Page 95 of Elite Player
I press my fingers to my trembling chin. The old gal was so full of life, even having just turned one hundred years old, it’s hard to think about her not being here anymore.
“You’ll need to come home,” my mother says, but I’m already reaching for my bag.
“I will. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
I hang up hastily, mentally making plans. I don’t like flying, but it would be the quickest way to get there, though I’m sure ticket prices would be exorbitant so last minute. A bus would be cheaper, but as I start researching trips, I find all the rides to be between ten and twelve hours, making me arrive after midnight, so someone would need to pick me up from the bus stop, which is not anywhere close to my hometown.
An hour into my dithering, unable to concentrate on accomplishing one task at a time, a few pairs of jeans and underwear packed, a Greyhound listing up, and my cell phone in my hand, knowing I need to tell Sean I need some time off, it vibrates again. This time, it is Nico.
“These photos, mama. What are you trying to do to me? Got me all hot and bothered when I need to nap before the game.”
“Nico, Granny died. I need to go home.”
“Jo, god, I’m so sorry.”
I wipe at the gathering tears in my eyes. “My mom called. I’m not sure when the services are, but I’ll probably have to be there for a few days.”
“Yeah, of course. Whatever you need to do.”
“There’s a bus that leaves in an hour?—”
“You’re not taking the bus home. You’re not going to bespending hours on a bus on the way to your great-grandmother’s funeral with a bunch of strangers and changing lines.”
I slump on the floor, against my bed. “There’s no other choice. Even if I didn’t mind flying, I can’t afford to spend four hundred dollars on a plane ticket.”
“You can afford it. I can afford it, and I’m getting you a goddamn ticket. So you’ll take some Melatonin and get on the fucking plane, Josephine.”
“Oh…kay. Okay.” I breathe out a watery laugh. “You don’t need to yell at me.”
His voice is markedly sweeter when he says, “I’m not yelling at you, but I am worried about you.”
“It’s… I just didn’t expect it. I knew it would happen, but I never… Pawpaw died when I was little, so I don’t remember… This is my first funeral. The first person to…”
When my voice cracks and the tears come, Nico sighs. “Oh babe, I’m so sorry. I wish I were there, but I’ll come as soon as I can, all right? I’ll get on a flight and be there for the funeral, I promise. You won’t be alone.”
It’s quiet for a minute before he tells me, “I just Venmo’d you a thousand dollars. That should be enough for the plane ticket and rental car when you’re there. If it’s not, let me know. Also, I’m going to be getting a credit card with your name on it. I should have done it before now.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“Yes, I do. For times like this. And for whenever you want to buy something. Whenever you need something. It’s not my money anymore. It’s our money.”
Our money.
It’s as much of a declaration as either of us has said out loud so far, and I sniffle. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Thank you, Nico.”
This man. I bite back a smile. “Thank you, Nico.”
“All right, stop flirting with me and get to packing. I’ll see you as soon as I can.”
I force myself to move, heartened at his words. “Okay.”
“And, Jo, I?—”
My phone vibrates in my hand yet again, and I pull it away from my ear to see it’s my mother. “I’ve got to go. It’s my mom calling again. I’ll text you later.”
“Yeah, okay. Bye, Jojo.”
