For some reason, the thought of my family made me pause. I hadn’t heard a word since that first day back from the hospital about Uncle Nick’s “order.” Maybe I had just thought too much about it. Maybe some simple words and threats had been made to Malcolm, and that was enough.
“Next…”
I rambled for a few seconds about my teammates, coaches, and friends before I finally signed the document. It was kind of surreal to think that the only thing standing between my way and generational wealth was a mere signature, but there it was. I was all set.
“Congratulations, Nick,” the owner said, shaking my hand. “You are a Giant for life, like so many other greats before us.”
* * *
I did a brief press conference right after with some reporters, something that I flashed a pretty smile for but was eager to get over with. I had family to get to, and more importantly, I had an idea for what I wanted tonight to look like—but I could only kickstart the process once I actually wrapped up the presser.
The instant—and I mean the instant—it wrapped up, I was running out of the building, toward my car, and into traffic. I was eager to get the rest of the evening set up, and the last thing I needed was the paparazzi listening to my phone call. I dialed Izzy’s number, and she picked up on the second ring.
“You sure look good on ESPN,” she said.
“Better than TMZ,” I said with a chuckle. “So I got a question for you. What do you have going on tonight?”
“Me? Probably just staying at home, taking care of Ryan, watching some news. Why? Do you have something in mind?”
Oh, do I ever.
“Well, as you well know, I just signed that contract that sets me up for life, and my family is throwing a massive celebration at the family estate tonight,” I said. “And I’d like for you to come.”
The silence that followed lasted so long, I wondered for a second if Izzy’s line had gone dead. I could hear crackling like she was moving it against some wind.
“Izzy?”
“I…you’re sure?” she said.
“Of course, I’m sure!” I said with a chuckle. “Why would I invite you if I wasn’t sure?”
“Well, it’s just…”
She sighed.
“I’ve never actually been invited to a family dinner like this by a boyfriend before.”
That just seemed so stunning a statement as to border on the absurd, but I was polite enough not to question Izzy’s veracity.
“Malcolm claimed he never had a good relationship with his family, no surprise. And then the guys before that, we never got serious enough to get to that point. So…”
“Definitely a first then, huh?” I said. “Well, just do it like this. I’ll give you the address. Think about it, and if you decide to come, just text me right before you leave so that I know you’re coming. And then I’ll meet you out front, and I promise to be a good host.”
I knew that this wasn’t going to go as smoothly as I was describing it. Not so much because grandma and others would cast a judgmental eye upon her, but because they knew exactly how to inflict passive-aggressive judgment upon someone and make them feel like the outcast. That didn’t mean I expected a full assault—the fact that I was still talking about Izzy all this time later had gotten them to shut up a bit—but I knew they wouldn’t embrace her as I had.
“If I can get Ryan a place to stay, I’ll come,” she said. “But I don’t want to make any promises.”
“Good enough,” I said. “I’ll see you there.”
She laughed. I hung up before she could tease me any further. What could I say? I was feeling a bit buoyed by the new contract. Of course I was going to be a little cocky.
Especially with her. She’s all mine now. And there’s no one in the way anymore.
* * *
“There’s our all-star outfielder!”
Layla spotted me first when I walked into the family estate. I blushed, feeling slightly ridiculous, but that only got worse as the rest of the family broke out in cheers. Neither of my uncles were there, but Grandma and Grandpa, my parents, and Brett and Layla were there.
And then, to my shock, even Leo showed up. It was easy to spot him because of the leather jacket and don’t-give-a-fuck attitude.
A line of sorts formed as hugs and kisses on the cheek were shared, starting with Layla and going down. Leo went last.
“Hey buddy,” I said, hugging him.
Such hugs with Leo were never quite so easy. He had a thing for not wanting to partake in “fake gestures” that he felt the family was so full of, but for this one, he was a little more open.
“Guess the excitement’s real,” he said. “Well done, bro.”
He and I exchanged a few more words before, much to his annoyance, Brett pulled me aside.
“How’s the lady?”
“She’s coming tonight.”
“Oh, snap,” Brett said. “This should be good. We’ll get some baby drama in the house!”
“Stop,” I scolded him. “I’m serious, Brett. You can make your jokes later, but while she’s here, we have to be polite. I really like this girl, and I don’t care what grandma or anyone else thinks. Understood?”
“Man, you have got yourself so whipped—”
“Brett.”
My brother bit his lip and nodded. I pulled out my phone as I spoke.
“So yes, she is coming in…”
Five minutes?
“Any second now, actually.”
I brushed by Brett and headed for the front steps, feeling a little embarrassed that I had failed to notice her text earlier. Poor Izzy must have thought that I’d pulled a prank on her and was sending
