Page 48 of Run Home

“No one needs to make a big deal out of it. There’s no graduation cap and gown or anything. Just a certificate that says I’m licensed to practice as a hair stylist and a ‘good luck starting your own business from scratch,’” Sam jokes. She twirls the fork in the bowl of pasta for an extra-long time, though.

“What day are you done? We’re going to celebrate because this is a huge milestone,” I insist.

“It’s not—”

“What day?” I emphasize. “Don’t make me call the school and ask your instructor.”

Huffing a laugh, she says, “I’m on track to have all fifteen hundred hours finished Thursday. I’ve already passed the written exam, so I’ll be a licensed hair stylist the next time I see you. Why are you frowning so hard, Adrian?” She asks the final question while bursting into a laugh.

“Because I won’t get back to KC until super late next Sunday night. I won’t be there to celebrate your big day,” I explain.

Sam’s expression is soft when she says, “I already told you it’s not a ‘big day.’ It’s just the day I clock my final practice hour. We can still do something fun together when you get back in town.”

“We’re doing something fun together to celebrate you,” I reiterate. “We have a whole day off the Monday after we get back. No opening your new business yet because I’m claiming all your time that day.”

Sam leans forward to set her empty bowl behind the phone, and I imagine her leaning into a kiss. I’m going to drive myself insane picturing the first time I kiss her, considering I swore I was going to “properly woo her” first. I think I forgot how often I’m out of town with the team when I made that vow.

“I miss you,” she says as she wraps her arms around her knees and leans her chin against them.

I sigh heavily before I echo the sentiment. “I miss you too. Now I understand why Griffin was always moping around our condo while we were at spring training after he and Danae started dating.”

“Yeah, this sucks,” Sam says. “And one week is way shorter than six.”

She turns her head, and even through the video, I can see the tight set of her jaw.

“What are you thinking about?” I prompt.

Her eyes hesitantly look back to the screen. “Can I . . . can I ask you something?”

“Always.”

She smiles briefly. “What did you—or, no, I guess maybe when—” She shakes her head before piecing the question together. “Why did you start to like me as more than a friend?”

Before I can begin my never-ending answer, she rushes to rationalize, “That’s kind of weird to ask. I’m sorry. It’s just that you’ve witnessed some low points in my life. Really low. And I want to understand if—you know what? Never mind. That was a weird question to ask.”

I wish we were talking in person so I could pull her into my arms and cut off the self-doubt spiral. Replace the memories of the low points. “Sam. It’s not a weird question. And I just so happen to be an expert in liking you as more than a friend, so I’m happy to tell you all about it if you’d quiet down.”

A breathy laugh escapes, pulling her lips into a smile. She mimes zipping them.

“You’ve always been one of my favorite people, even when I viewed you as only a friend. You were always so casual with me and the other guys from the team when you were around, not acting like we were a big deal,” I begin.

“Yeah, well, someone had to shrink all your big heads when there were crowds of fans and women fawning all over you,” Sam quips.

I give her an exaggerated smolder through the video. “Is that jealousy I hear?”

She pfffts and exclaims, “No! We’ve already established we didn’t like each other back then. I couldn’t be jealous of other women when I didn’t like you like that. You’re just prone to thinking very highly of your skills on and off the ball field.”

“Hey, now. You’re getting us off track. I’m supposed to be telling you all the reasons I like you. You can humble me later,” I tease, and Sam laughs. “As I was saying, you were up for anything while also keeping Griffin and me grounded. Plus, you’ve always played along with my spontaneous ideas.”

“Like sneaking all the Crowns’ position players into the hospital to visit Griff after his first injury?” Sam interjects.

“Those nurses only acted mad. You know they were all happy to see us,” I add.

Sam rolls her eyes. “Are we to the part where I humble you yet?”

“Not when I’m about to tell you when things changed,” I say, effectively quieting her down. “When Danae came onto the scene for Griffin, I think it changed how I viewed our life. Our life as professional athletes, I mean. I’d been so focused on living up every opportunity, but then I saw Griffin finding this whole new life with Danae.”

Nodding, Sam says, “I understand exactly what you mean. I saw that in him too.”