiss on the cheek before leaving.
And I go home to prepare.
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