Page 42

Harper

“The interview with Adam Steel and Nolan Hill was quite impressive,” Terry Wilson told me over our video call.

After the interview had gone live yesterday, it had generated more traffic for SC News than my interview with Derek had.

Terry had emailed me yesterday evening after the last game of the series against the DC Capitols asking to meet, and I hadn’t been able to think about anything else since I first read it.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Views are skyrocketing every hour. People really appreciate the sincerity you helped deliver and I’ve heard from executives at different networks that some retired athletes found it quite inspiring.

” Terry cleared his throat. “I’m excited to see what you do with the story on Jamil Edman, if this is what you’re covering on other athletes of your own accord. ”

My stomach soured as I fought to keep my face neutral. Irrationally, I’d hoped that Terry would have completely forgotten about the story he wanted on Jamil and I wouldn’t have to have the ensuing conversation.

“About that story, Terry,” I started, wringing my hands together under the table out of view of my computer camera.

“Did you run into a snag? Jamil does seem to be picture perfect, doesn’t he?” Terry’s pondering did nothing to quell my nerves.

Take courage, my heart.

Nothing worth it is ever easy.

“Actually, I was thinking I could do a story on a different athlete. Jamil is quite saturated in the media already, don’t you think?” I wanted to celebrate the lack of quiver in my voice as I managed to get the words out.

However, judging by the unamused look on my boss’s face, he didn’t agree with me.

“Which is why I instructed you to find something that no one else has covered on him. Nearly all the coverage on Jamil Edman features his stats or a quick interview after a game. Before last year, he used to be much more fun for the media to cover. The most we’ve seen out of him this season have been the postgame interviews he’s done with you. ”

My resolve was cracking with every word he said. I could practically feel the opportunity at a host seat slipping away from me.

“I understand that, sir. His life has changed drastically since last year. Anyone with all of that resting on their shoulders would grow quite somber, don’t you think?”

“There’s a story in that transformation, don’t you think ?” Terry cocked an eyebrow at me.

There is one, but not one that I’m willing to tell.

“I can find another story to highlight the Cougars.” At this point, I wasn’t sure if I was above begging. “There are some interesting developing stories. Especially since the Cougars are on track to be as successful or more so than last season.”

“Largely due to Jamil Edman’s performance.”

Terry clearly wasn’t budging.

“I’ll get you a story,” I told him, hoping he’d give me some leeway after the Nolan and Adam interview.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Terry replied.

Then the screen went black.

“Fuck,” I breathed as I leaned back in my chair.

It wasn’t even nine in the morning, and I was already wishing for something stronger.

We’d arrived in Tampa late last night after the last game of the series ended against the Capitols.

It was a Friday in the first week of June and the Florida humidity was so thick outside that it deterred any thoughts of going for a run to try and work this pent-up energy out of me.

With a slam of my laptop, I grabbed my hotel room key and went in search of something to take my mind off what felt like a clock ticking down to my final moments with SC News if I couldn’t deliver what Terry wanted.

The lobby was mostly empty when the elevator doors opened, and I made my way to the restaurant in hopes that a greasy breakfast would take my mind off things.

“We have a habit of running into each other in hotel lobbies it appears.” Standing off by the barista with a cup of coffee in his hands looking far too chipper already was Jamil.

“What’d you get?” I asked, reaching out toward his coffee cup. Jamil only raised an eyebrow as I snatched the cup out of his hands and brought it to my lips.

“Man, does the network need to include coffee in your travel budget? You’re drinking that like you’ve never experienced caffeine before.”

I paused, the coffee cup mere inches from my lips. The last thing I wanted was to tell him how my conversation with Terry went because Jamil would only go against everything he wanted if it meant doing something that would help me.

“Rough morning,” I told him, keeping it vague.

“Would a distraction help?” Jamil’s cheeky smile was slowly melting away all the frustration that had made me grow bitter in the time it took me to ride the elevator down from my room.

“A distraction is exactly what I’m looking for.”

Jamil offered me his elbow. “Lucky for you, our chariot awaits us outside.”

With a quick skip, Jamil led me out the front doors of the hotel where an SUV was waiting with a woman in the front seat that looked familiar.

“It’s about damn time!” The woman leaned over onto the console and tilted her sunglasses down the tip of her nose.

Recognition dawned on me. I’d seen her in the photos lining Jamil’s walls. The similarity between the two could be seen in the easy smile on the woman’s face, the dimple in her right cheek, and the smattering of freckles across her nose.

“I found a hitchhiker. Hopefully Mom won’t mind.” Jamil opened the passenger door and motioned for me to get in.

“Oh, I don’t want to take your time away from visiting with your sister,” I floundered, glancing between the open seat and Jamil.

“Babe, I’ve had twenty-five years of time with him. I would much rather spend time getting to know you.”

“Jayden is the feistiest of all of us,” Jamil leaned in close to whisper in my ear.

Jayden rolled her eyes at her older brother.

“You’ve never been good at being secretive, J.

” She turned her eyes, the same color as Jamil’s, to me.

“Come on, I’ll tell you about the time that Jamil got caught kissing his first girlfriend in high school goodnight and was chased down the driveway by her father. ”

I shot a look at the man in question over my shoulder before sliding into the passenger seat and letting Jamil close the door behind me.

“It’s her favorite story to tell,” Jamil mumbled as he climbed into the back.

“Because it never gets old,” Jayden replied happily as she pulled the car away from the hotel.

*

Jamil’s childhood home was exactly how I pictured it. Pictures on nearly every inch of free wall space. Memorabilia not only from his early baseball career, but from his siblings’ lives too. The warmth in this house was like nothing I’d experienced in my own childhood.

My childhood house was kept in pristine order in case anyone stopped by.

The pillows were always perfectly fluffed, the couch cushions didn’t even remotely have a dent in them, and all the pictures on the wall were professionally taken to make us appear like the perfect nuclear family.

It lacked the charm and love of the home I was standing in.

Voices filled the room as delicious aromas hit my nose the second we walked through the front door.

“Jamil?” I heard his mother call from the kitchen. Her back was turned as she stirred something on the stove. “Please tell me you didn’t eat before you came here. You know better than that.”

“I didn’t, Ma. I know you would have strung me out with the laundry.” Jamil crossed through the living room where Jamil’s older sister sat with a small baby bouncing on her lap to kiss his mother on the cheek.

“J brought a guest!” Jayden announced cheerily, clearly enjoying putting her older brother back in the center of attention. She had to have been a handful when they were younger.

“A guest?” Denise turned around from the stove, an apron tied around her lower half and a spoon in her hand—nearly the spitting image from when she stayed with Jamil in Chicago. “Oh my goodness, Harper!”

“You knew about her?” Jayden asked, downright offended that she wasn’t about to watch her brother be questioned over family breakfast.

“Of course, I knew about her.” Denise crossed the kitchen to give me a hug. She placed a hand on my cheek. “It sure is nice to welcome you into my home this time.”

“So you knew about her for weeks and didn’t think to tell us?” Jayden pressed as she reached for a muffin that looked fresh out of the oven.

Denise leaned over and smacked her hand. “Not until we are all seated at the table. And a mother can keep her child’s life to herself until they are ready for others to know. Don’t act so surprised.”

Jayden stared at her mother like she’d grown a second head. “But you told Janessa about the date I went on last weekend!”

“That’s because that man didn’t open your car door for you, nor did he even introduce himself to me. I absolutely told your sister about that idiot.”

Jamil choked back a laugh as he glanced between his mother and his younger sister.

“James and I watched your latest interview,” Denise told me. “We just couldn’t believe how good it was. You really have an amazing gift.”

“I second that,” Jamil’s older sister, Janessa added. “My husband, Kota, and I watched it. We loved every second of it.” Her daughter shrieked on her lap.

“It sounds like baby Kyla agrees,” Jamil cooed as he swooped in to take his niece from Janessa. “Is Dad at the lumber yard?”

“He is. He’ll be at your game tonight. I’m sure he will hate that he missed getting to meet Harper.” Denise gave me another warm smile.

“Will baby Kyla be there?” Jamil asked his niece as he leaned in to bury his face in her belly. Now I understood what baby fever felt like.

“In your jersey, as per usual. Kota and I thought we could spare a late bedtime to have your biggest fan there to cheer you on.”

“Will Kota be here?” I asked, walking over to join Janessa in the living room.

She shook her head. “No. He’s a surgeon. A few more hours left in his shift rotation. But he’ll be there tonight. None of us would miss one of J’s games in Florida.”

“Alright, everyone grab a seat!” Denise called out as she pulled plates from a cabinet.

Everyone slid into seats that had been claimed years before. Jamil noticed me still standing awkwardly in the living room and gestured for me to take the open seat next to him.

“Do you want some casserole, sweetheart?” Denise asked me as Jamil handed her my plate.

“Sure.” I knew better than to say no to anything that Denise Edman cooked.

As silverware scraped against plates and Kyla cooed in the background, I finally felt like I had a goal for something other than my career.

Janessa poked fun at the date that Jayden was bringing to tonight’s game while Jamil jumped in with his own line of protective questioning, and it dawned on me just how much I missed growing up at the expense of my parents’ career-driven choices.

When it came down to it, companies would replace you in a heartbeat. But nothing could replace the love you feel while sitting around a table full of people that care about you unconditionally, people that show up for you, and people that only want to see you achieve your goals and not their own.

“Is this a proper distraction?” Jamil leaned over after Jayden had been thoroughly questioned.

“The best,” I told him and meant it.