Page 9 of The False Start (Off the Bench)

I stare at the screen, fuming. All the benefits of my feel-good flowers from last night wiped away in one conversation. My eyes are burning, and I wipe at them harshly, likely ruining the makeup I spent extra time doing this morning.

“Kevin,” I call, and he’s there in an instant.

“Is there anything I can push until tomorrow?”

“Everything but your one-on-one with James at two.”

“Great.”

“Do you want me to move something?”

I sigh. “No never mind. Just don’t schedule anything after four please. I have an appointment to get to.”

“There’s nothing on your personal calendar. Did I miss something?”

“No, I just added it. But I need to be out by five thirty tonight.”

“Got it, nothing after four.”

I smile at him. “Thanks, Kevin.”

“Anything else I can get you?”

“No, I’m okay, did you have a chance to look at the file Colton sent over?”

He nods. “They seem like a good fit.”

“It seems that way. He wants to go out next week to the site. Can you get the travel booked?”

“Yep, sure thing. Do you want me to get you separated on the flight?”

I laugh. “As long as I’m not in a middle seat, it doesn’t matter.” The thought of Colton squished into a middle seat is too funny to contemplate.

“Will do.” He leaves as quickly as he popped in. Sometimes, I swear he can teleport.

The rest of the day passes quickly, and I’m able to leave on time for the first day in weeks. Smiling, I head into the studio. It’s empty except for the assistant currently organizing the glazes along the far wall.

“Hey, Denise.”

“Lila, it’s been a minute since we’ve seen you around here!”

“I know. Work’s been crazy lately. I haven’t been able to get away.”

She nods sympathetically, pushing her big, round glasses back up her nose from where they’d slid down to the tip.

“Well, you know where to find everything, but let me know if you need an assist. You have the studio until closing.”

I grin, dropping my bag next to the wheel near the window. I’ll have to find a way to thank Katie. She booked the entire studio for me. I normally don’t mind coming for open workshop when there’s a few others quietly working, but I do my best creating when I’m alone.

I cut a large block of porcelain clay and wedge in a few powdered colors—pinks and oranges today, something fun and bright—and get to work.

It grounds me, the clay between my hands, the water and slip sliding over my fingers as I guide it into center, even as my manicure suffers.

Gradually, the lump of clay takes shape, and I begin to pull the walls.

I shape the piece as the sun sets and the city darkens, as Denise sweeps the backroom and shuts off the kiln.

I sit back and admire the vase, the swirls of color just coming through, and breathe.

“Well, that’s lovely,” Denise says from over my shoulder. I jump, almost forgetting she was here.

“Thanks, I got some flowers yesterday that needed something just like this.”

“I’ll let it dry out and then, if you want, we can glaze and fire it for you. You’ll need to trim it though.”

“Thanks,” I say, wiping off my hands on the apron and stretching my back out. “I’ll come check on it later this week and see what I want to do with it. I’m hoping the colors come through a bit stronger after the bisque firing.”

“I hope this means we’ll be seeing you around more?”

I nod, grinning “I hope so.”

Set Your Roster!

The alarm goes off at noon, and I jump. I normally finalize it Wednesday night and then turn off the alarm, but I spent the past two nights at the studio and came home too drained to look at stats.

I finish lunch with Sadie and plop down behind my desk, opening my ESPN app. My thumb hovers over John Basset on my bench, and sigh, opening my texts from last night.

Cal

Hey, I need to tell you something.

What’s up?

You remember when Theo and I were looking at your fantasy roster?

Yeah…

There’s a reason he was so protective of his teammate.

I mean sure, if they don’t all believe in each other how are they supposed to play well enough as a team to win?

No, it’s more than that. You know I used to play for the Cosmos right?

Yeah.

Well, I requested a trade earlier this year, and they finally made it happen. I’m new to the Chicago Avalanche.

What?

Callahan is my middle name and I’ve used it since I was a kid since my dad is Johnathan Basset. But on the official paperwork and in football I still use John. The John Basset on your roster is me.

Oh, why didn’t you just tell me?

I kinda thought you already knew when we met at the club. I assumed Theo or Katie would’ve mentioned the trade, it was why we all met up that night.

Oh, that makes so much more sense now. Why are you telling me now then?

You’d figure it out soon enough, and I didn’t want it to be weird when you did.

I didn’t want to feel like I was lying to you about who I am.

Does this mean I have to start you this week?

Only if you think I deserve it.

I guess we’ll have to see then, won’t we?

Just do me a favor and don’t tell me if you don’t.

Let me pretend you picked me.

I flip back to my fantasy roster. Sure, it was a bit of a shock to learn the guy I’d been thinking about nearly non-stop for the last few days is currently sitting on my bench, but it’s not like it’s a real game.

I’d immediately run to the internet to validate his story, and after two hours of digging that would make the most thorough CIA agent proud, I can confirm that Johnathan Callahan Basset, age thirty-four, did indeed get traded to the Chicago Avalanche from the Upstate Cosmos only a few weeks ago, mid-season.

He also drastically overpaid for his condo according to Zillow, but I guess if you’re on a timeline, there’s not a lot of time for negotiation.

I feel slightly guilty as I leave John Basset on the bench for the week and lock the roster.

Even after the flowers and the consistent daydreams, I can’t make myself start him, not when having Kelce is a guaranteed twenty points.

They play tonight in Dallas though, and if I can’t support him through fantasy, I’ll definitely be watching the game.

Hey, do you want to watch the game tonight?

Katie

What game?

Cal and Theo’s. It’s at 7 tonight.

Fine, if I have to.

First round is on you though.

I roll my eyes. Of course it is, but I can’t stop the grin that spreads across my face.

It’s always fun to cheer on my fantasy players, but I don’t know them know them.

This is different. I know Cal, maybe more intimately than I care to think about right now, but he and Theo are my friends.

It makes it more personal, and I want them to win for them, not just for the benefit it brings me.

I swear I don’t breathe through the whole first quarter.

May I never have a son that wants to play football because I don’t think I could watch them get hit play after play.

But Katie chatters nonstop about the hockey rules she’s learning from Theo and the players he’s promised to introduce her to, and after a couple drinks I’m able to relax and enjoy the game more.

“You really think you’ll be into a hockey player?”

“Have you seen them? They’re hot ,” she says, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.

“They’re not the only ones,” I mutter under my breath, grateful when she doesn’t hear, and turn my attention back to the game.

We both scream when Theo catches a touchdown in the middle of the third quarter, half of the bar erupting with us as the Avalanche pulls ahead, putting them in a good position to win.

The last two minutes are tense, Dallas with the ball on our forty-yard line, almost to field goal range, but the defense holds them there, and we win! I pull out my phone, a text to Cal already composing in my mind.

“Who are you texting?” Katie asks slyly.

“Uh no one, never mind.” I slide my phone back in my jeans pocket.

“You should you know. He’d want to hear from you.”

“You really think so?”

“Definitely.” She winks at me. “How’s Dennis these days?”

My stomach drops. “I’m sure he’s fine.”

“You haven’t talked?”

“Not since he called me at the bar.”

“Do you miss him?”

I inhale sharply, then let out a slow breath thinking. Do I miss Dennis?

“I don’t know.”

Katie purses her lips. “Well regardless, your friends deserve a ‘congratulations.’ Theo just caught the game winning touchdown, and Cal helped block for him, so really, it’s a shared victory.” She sips on her martini delicately.

I gape at her. “Since when do you know what blocking is?”

“You’re not the only one who can understand football, you know. And I never said Theo was only teaching me hockey rules.”

I shake my head. “Fine, you’re right.” I huff. “It’s not weird to just say ‘good job.’”

I pull my phone out but hesitate.

“Should I text them in a group?”

Katie just looks at me with pity.

“You know what? Never mind, I’m a big girl, I can do this.” She pointedly ignores the pep talk I’m giving myself.

Great catch tonight, and congrats on the win!

Theo

Thanks! We’ll celebrate when we’re back!

I open a second message.

Congrats on the win! It was a great game.

Cal

Thanks.

You watched the whole thing?

Of course! It was so much more exciting when I had people to cheer for on the field

Well as long as you’re rooting for me, I’ll make sure I stay on the field.

My heart does that little flutter thing, and I put my phone away quickly.

“I think it’s time to go,” I say, flagging down the server with my credit card.

“Okay, I’ll call a car.”

By the time we’ve paid, our Uber is waiting outside, and we jump into it, trying to dodge the chilly fall weather.

The driver drops me off first, and I step out.

“Thanks for watching with me!”

“Yep, see you this weekend?”

“Yeah. Text me.” I shut the door, and head inside, waving to Maureen on the way up.

Once I’m in my apartment, I sigh and open my phone to Dennis’s messages, finally ready to bite the bullet.

Dennis

I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.

I know you didn’t cheat on me it just makes me sick to think of someone taking advantage of you.

Come on, Lila, don’t be like this, you know I love you.

Lila, baby. You can’t ignore me forever.

Let me know when you’re done punishing me, for something I’ve already apologized for.

Sorry, I know I should’ve answered sooner. Work just got really busy.

A message pings a few minutes later as I’m getting ready for bed.

Dennis

I’m sure.

I think I should come visit. We can talk this through

I think you’re right. When are you thinking?

I bought a ticket for this weekend. I land Saturday.

Okay.

Don’t sound so excited.

Sorry I am. I’ll see you Saturday!

I close my phone, trying to summon the happiness I once felt at the thought of seeing my long-term, long-distance boyfriend.

It doesn’t come.