Page 50 of Game Plan
“Suzie overheard me telling Jade about Dad’s plan. When Jade left the room that we were in alone, she showed herself. She had been listening outside the door the entire time. She decided to use the conversation against me and issued an ultimatum.”
April was aware of everyone around the table holding their breaths in fear and confusion.
“She’s giving me until the end of the US Open to come out, or she’ll out me herself.”
“What? Why? Like that would do anything for her!” Connor said in disgust.
Dani took over at this stage, “Suzie seems to be under the impression that by April coming out, it’ll ruin her career to the point that her sponsors will enact the Lifestyle clause of their contracts and pull away from April, opting to chooseSuzieinstead. As well as mentally removing her from playing tournaments which would allow Suzie more opportunity to win titles.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Imogen said in protest.
“Typical Gibbons behavior!” Roland spat out in disgust.
“I know. That apple certainly didn’t fall far from the tree,” Dani said firmly. “That being said, I have a plan in place to take control of the narrative. April? Do you want to tell them?”
April felt five sets of eyes around the table turn to face her. But felt the pair she missed most deep in her soul. “I’ve been booked to appear on Blair Collins’ Show this Friday night ahead of the US Open starting this weekend. I’ll use it to come out, but I don’t want it to be a big announcement. I’m doing this for me, not to announce it to somehow appease Suzie, or to make a statement as a professional athlete. I’m ready to just bemeand not hide the love I feel for Jade from anyone.” April froze. She knew her feelings for Jade weren’t fleeting. She hadn’t thought about love.
A hand on each of her knees gently squeezed their support.
Chapter 40
Jade
Although she was only in the office for a quick update meeting between herself, Will and Pippa ahead of their final venue of the US Open, it felt strange being back. Having spent so long travelling between different hotels, cities, and countries, walking into the building felt a bit disconnected.
She had taken the past week to really focus on her work, but in doing so, she’d discovered that she was enjoying being an on-scene physical therapist. She enjoyed learning about the specific injuries for a particular sport in a more in-depth way. Possibly more so than tending to the wide variety of injuries from the various sports her current patients participated in.
Through all her training, she had never considered specializing. She had wanted to help as many people as possible, no matter how they came to find themselves injured. Yet, having had this current opportunity to try it out, she definitely felt a pull towards it.
She had put part of the appeal down to it allowing her the opportunity to see as much of April as she had. She knew that. But maybe it was something they could discuss in the future.If they had a future, she would find out this weekend.
She arrived early so that she could touch base in her office before the meeting. Opening her office door, she took a look around as she made her way over to her desk. She went to sit on the yoga ball she used instead of a chair and immediately decided against it when her hand sunk into it. So, she lifted the pump off the shelf above her desk and inflated it before replacing the pump and sitting down. It felt almost ritualistic at this point, and there was some comfort in the routine of it for her.
She switched on her computer and sorted through the large number of emails awaiting her. Pippa had insisted that neither herself nor Will access their emails while on tour but instead stayed focused on the job at hand. She had assured them that a client-wide email newsletter would include the announcement of their involvement with the tour, advising who should be contacted in Jade and Will’s absence for the duration. While they had both been delighted at the time, the reality of those who would not have been included in the client's newsletter announcement hit her. 173 realities to be exact. Each one she hoped wouldnotrequire a response.
What felt like hours later, when in fact it had only been 35 minutes, Will knocked on her door and came in without waiting for her response. Jade turned and smiled at the sight of her friend.
“Oh, you absolutesaint!” Jade exclaimed in relief at the sight of the milkshake in his outstretched hand toward her. “Why, if you weren’t already married...”
“...and neither of us were as gay as a unicorn carrying a handbag full of rainbows?” Will added, causing them both to laugh at the regular comment made between them.
Will peered over her shoulder and recognized the email screen on her computer, “urgh, what was your number?” He asked with a cringe.
“173, I think I threw up a little in my mouth when the number finally popped up on my screen. You?” Jade asked, taking a sip of the cool and creamy chocolate drink.
“Ouch! I thought my 136 was bad, why so many?” He asked as he leaned against her treatment table.
“I have no idea, but I’m hoping it’s a mistake and I can redirectmanyof them to you or Pippa to deal with. Otherwise, that’s just depressing.” She took another sip of her drink and felt a new wave of sadness roll over her, lost in her thoughts of April.
She knew taking the step back was the right move to give April the space she needed to handle everything, even if neither of them wanted to. It was like carrying an added weight in her chest all day every day. One that would only be released when she got to hold her partner again.
“Ok, I’m going there,” Will said with an exasperated huff, snapping Jade out of her thoughts.
“Going where?” Jade added, confused.
“I’ve sat back for days. I’ve said nothing, which is only because Nathan insisted that I wait until you come to me, but you’re hopeless and I just can’t dothisanymore.” Will got up and closed Jade’s office door before returning to his perch against her treatment table and continuing. “I know this has to involve the girl you’re seeing. I still am not asking for her name, unless you want to tell me, but I also know something must have happenedrecently as you’ve changed from being a walking ray of sunshine to being a wet rag over the past week.”
Jade could feel her eyes fill, partly over April, but partly over the flash of hurt she saw in her friend’s eye that she hadn’t confided in him when they had spent so much time together.
