Page 27
Danielle
W hen I finally drag myself out of Mike’s bed, there is coffee brewing on the counter. Next to the pot I see a new mug with the Blue Crabs team logo on it. My favorite brand of chai concentrate and a half-gallon of milk sit beside it.
Mike is leaning back against the closed refrigerator, sipping his own mug slowly, and looking at me over the rim.
“For me?” I ask.
“I may have taken a peek in Honey’s fridge to see what you like.” Mike shrugs like it’s no big deal, and maybe it’s not, but what I’m learning about falling for this man is that it’s the small things like this that are actually the biggest reason I love him. That still feels weird to admit, even privately to myself. While I’m mixing my morning drink, Jordan comes out of his room to join us. He must have come in late last night. The team has another game this afternoon, and the guys need to leave soon to make their warm-up.
As Jordan pours himself a bowl of cereal, he looks from Mike to me and takes the opportunity to apologize once again, now that we are all in the same room.
“I really am sorry about the pills. I wouldn’t have done that to my man on purpose.”
“No one thought you did.” Mike blows over the edge of his steaming cup and motions for Jordan to hand him the cereal box. He is not accusing me of jumping to conclusions, but the guilt makes me wince anyway, because until I came to my senses that is exactly what I thought.
“I’m the one who needs to apologize. To both of you. I made a lot of assumptions when I found those pills, and that wasn’t fair. Then I did the same thing I blamed you for doing and left Mike alone with those meds. I’m sorry.” It shouldn’t have taken me this long to say this to Jordan, but it is true. Jordan nods his acceptance. Mike walks over to me and gives me another kiss. Then he leans into my ear and whispers, “I thought I told you to stop apologizing to me about this.” He swats my butt lightly. I look at him with wide eyes and motion to Jordan, but I can’t help smiling. Mike laughs and shrugs. Jordan is already too absorbed by his breakfast to care what we are doing.
The guys pivot to talking about their strategy for today’s game while they eat their cereal. I guess we are all moving on.
“Will we see you at the ballpark today?” Jordan asks me between bites.
“Sorry, but I have another shift. I can bring dinner over later, though. Jackson makes a pretty good crab cake.”
They exchange a look I don’t understand, then Mike smiles as he sets his mug in the sink, right along with our other dishes from last night. He walks by me, pausing to kiss the top of my head on the way to his room to grab his gear.
“He’s eaten a lot of crab cakes this month,” Jordan says. “I think getting food from The Blue Crab reminded him of you.”
I hold back a grin because I know the feeling. I now stop in Major Dollar almost every day to pick up a pack of M&M’s, but I keep that to myself. When Mike comes back into the room, I wish the guys a good game and we all walk out together. I need to go home to shower and change before work.
I haven’t been back for long when I get a Facetime call. The on-site internet must finally be working for Mom and Bob. I hit accept and my mother’s face appears on my phone screen.
“Dani. There you are. It’s been too long.”
“Hi, Mom. How’s everything going there? How’s Bob?”
“We’re doing just fine, but I want to hear about everything going on in North Bay. I finally got access to my emails, so I think I’m mostly caught-up. It sounds like you went to a dance with Jake last month, and then you started dating a baseball player, but now you might be broken up?”
“That was accurate until last night. Mike and I are officially back together. There was some strategic karaoke groveling involved.”
“That sounds like a fun story. As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”
“I am happy,” I say, and I realize it’s true. Even though it’s complicated and the future isn’t promised, being with Mike makes me happy. Maybe, for now, that’s all I need to know.
“Good, I’m glad. There was one other thing I wanted to talk to you about. Shelia has been emailing me, too. And her last few letters were concerning. She says things have been rocky since March. Is Jake okay?”
“As far as I know. Why?”
Mom and Mrs. Gibson might be complete opposites, but they have been friends since before Jake and I were born. I wonder what she wrote in those emails? March was back before the gala. It must not have anything to do with me.
“Well, maybe you could go pay him a visit soon. It seems like he could use a friend.”
“Sure. I’ll go over there when we hang up. But first tell me about Haiti.”
Mom tells me about the weather and the animals she’s encountered, and all of the fantastic people she’s met. Then we chat for a while about Bob and the work they’re doing, and I tell her the latest gossip Honey has collected. Eventually, though, the connection starts to break and we need to wish each other a hasty goodbye.
“Love you, sweetie.”
“You, too. Bye mom.”
After we hang up, I get showered and dressed for work, but as promised, I stop at Jake’s house before heading to the restaurant. His parents are at a marriage retreat this weekend, so Jake is alone when he answers the door.
“Hey, Dan-Dan. What’s up?”
“You tell me. Apparently, both of our moms have been worried about you since March. Do you know what that’s about?”
“Oh. Um...” He motions for me to come inside and closes the door behind me. “Probably the fact that I failed three classes, lost my scholarship, and dropped out of school.”
“What?”
Seriously, what? I was at school with him less than a month ago and everything seemed fine. Well, it didn’t exactly seem fine, but I selfishly assumed it was all about me. This is Jake. Straight A’s, computer nerd, so-crazy-talented-it’s-borderline-annoying Jake.
“Things got out of hand. I’m handling it, but my parents are less than thrilled with me at the moment.”
I’m guessing that’s the understatement of the century, knowing his dad. This is why he’s been around so much more lately. He moved back home.
“Jake. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I guess I didn’t want you to think less of me. Besides, don’t take this the wrong way, but what were you going to do about it?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve been a little preoccupied.”
“You listen here, Jacob Gibson.” I poke his chest with my index finger. He tilts his head and looks down at me, amused. “I don’t care who I am dating. You are my best friend, and I am your best friend, and best friends don’t keep secrets this big from each other. Now let me be here for you, dammit.”
He laughs. “Okay. If it means that much to you, the next time I’m ashamed of myself for failing out of school, you’ll be the first one I call.”
“Thank you, that’s all I ask. Now come here, you big oaf.” I hug him. “I’m sorry you went through all of that alone.”
“Who said I’m alone?” Jake smirks. I look back toward his bedroom.
“Do you have someone here?”
“I wouldn’t be much of a gentleman if I answered that.”
“Oh my god, is it the red head? No, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know. I’m leaving. I’m leaving. Sorry to hear about the school thing. That sucks. We’ll talk more later. Have fun with your mystery person. I’m going to work.”
“Bye, Dan-Dan.”