Sage

Sage

The next day I spend nearly all day on my laptop. I compile the footage I got into a couple of cool videos that I’ll be sending over to the marketing team for approval. I also scroll endlessly, taking note of trending content other teams are coming out with and how we can make ours a little different. I don’t realize how buried I am in it all until my stomach lets out an almost feral growl. I glance down at the time in the lower right-hand corner to see it’s already almost five in the afternoon, and all I’ve had is some leftover cold pizza and a protein shake.

Pushing my laptop to the side, I reach for my phone and look up some restaurants near me. Everything has changed in the last two years. I hardly recognize any of the places anymore. Looks like there is a place not far from my apartment called Blackwoods. It’s like a bar/restaurant, I guess. It’s on the outskirts of the city, but that means they probably aren’t too busy tonight. Maybe I can just grab an order to go or something.

It doesn’t take me long to scroll through their menu before I decide on the black and blue bacon burger. I order a side salad as well as the fries, telling myself that if I eat the salad, I won’t be as hungry for the fries, even if I know that’s a bald-faced lie. Leaving a single potato behind is not an option, but ordering the salad lets me pretend that I feel good about my choices, so it works.

The drive is quick, and when I get there, the sleek unsuspecting black brick building is actually a lot more packed than I would have expected. As I make my way through the doors, I see Milly J, a Seattle-native singer/songwriter, sitting in a corner booth with a few friends. To my other side, I see several guys that I recognize who play for the Mariners. My eyes begin cataloging my surroundings, recognizing almost every person at least vaguely. What is this? A watering hole for the rich and influential? Makes a little more sense why my burger, fries, and salad is costing me over thirty bucks, I guess.

I see the hostess stand tucked away to the side and make my way over to it when I hear my name.

“Sage!”

I turn to see Erica sliding out of a booth and making her way over to me. We met when I started doing hot yoga a few weeks ago and hit it off. Mainly because we both seriously question why we even torture ourselves by spending our free time in the literal pits of hell. Her fire-engine red hair is piled on top of her head as she holds her arms out, grabbing me in for a hug.

I hug her back, though I’m definitely the first to let go. It’s not that I don’t like affection, I just didn’t grow up in a touchy-feely home. It’s just not me. I’ll hug you if I like you, but it’s for like .5 seconds, and then you need to let me go. Erica is a hugger, though. The kind that will hold you for several seconds longer than a typical hug would last, causing you to stand there awkwardly until they finally release you. If she wasn’t so sweet, I’d probably be annoyed, but she kind of reminds me of Calista in the soft mothering way she seems to have about her, minus the infinite tattoos and tobacco addiction, so I tolerate it.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” I ask.

“Just grabbing some food with some friends. Come here. I want to introduce you to Seb.”

She practically pulls my arm out of its socket as she drags me over to her table where I see six other people sitting. They aren’t just six people, though. They are Crusader players.

“Seb, this is my friend I was telling you about, Sage.” Erica smiles as she sits down at the edge of the booth next to who I now know as her husband.

He slings an arm around her as he nods politely at me.

“Small world.”

“Yeah, no shit. I didn’t know you were married to Caldwell,” I say before nodding and smiling at Santos, Daniels, and the two brunette women next to them who I’m assuming are their wives.

My eyes come to the other side of the booth, landing on probably one of the only Crusader players I would prefer not to run into. Apparently the feeling is mutual because he is practically shooting daggers at me from the inside of the booth.

“How do you know her?” Trevor asks, his question clearly directed at Erica, but his eyes remain on me.

I raise an unimpressed eyebrow at him as I match his stare. Does he think he’s intimidating? Like he can make me quiver in my boots? I want to laugh in his GQ-model-worthy face, but instead, I keep a blank mask on, determined to win this little stare off.

I’m competitive like that.

“We do hot yoga together,” Erica says sweetly. “Oh my god. I’m such an idiot. I forgot you told me you were doing social media for a sports team. You didn’t tell me it was the Crusaders!”

“Yeah, her dad is the coach. Nepotism at its finest,” Trevor sneers.

“Trevor!” Erica admonishes, causing him to break my stare, his eyes coming to hers like a rubber band snapping into place.

“Kidding,” he says, though it’s more like the grumble of a child who’s been scolded.

Instead of his shitty glare coming back to me like I expect, his eyes stay on Erica as she redirects the conversation, introducing me to Scarlett, Slater’s wife, and Vi, Declan’s wife.

Scarlett asks me how the job is going so far, and I answer her with a smile, though I can’t help but steal a curious glance out of the corner of my eye. Trevor is still watching Erica, a distant look on his face like he’s in another place entirely. No one seems to notice, more interested in Scarlett’s and my conversation, except for Sebastian. He isn’t looking at Trevor, but I watch as his grip on Erica tightens, scooting away from Trevor just the smallest amount and taking Erica with him. Letting it be known that he is a barrier between them, and it’s going to stay that way.

Interesting. Does Trevor have a thing for his teammate’s wife? That’s some next level shady shit right there. I knew he was a self-absorbed douche, but I didn’t peg him to be like that. Shows what I know, I guess.

“Why are you still standing? Sit!” Erica says, pulling my side gaze away from Trevor as I look at her bright smile.

I contemplate it for a moment. I like Erica, and Scarlett and Vi seem nice too. From what I’ve seen, Sebastian, Slater, and Declan are good guys off the field as well as on, but when my eyes drop to the last member of the group, my interest dissipates.

“I’m gonna pass,” I say, my eyes staying on Trevor, making the reason for my refusal extremely clear, and I couldn’t give a fuck. I give Erica a shrug before saying my goodbyes.

I’m able to get my food almost instantly, and with one more wave to the back booth, I’m out the door and heading home. The entire walk to my car, though, I feel eyes on me, hot like lasers digging into my back. God, have I said that Trevor Michaels is a total prick yet? Because he’s the prickiest.

“So, what was with the other day?” Erica asks breathlessly, sweat running down her forehead as the music thumps.

As much as I hate how miserable hot yoga can be, at least it’s not totally silent like the traditional kind. I just don’t think I could get behind that.

“What do you mean?” I ask, genuinely seeming confused even if I’m full of shit.

Erica must be able to tell too because she just lifts a brow as we move into another position. I shake my head, looking toward the wall as I speak.

“Michaels just isn’t my cup of tea, that’s all.”

She is quiet for a few moments, so I’m assuming she’s going to drop it when her voice comes out, a little softer than before.

“Go easy on him. I know how he comes across, but that’s not the real Trevor. He’s having a hard time adjusting up here. He doesn’t really have anyone—”

“But you?” I guess gently.

Her eyes come to mine, a tint of sadness in them as she shrugs softly and nods.

“Am I missing something between you two?”

Erica bites her lip as the instructor moves positions yet again.

“We dated forever ago. For a while. He was that first love, you know?”

“Really? How did Seb feel about that when he found out?” I ask.

She winces slightly. “Well, he knew. Seb and Trevor were roommates in college while I was still in high school. They were best friends actually, practically inseparable.”

“Oh no,” I laugh. “Did you Yoko them?”

A teasing smile plays at my face, but when I look over at Erica, she isn’t smiling. A complicated look crosses her face, one of guilt, shame, and hurt that has my smile dropping.

“Sorry,” I mutter, feeling like an asshat for poking fun.

Erica swallows roughly, shaking her head before she speaks softly.

“It was hard for those first couple of years. I think things are getting better, but then again, sometimes I think this is the best they will ever get.”

The nosey part of me wants to continue to pry, but the sensible part of me can tell that Erica is on the verge of tears, and so, I let it go. Once class is over, we are gathering up our things before walking out to the parking lot.

“So, we’re having this get together at the house this weekend. You should come. You can finally meet the girls. Scarlett, Slater, Declan, and Vi will all be there,” she smiles.

I want to ask if Trevor prickface Michaels will be there, but I go with my best judgment and keep my mouth shut. I’m ready to turn her down when she cuts in.

“Please, I know that you don’t like to talk about your personal life much, but I know that you’re alone way too much. I feel protective of you, like you’re my baby sister, and I’m an only child so let me have this,” she says with a laugh that has me giving her half a smile.

“Fine, but there better be alcohol.”

Erica laughs. “See? Just like a big sister to sneak her underage sister booze.”

I shake my head and laugh as I push some fallen hair out of my face.

“So, I’ll see you there? Saturday? I’ll text you the address.”

I nod, causing Erica to let out a little yelp of excitement before she wraps me up in a hug. I hug her back for a second longer than normal, which is progress for me, but she still continues to hold on for several more seconds before she lets go and waves goodbye.

I’d never admit it out loud, but when Erica said that I was alone too much, it struck a nerve. I’m an only child too. I didn’t have siblings to grow up with, and then when my mom died and my dad buried himself in work, I really was alone almost all of the time. He was home for dinner and gone before I left for school the next day. I practically raised myself, and until I met Calista, I didn’t really know what it meant to have a true friend. And now that I’m gone, I’m back to having no one. So I’ll go to the party thing, I guess. Even if I know Trevor fucking Michaels will no doubt be there.