Page 20 of Leave It On The Field (Grand Slam 3)
ChapterSeven
SOPHIE
October 29, 2022
“Mom! Will you please stop?”
My parents arrived at the house twenty minutes ago. Adie and my mom are hanging out with me in the bedroom that I converted into an enormous walk-in closet. I moved some of the furniture from my old apartment into the room. It’s bright and funky and extremely fluffy. It doesn’t match the ultra-modern vibe of the house at all, but this room always makes me feel more grounded when things are spinning out of control.
Adie’s sprawled out on the bright teal chaise lounge in the corner. She’s sipping wine as she watches Mom swarm around me like a gnat.
“But why are you staying at the hotel, honey? I thought you were staying here with us.” Mom holds up the dress I just put into my suitcase. “Too low cut, don’t you think?”
“No, I don’t think. That’s why I’m packing it.” I take it from her and throw it back into the suitcase.
“What do you think, Adie?” Mom picks it up again. “Seb won’t like it if she’s showing this much, right?”
“Sorry, Deb,” Adie says, draining the rest of her wine. “I’m on Sophie’s side. She’s the only one who gets to decide what she wears. And believe me, Seb likes everything she wears and says and does. My boy’s completely smitten with your daughter.”
Mom sighs and drops it back into the suitcase. “You still haven’t answered my question, Sophie. Why are you moving to the hotel?”
“The team owner, Dottie, needs me to stay close to her. I told you I’m helping her out with her interviews and speeches.”
“Is everyone decent?” Jack’s booming voice fills the hallway.
“Barely.” Mom raises her eyebrows as she points to the dress.
“Yes, Jack,” I yell. “Please come in here and get these two away from me.”
Jack rounds the corner—his hand covering his eyes.
“Jack, she said we’re decent,” Adie says, laughing. “You can look.”
“I feel weird coming into this room.” Jack peeks through his fingers before dropping his hand completely. “It’s like a lady place or something.”
“It’s not a lady place,” I say, zipping up my suitcase. “Seb’s always in here. He takes naps on that couch. He said the velvet’s cozy.”
“That’s so cute,” Adie says, pouting her lips. “Will you please send me a picture of my sweet son napping on the cozy pink couch?”
“I will not,” I say, pointing at her. “What happens in the lady place stays in the lady place.”
“Your ride just got here, Soph,” Jack says. “It’s Butch and Raine.”
“Raine’s here?” Mom heads toward the door. “I haven’t seen her since the wedding.”
“I’ll come with you,” Adie says, bouncing off the chaise. “I like that Butch. He was a good time at the wedding.”
Jack smiles as we watch them walk out of the room arm in arm. “I’m not sure who the happier couple is: you and Seb or Adie and Deb. Do you know they’ve starting meeting half way between Chicago and Grand Rapids for lunch once a month?”
“Mom told me. I think Adie’s her BFF now.”
“Yeah, they’re pretty much connected at the hip.” He pushes me back as I try to lift the suitcase. “I’ve got it. Your mom’s been great for her. A bunch of Adie’s friends stopped talking to her after the story broke about her jail time.”
“Good riddance,” I say, grabbing my phone and team security credentials off the makeup table. “If they drop her when she needs them most, they weren’t very good friends in the first place.”
“That’s what I told her, but she was hurt.” He motions me ahead of him out of the room. “Deb’s really perked her up.”
“It’s been good for Mom too.”
