Page 31 of Running
It’s hard not being able to support Landon during the mess, with him being stuck at training camp, and at night, the team hotel. When he doesn’t respond to my latest message on Friday afternoon, I can’t help but feel a nagging concern. Then I remember, one person does have ready access to him—and now we’re texting.
GRACE: Sorry to ask, but I’m worried. How’s Landon doing? It’s hard to tell from his messages.
About five minutes later, a response comes through.
JOHNSON: Okay in terms of the media junk. It’s already calming down after a day, he said at lunch. But apparently Rori’s stressing about it still? I didn’t get the whole story.
GRACE: Thanks, I’ll try to call him tonight.
When I finally reach Landon that night, the baby drama seems to be quieting down, like Johnson said.
“There’s no real news,” Landon explains. “Because I’m not the dad.”
“Well, that’s a relief. I definitely see it less on social media already.”
He sighs. “The media loves these kinds of BS scandals. Loves to cause a bunch of chaos, and then fade away to mess with the next person.”
It’s not like Landon to sound so dejected over a fleeting press issue, so my sister antennae go up.
“And Rori? How are things going there?”
“She says we’re fine…” he pauses. “But she doesn’t know if she wants to go to the gala now. Or go public at all.”
The gala, which includes my auction of course, was potentially going to be their debut as a couple to the media, so this is a pretty big turn of events.
“Oh, Landon, I’m sorry.”
I try to cheer him up with some pictures of Grover after we hang up. That dog is his true bestie.
My brother’s challenges aside, the week continues to go well, especially with our auction planningefforts.
Part of that stems from my new texting situation with Johnson, whose next message comes in Saturday morning.
JOHNSON: Nailed a big one for you. Flash Fuel’s giving a donation of a year’s supply of the flavor of the bidder’s choice.
GRACE: WOW! That’s so awesome!
He sends me two more messages on Sunday about smaller donations from players.
JOHNSON: Our kicker gave me his sneakers from last season—the ones he used to kick a bunch of field goals. (They kind of smell though, not sure if you care.)
JOHNSON: This one might be better or at least less smelly. Got a (NEW) Waves t-shirt signed by all the offensive starters.
It’s fun. It feels like we’re in this together, and every new item he scores is a win, like another point on the board.
So after all my fretting just one week ago about Johnson, one thing is now clear—I don’t want to shut down what feels like a new friendship developing.
Beyond Johnson’s contributions, I’m feeling good about the list of items I’m adding to the bidding options. I’d been able to leverage my Princeton connections to get a local alum to donate an all-expenses paid tropical vacation, one of those sizzle items I was looking for.
And when Sarah gets back to me, she confirms the Surge front office will donate season tickets for the next year. They’re one of the hottest teams in the WNBA right now, so I know that’ll be a big draw as well.
SARAH: I hope the auction raises a ton of money! I’m just sorry I can’t make it with our game that day.
Even if Sarah can’t join us, the RSVPs are otherwise rolling in. So when I walk into the Waves building for my first co-chairs meeting, I’m excited to report on all the progress.
As I step into the meeting room on the executive hall, four well-coiffed heads swivel my way.
“Hi, Grace. Come in, come in,” Susie says. I head to the meeting room table and take an open seat next to her. “Grace, this is Robyn Blunt, Margaret Houston, and Laurel Sayer. This year’s co-chairs.”
