The bar is a blur. Marissa keeps talking to me about some guy she’s dating, a slightly older guy who’s in the middle of developing a start-up and may move to California.
“He asked me to go with him,” she says as she pours one of the beers on tap for tonight.
“Are you going to?”
“Why the hell not?” She shrugs a shoulder. “I’m waiting tables here. Might as well wait them there.”
“I guess that’s true.” I smile. “It’ll be an adventure.”
“Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. He’s still working on it. He wouldn’t leave till next year and who knows what will happen from now to then.”
I think about that the entire car ride to my dad’s practice. A year is a long time. This time last year, I was rooming with Kelsey, my first friend here and teammate, and we were arguing over empty cereal bowls. I was with Lawrence the majority of the time and truly thought we had a future together. Of course, that was before I found out he was a lying cheater. If you’d asked me then, even despite my annoyance at him half of the time, I would have still told you I might marry him. I mean, that’s what you did, right? You got into long relationships with that end goal in mind? I didn’t know anymore and now I knew less. When I get to Dad’s, Donna is walking out.
“You’re leaving?” I look at the time on my phone. “This early?”
“I am.” She smiles. “Your father’s in his office. Lock up when you go inside.”
“I will.” I frown as I walk in and do as instructed, then shut my eyes momentarily before walking over to Dad’s office. He’s on the phone, so he holds a finger up to me.
“Is he there now?” he asks whoever he’s speaking to. “Where’s Barnes? Are you fucking kidding me? Yeah.” He sighs, glancing at the Rolex Mom gave him for his birthday last year. “Yeah, I guess I can make it. Prep him.” He hangs up and I stop biting my lip.
“Surgery?”
“Yep. It was Barnes’s day, but he felt sick, left, and tested positive for the flu.”
“Oh, no.” I frown. “So you’re working late?”
“Unfortunately.” He stands with a heavy sigh as he sorts out paperwork. “Jagger should be coming in tonight, but I won’t be able to help, so he’ll have to come back another night.”
“I’ll let him know.” I nod.
“Do you remember your stretches?” Dad walks around the desk and walks toward me. My eyes widen. He can’t possibly be asking me what I think he’s asking.
“Dad, no way.”
“Just teach him the ones he can do at home. You don’t have to stretch his arm for him if you’re not comfortable with it, but you’ve been through it, so if you are comfortable . . . ” He tilts his head slightly as he leans in to kiss the top of my head. “I love you, J. See you this weekend. Lock up when you leave.”
“Okay,” I call out, too shocked to fully comprehend what he’s just asked of me.
What I should have done was ask if stretching Jagger’s arm will let me off the hook of cleaning the floors, but I just . . . I take a deep breath and go from room to room to see which one I can use. Not that I need a room to teach him a few stretches. I can do that right here in the hall. Still, I can’t help the feeling of importance that seeps in as I think about playing physical therapist for the day. I decide room four is the best one. It’s small and doesn’t have all of the high-tech stuff the other ones have, but it’s the room I rehabbed my shoulder in five years ago and it’s cozy. I’m walking back to the main area when I hear the knock on the door. My heart picks up speed as I walk over and unlock it, opening it for Jagger. He’s wearing black basketball shorts and a baby blue T-shirt with a football on it.
“My dad had to leave,” I say, but Jagger is already walking past me and into the practice. I shut the door and lock it, turning to face him. “He’s in surgery now so he told me to teach you some stretches or help you stretch your arm. Whatever you’re comfortable with.”
“Whatever I’m comfortable with?” His eyes are alight with humor when he turns to face me.
“Yeah. I mean I’m okay with it if you are.”
He chuckles quietly, shaking his head as he looks at the ground.
“I don’t see how that’s funny.” I start walking to the available room and hear him walking behind me. When we get there, I walk in and shut the door behind us, then think better of it, but leave it shut anyway.