Fourth Down (Portland Pioneers 1)

“What’s your name?” I ask her.

“Mariana,” she tells me in a sweet voice. “Yours?”

“Julius. My friends call me Jules. Can I buy you a drink?”

“I’d like that.” I motion to the bartender, and she tells him what she wants. She pulls out her phone and starts typing away. I wonder if I just got played. Does she know who I am or am I overthinking this entire situation? Either way, it’s okay. As much as I’d love to get some aggression out in the form of a bathroom fuck, I’m not ready. Elena did a number on me, and it’s going to take some time to recover. Most of my teammates tell me to start sowing my oats, but I’ve never been “the hit it and quit it” type. Again, I blame Elena. And if Mariana’s telling her friends, good for her. Let her live in the moment.

At this point, everything is Elena’s fault.

Three

Autumn

I lost track of the hours it took to make my drive from Dickinson to Portland. I had a few days to do whatever and mapped my journey ahead of time, pinpointing stops, and booking a hotel. However, I did not plan for the long drive through Montana and ended up staying an extra night at some random hotel along the way. While the trek was beautiful through the state, it was exhausting. I think I danced a bit in my seat when I saw the Welcome to Idaho sign. I also regretted not staying in the small town of Coeur d’Alene because it looked so beautiful. I made a note to add it to my list of places to visit once I’ve settled in Portland.

When I gave my notice to my boss, he told me not to wait, to just go ahead and leave. I found it to be rather rude but figured I might as well use the vacation time I had and enjoy Portland before I have to jump into the fray of telling the fine folks of the Rose City about their weather.

The only issue I had with leaving right away was I didn’t have a place to live. However, thanks to my new assistant, Lisette, she found me a cute apartment, close to the water and within walking distance of everything I will need. I ordered furniture online, hoping it would be comfortable, and had it delivered before I arrived. The drawback is I have to drive to work once I start my rotation because there is no way I’m walking in a city, by myself, at night. Still, I love the idea of walking around my new neighborhood and exploring all the cute, quaint cafes near me.

My apartment complex is bustling with activity when I step off the elevator. I’m on the fifth floor with a usable balcony overlooking the street. I smile and wish the door attendant a good day before I begin my walk toward the station. The sun is shining, I have a fresh cup of coffee in my hand, and my earbuds are playing an audiobook I started during the trip here. I thought I’d have some first-day jitters, but I seem relatively calm for starting a new job in a much larger market. I do remind myself that this is what I went to school for—to be a meteorologist—to be on network television. Portland is the place that could catapult me into stardom.

The walk to the station is thirteen blocks, which is doable except for having to walk under an overpass of a major interstate. Thankfully, Portland has a light rail system called Max, and there is a stop near me. I don’t mind public transportation and became used to it when I lived in Chicago. My friends and I would often take the L train to the baseball games.

As luck would have it, the MCAX station is on a slight incline. I refrain from calling it a hill because I’ve seen some of the hills in Portland, and unless I’m looking to strengthen my calf muscles, I’m going to avoid walking up to them any time soon.

“Good morning,” I say to the lady at the reception desk. “I’m Autumn LaRosa. Mr. Woolworth is expecting me.”

She smiles and welcomes me before calling Sherry. We’ve spoken a few times since our original call, and I’m fond of her. Sherry has been accommodating with this transition. The side door opens, and a woman with a beaming smile comes out, followed by another.

“Autumn?”

“Yes, hi.” We shake hands.

“I’m Sherry, and this is Lisette. I believe you’ve spoken.”

“Oh my,” I say as I pull her into my arms. It’s forward, but I’m indebted to her. “You’ve saved my life with this move. How can I repay you?”

Lisette laughs. “It’s my job to help. I’m very thankful everything went smoothly. Believe me, I’ve had challenges before.”