Foul Pole by Tina Gallagher
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Leo
Time is flyingand Anjannette and I still don’t have a plan for the spring training or the season. We’ve talked about it in general terms, like “Oh, you’ll be in St. Pete then,” but that’s as far as it’s gone. Part of me wants to nut up and sit her down for a frank discussion, but the other part doesn’t want to ruin the time we have left before I have to leave.
I finished slicing marinated mozzarella and arranged it on the cutting board next to the bowl I plan to fill with an assortment of olives. My phone alarm beeped, signaling that it was time to put the Greek flatbread into the oven. Once that was done, I finished assembling my charcuterie board.
Anjannette had a bachelorette party after class tonight so I’m cooking. French onion soup and a charcuterie board seem like a perfect late-ish dinner. She loves both of those things as well as my mom’s flatbread, which I had in my freezer leftover from Christmas.
Trey and Nori’s wedding is tomorrow, so we’re leaving for Myrtle Beach in the morning. Since the ceremony and reception are at the venue, there’s no formal rehearsal the night before. There’s really nothing to rehearse. Crispin and I will stand there next to the bride and groom as they recite their vows, I’ll hand them the rings when prompted, and they’ll be pronounced man and wife. Seems easy enough.
I heard the front door open and a second later, Anjannette walked into the kitchen.
“What smells so good?”
“French onion soup.”
“One of my favorites.” She picked up a Kalamata olive and popped it into her mouth. “Mmm, this too.”
The oven timer dinged and I walked over, pulled out the flatbread, and set it on the counter. Still wearing my oven mitts, I grabbed a knife and cut it in quarters then placed it on the only empty spot on the cutting board.
“Leo, this looks amazing,” Anjannette said. “I thought we’d order a pizza or something, but this is a feast.”
“I know you like both of these things and I had all the ingredients on hand. It didn’t take much to throw it together.”
I opened the cabinet next to the stove and pulled two crocks from the top shelf. Anjannette leaned against the island and picked at the charcuterie board while I divided the soup between the crocks and topped it with toasted French bread and provolone cheese. After popping them in the oven, I joined her.
“How’d your party go?”
“Good. They were all really nice and seemed to have a fun time.” She dipped flatbread into the hummus and took a bite. “Mmm, is this the bread your mom sent home with us from Christmas?”
“It is.”
“It’s still so good.”
“Yeah, it freezes well.”
While we picked at meat, cheese, and olives, she told me about her party and how she and Keera tweaked the format again and it seemed to work well.
“But after work I got some bad news.”
“What’s that?”
“I realized I forgot to pack my curling iron so I stopped by my apartment to grab it and found a letter in the entryway. Apparently someone had slipped under my door.”
“What was it?”
“Stand down big guy, it wasn’t anything ominous” She patted my arm. “My building was sold and the new landlord isn’t renewing any of the leases. So I have to find a new apartment before March.”
“That stinks,” I said. “But at least they gave some notice.”
I walked over to the oven and checked on the soup. The cheese is melted and brown on top, just the way I like it. Grabbing my trusty oven mitts again, I grabbed one of the crocks and placed it on a plate, then did the same with the other. I carried them over to the island and set them down.
“This looks so good.” She picked up one of the spoons I’d set out earlier and pushed the cheese away from the side to let some of the heat escape. “Yeah, it would have definitely been worse if they said I had to be out by next week. It’s still a huge inconvenience. I like my apartment and I hate moving. It’s such a pain in the ass.”
I toyed with my soup as I sorted through my thoughts. Anjannette has been staying here since we got back from Christmas. There’s no reason she can’t put her stuff in storage and continue to live here. Or I could make room for her stuff if she wants, some of it anyway.
“Why don’t you just live here?”
The timing of my question wasn’t ideal. She’d just placed a spoonful of soup into her mouth and she started to cough. I watched to make sure she wasn’t truly choking, but it seemed like a wrong-pipe situation and eventually she was okay.
She took a drink of water then cleared her throat and took another sip as she blinked to clear the tears from her eyes. After taking one more drink, she set her glass down then took in a deep breath and blew it out.
“Leo, I can’t live here.”
“Why not? You’ve been staying here the past couple weeks.”
“Yeah, but staying here and moving in are two totally different things. I mean—” She shook her head and gestured wildly with her hands. “I love you, but we’ve only been dating a couple months.”
I took her hands in mine and kissed the back of the right one and the inner wrist of the left. Lacing my fingers through hers, I rested our joined hands on the island between us.
“I’ll be leaving in a couple weeks so you’ll have the place all to yourself.”
“But Leo, this is your house. I can’t live here and creep around when you’re away.”
I laughed at both her words and the look on her face when she said them.
“What exactly would you do? Wear all black and sneak around like a burglar.”
“Don’t try to make me laugh, this is serious.”
“It is serious, but at the same time, it’s not a big deal.” I rested my elbows on the island and leaned closer to her. “I love you Anjannette, and if I can help you out in any way, I want to. And I hope you’ll let me. Why should this house sit empty when you need a place to live?”
I probably shouldn’t bring up my sister in this discussion but I’m going to anyway.
“That’s how Angie ended up living in my other house. She moved into a townhouse with a couple friends and within a year, one got engaged and she and her fiancé moved in together and the other decided to move to Colorado. While she could have moved back home, she didn’t want to do that, and she was having trouble finding an apartment she could afford on her own. My house was sitting empty and I told her to just move in there.”
Anjannette nibbled at her bottom lip and looked down at our joined hands. After what seemed like forever, she looked up and met my gaze.
“I’ll take you up on your generous offer on two conditions.” I raised my brow, prompting her to name them. “It’s temporary and you have to let me pay rent.”
I don’t want to agree to either of those things, but I know if I don’t, she’ll say no.
“Okay, I accept your terms,” I said, not planning on doing any such thing.
Anjannette
Nori saidshe fell in love with this venue as soon as she saw it and I could see why. It’s a fun combination of formal and funky that makes for a very welcoming space.
When we first arrived, Angie and I went upstairs to visit Nori, who was getting her hair and makeup done in what’s normally a boudoir studio but today is serving as the bride’s room. With its purple walls, ornate fireplace, and glamorous furniture, I see how it would speak to her artist’s soul.
The room I’m in right now where the ceremony will be held is more traditional with its dark wood floors, cream walls, and crystal chandeliers. A harpist is sitting next to the makeshift altar, surprising me with the songs she was plucking out. She finished playing Adventure of a Lifetime by Coldplay and segued right into Best Day of My Life by American Authors.
“This is the kind of wedding I want,” Angie said. “Small and comfortable.”
I nodded toward Annita sitting in the row in front of us with the rest of the Marakis clan.
“I think your mother might have a different idea,” I said with a chuckle. “With your family, small seems impossible. There were more people than this at Christmas dinner.”
“I know.” She sighed. “Maybe I’ll elope and let her throw me a happily-ever-after party. That way, I can avoid all the wedding drama and just show up and have fun. What about you?”
“What?”
“Do you want a big or small wedding?”
Before I had to answer that, the officiant, Trey, and Leo walked through a door at the front of the room. They stepped onto the decorated platform serving as the altar. Leo looks so sexy in his tuxedo and my face heated when he glanced in my direction and caught me eye fucking him. He winked and I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face.
“It’s kind of strange seeing Leo in a relationship,” Angie said when she witnessed the exchange.
“Why’s that?”
“It’s just been a while. He had a girlfriend in high school, but they broke up after he went away to college. Then there was the one he brought home a couple years ago. And honestly, I don’t know what he was thinking. She was awful.” She nudged me with her shoulder. “But you’re awesome and you two are so cute together it’s a little sickening sometimes.”
“You’re awesome, too. Your whole family is.”
The first notes ofA Thousand Years by Christina Perri filled the room and, prompted by the officiant, everyone stood. I turned to look down the makeshift aisle, my gaze skimming the guests on the other side and behind me. Other than the Marakis family, the guest list consists of Trey and Leo’s teammates, Clay, and a few people I don’t know.
Crispin walked into the room through a door in the back with Nori on his arm. She looks absolutely gorgeous in a lace-trimmed off-the-shoulder dress. The sheer long sleeves add a unique detail to the bodice. As she and Crispin slowly walked down the aisle, her perfectly-shaped leg played peek-a-boo through the thigh-high slit.
I thought about grabbing my phone and snapping some pictures, but decided not to. There are two hired photographers. I decided to just enjoy the moment.
As they passed me, I turned to face the front. Trey’s eyes glistened as he watched his bride walk toward him. He stepped down as they reached him and waited as Crispin kissed his wife-to-be on the cheek before taking her hand and stepping back onto the platform. Crispin fixed the back of her dress then took his place on her left-hand side just as the song ended. The officiant told us all to be seated and started the ceremony.
Annita’s sniffles sounded through the room as Nori and Trey recited their vows. I’ll admit, I teared up once or twice. They’re so obviously in love and, even though they’re total opposites, they’re perfect together.
The officiant pronounced them man and wife and the room sounded with applause as Trey bent his wife over his arm and gave her a kiss that would make Hollywood proud.
Leoand I returned to our table for a much-needed break. We’ve been on the dance floor since the band started playing and I couldn’t handle another fast song. My feet are killing me.
I poured two glasses of water from the pitcher in the middle of the table and handed one to him. After taking a big gulp, I sat back in my chair and looked around the room. His teammates that I met at the golf tournament were all here, along with some other ones. And they’ve all been on the dance floor most of the night.
“This is a great wedding,” I said. “Everyone looks like they’re having a good time.”
“Yeah, they’re a fun crowd.”
It still amazes me how normal his friends are. Keera would be in heaven here. Aside from the fact that she always enjoys a room full of man candy, she truly loves baseball. She, Leo, and Trey discussed the game for two hours at his house a couple weeks ago.
I wish there was a way I could bring her to one of these events so she could meet them. But since she’s my backup at the studio, that’s impossible. Unless we close for a few days.
Would that be so crazy?
“You okay?” Leo asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“You were frowning.”
“I was just thinking.” I looked around the room again then shifted closer to him. “Keera would love to meet your friends. You know what a big fan she is.”
“Maybe we could set something up when we play New York. If there's an afternoon game, we could all go out to dinner afterwards.”
“Or maybe she could come down to St. Pete with me,” I said before I could think twice about it. His eyes rounded. “I’d have to close the studio, but...” I trailed off and shrugged.
“Whatever you want to do is fine with me. You know I’d love to see you and Keera is always welcome.”
“I’m so exhausted.” Crispin said as he and Ben joined us at the table. He picked up a napkin and patted his brow and frowned down at it before holding it out for his boyfriend to see. “And look at how much I’m sweating. I must look awful.”
He pulled his phone out of his pocket and held it up to look at his face and hair.
“You look as handsome as ever,” Ben said.
Crispin flashed a fake smile.
“You’re very sweet, but you’re a liar. My face is all flush and look at this hair.”
His hair looks fine to me, but he’s the professional so maybe he sees something I don’t.
Nori told me Crispin helped her pick out her dress and I told him how beautiful she looks. He shifted his attention to Nori and Trey out on the dance floor and a real smile crossed his face.
“She does, doesn’t she?” He rolled his eyes and looked back at me. “You should have seen the dress she initially picked out. It was literally a white maxi dress. She looked like she belonged at Woodstock instead of walking down the aisle.” He waved his hand. “Although I should be happy she even picked out a dress by herself instead of planning to wear jeans and a graphic tee.”
“Speaking of clothes,” Leo said. “I’m kind of surprised at what you’re wearing.”
Crispin looked down at his black tuxedo and tugged at the silk lapel.
“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“I thought for sure you’d wear a kilt à la David Rose.”
Crispin’s mouth curled into a smile.
“I thought about it, but I’m in a committed relationship now, Leo. I couldn’t show up here in a kilt and have all these hot guys wondering what I have on—” He bobbed his eyebrows. “—or don’t have on underneath it. Ben would get jealous.”
Leo chuckled then shook his head and stood.
“And on that note, I’m going to ask this beautiful woman to accompany me to the dance floor.” He held out his hand. “They’re playing our song.”
I’m moving into his house, thinking about closing the studio to go visit him, and his family has welcomed me with open arms. Now we have a song.
Normally just one of those things would have my brain spiraling into a million different scenarios how this could all go wrong. But I promised Keera I’d enjoy myself instead of over-thinking every little thing. So as Leo pulled me into his arms and we gently swayed to The Way You Look Tonight, that’s what I’m doing.