Foul Pole by Tina Gallagher
Chapter Four
Leo
“Why didn’tyou tell me Trey and Nori are coming up to visit?” Angie asked as she burst into the stockroom.
I finished stacking cans on the shelf then turned to face her.
“I didn’t know I was supposed to.”
I broke the empty box down and tossed it into the corner then looked over at her and chuckled. Angie is all about the graphic T-shirts and the one she’s wearing now sums her up perfectly. It says Not Fragile Like a Flower. Fragile Like a Bomb with corresponding illustrations.
“Nice shirt.”
“Don’t try to distract me from the fact that Trey, Nori, and probably Crispin are going to visit and you weren’t going to invite me.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and thrust her bottom lip out in the pout that’s gotten her whatever she’s wanted for as long as I can remember. As the youngest of six, Angie rarely had to follow the same rules as the rest of us.
“You already took over my house here. I’m not taking the chance that happens in Scranton too.”
“Ha, ha, ha. Very funny. I was there most of the summer dealing with renovations, remember?”
“And I appreciate that. It’s the reason I was able to move into a nearly-perfect house once the season ended.” I walked over and kissed her forehead before bending down and bundling the flat boxes I’d tossed onto the floor. “I’m just busting you.”
“Don’t try to be nice after you totally forgot about me.”
“As if anyone could forget about you.”
I walked past her and headed outside to toss the cardboard into the recycling bin. Angie followed and stood in the doorway as I opened the dumpster and threw the garbage bags that had been resting beside it inside. After closing the lid, I turned to face her and rolled my eyes when I saw her holding up her cell, most likely taking pictures.
“Someday I’m gonna make a bunch of money selling my collection,” she said, confirming my suspicions.
One of her favorite things to do is take pictures of me doing random or embarrassing things. Every once in a while, she sends me a mockup of a photo in a fake newspaper with some bizarre headline. And for my thirtieth birthday a couple years ago, she made me a video. I have to say, she has some pretty interesting shots.
“If someone actually offers you money for a picture of me throwing garbage into a dumpster, you go for it,” I said, knowing she’d never do it.
We walked back inside and I locked the door behind me.
“Where is everyone?”
“Nicky left earlier to go pick up a new slicer. I sent Mom and Dad home and said I’d close up.”
I grabbed a broom and walked around to the main part of the deli and started sweeping. I could do this routine in my sleep. Other than using the slicers, my parents had my siblings and me working here since we could walk and talk.
“You know you could grab a broom and do behind the counter,” I said to Angie, who sat perched on a stool right next to the cash register.
She wrinkled her nose and I thought she was going to ignore me, but was pleasantly surprised when she stood, grabbed a broom from the closet, and started to sweep.
“I can’t believe you still help out here.”
“Why?”
“Leo, you’re a professional baseball player. You make millions of dollars a year. Why would you work in the family deli?”
“Mom and Dad refuse to retire,” I said as I stood and emptied the dustpan I filled with the dirt we’d collected into the garbage can. “Me working here is no different than any of you guys helping out.”
We put the brooms and dustpan back into the closet and I took off my apron and tossed it in the hamper.
“It’s a lot different,” she said. “Nicky works here full time. The rest of us all still live nearby and pitch in when necessary. You have to travel to be here.”
“I come to visit anyway. Might as well help out while I’m here.”
She wrapped her arm around my waist and pulled me close for a side hug.
“You’re one of the good ones, Leonidas Marakis.”
I gave her a final squeeze and pulled away far enough to open the door and let her walk out in front of me.
“I wouldn’t even have my career if it wasn’t for the sacrifices Mom and Dad made and the support they gave me through the years. They don’t want money or fancy vacations or even a new house. The only thing they want is me here, being present, occasionally helping out.” I dug the fob out of my pocket and unlocked my car door. “So that’s what they’ll get.”
“Just make sure to live your life. You bought a house in Scranton to give you some space. Coming here all the time certainly won’t give you that.”
“Something going on with you?”
Angie’s always been funny and energetic and sassy, but I’ve noticed an underlying sadness and discontent recently that seems more obvious every time I see her.
“I’m just…I don’t know.” She shook her head then shrugged. “Maybe I’m having an early midlife crisis or something. I just feel like I need a change.”
I leaned against my car.
“What kind of change?”
“I’m not sure.”
I clicked my fob again and relocked the car doors.
“Let’s go get a drink at Murray’s and talk about it.”
We walked out of the parking lot of the deli and took the sidewalk to the bar two doors down. I held the door open and followed Angie inside. A few patrons sat at the bar but all the tables were empty. After grabbing a couple drinks, we settled into a booth in the corner.
“What’s going on?”
“I was up for a promotion at work and didn’t get it.”
“Oh wow. I’m sorry.”
She took a drink and looked around the bar before meeting my gaze again.
“The thing is, I’m not even sure I wanted the job, so I don’t know why I’m upset about it. It was just the next step, you know?”
“I thought you liked your job.”
“At first I did. Being a graphic artist seemed like a great way to be creative and have a real job.” She used air quotes with the last two words. “But now it’s just boring. What I do is anyway.”
“So find something else.”
“Anything else will just be more of the same.”
“You’re so talented. Maybe just focus on the art. Don’t worry about having a real job,” I said, mimicking her air quotes. “Look at Nori. I never would have thought someone could actually make a living painting murals, but she’s killing it. You know I’ll help you out if you need me to.”
“I appreciate that, but I already live in your house. I can’t expect you to financially support me while I sort out my shit.”
“I know I bust your ass about living in my house here, but I really don’t mind. I’m very fortunate to make a great living doing what I love. I’d be an ass if I didn’t share that with my family. Besides, Mom and Dad weren’t the only ones who supported me with baseball. You all did, even if it was grudgingly.”
Angie smiled at that last sentence. She hated being dragged to my games and forced to sit through tournaments.
“It wasn’t so bad once I got older.”
“Yeah, that’s because you started crushing on all my teammates. What a nightmare.”
“For you maybe. I kind of liked it.” She offered a saucy smirk. “Speaking of teammates, how’s Clay doing? Is he as hot as ever?”
“Can’t say that I noticed if he’s hot, but he’s doing well. The yoga studio is thriving plus he owns the building it’s in and rents out the space on the first floor.”
“What’s in there?”
“A pole dance fitness studio.”
“That’s so cool. I’ve wanted to try that forever. Maybe I can drag Nori to a class when we’re there.” She smiled and wiggled her eyebrows. “And while I’m in the building, maybe I’ll have a chance to catch up with Clay.”
I’m not sure what makes me more nervous, my sister lusting after my former teammate or her spending time with the woman I’m lusting after.
Then again, she could definitely do worse than Clay. And, despite being my pain-in-the-ass little sister, Angie is my biggest cheerleader. Maybe she’ll put in a good word for me with Anjannette.
It could end up being a win-win. Or a total disaster. Either way, it gives me a reason to talk to her again. Maybe I’ll even ask her out for coffee or something equally harmless. I finished my beer and set the glass back on the table with a thud.
“I’ll find out the class schedule and let you know.”
Anjannette
I climbedto the very top of the pole and settled into a pole sit while Keera did the same directly below me. We sat like that as the pole made a full rotation then fell back into a straddle, an inside leg hang, and finally a jade split. The studio sped by as we spun round and round, waiting for the beat that would signal for us to start our next move.
When I heard it, I pulled back up into a pole sit before squeezing my thighs tight and arching into a layback while Keera eased into a split on the floor. Once I spun around to the right spot, I placed my palms on the floor, loosened my grip on the pole, and let my legs fall back. My heels clacked against the floor as I landed into a split directly across from Keera. We threw our hands in the air in time with the final beats of the song.
My arms still in the air, I looked over at Keera, and saw the smile on her face mirroring my own.
“That felt perfect!” she said.
“Yeah, it did.” Grabbing onto the pole, I pulled myself up and stood. “Let’s find out.”
I walked over to my iPad and pressed the button so it stopped recording. Keera had shifted against the wall and I made my way back to her side and sat next to her. Holding the iPad so both of us could see, I started the video and watched with a critical eye. Other than a couple places where we were a tiny bit out of sync, I’m pretty happy with it.
I handed the iPad to Keera and she played the video again while I removed my boots.
“I think this is good,” she said. “What do you think?”
Before I could answer, I heard a knock on the door. I stood and walked over with a gut feeling of who was on the other side. Sure enough, Leo Marakis stood across from me as I opened the door.
“Hi Anjannette.”
“Oh, hi Leo.”
“Hi Leo,” Keera yelled from across the room.
He peeked his head in and returned her greeting.
“I apologize for interrupting but I wanted to ask you a couple questions. When I heard the music shut off, I hoped it was safe.”
“It’s fine. We’re taking a break.”
“Oh good.” He looked down and rubbed the back of his neck before meeting my gaze again. “First, my sister is coming to visit this weekend and is interested in taking a class, and maybe bringing a friend along. Would that be possible?”
“When will she be here?”
“Friday evening through Monday or Tuesday.”
“There aren’t any classes Friday or on the weekend because the recital is Saturday. But there’s a beginner class Monday night at six. Assuming they’re beginners.”
“They are,” he said. “What do you need to save them spots?”
“Just their names.”
He followed as I walked over to my laptop and brought up the scheduling program.
“Angie Marakis and Nori Somers.”
I pulled up the correct date and their names into the class.
“Phone numbers?”
He rattled off his sister’s number, then looked up the other one on his phone.
“They’re in. Just ask them to get here fifteen minutes before class to sign the new student paperwork.”
“Will do,” he said. “What do I owe you?”
“Nothing. The first class is free.”
“Get them hooked with a freebie, huh? Good strategy.”
“It’s been working well.”
I logged out of the computer and straightened to face him. I’ll give him credit, his eyes stayed locked on mine during our exchange. That’s more than a lot of guys would do considering I’m only wearing pole shorts and a sports bra.
“I was also wondering if you’d like to get coffee sometime.”
“Oh, uh thank you, but um, I’m really busy the rest of the week. So no. But thank you for asking.”
I rolled my eyes at that last sentence. What the hell? Could I sound like more of a dweeb?
“Maybe when things slow down for you after the recital,” he said. “Which I’m looking forward to, by the way. I bought tickets off Clay yesterday. My sister and friends are coming too.”
“Great,” I said, thinking it was anything but.
“Yep,” he said with a smile. “I’ll let you ladies get back to work. Bye Keera.”
“See you Leo.”
“See you Saturday, Anjannette.”
I nodded and watched as he walked out of the studio. After closing the door behind him, I turned and made my way back to Keera.
“I can’t believe Leo Marakis asked you to go for coffee and you said no.”
Keera unzipped her boot and eased her foot out then did the same with the other. She stretched her legs out in front of her and wiggled her toes. I sat next to her and picked up the iPad.
“Between last-minute items for the recital, private lessons to get everyone’s routines fine-tuned, and regular classes, I don’t have time.”
“You don’t have time for coffee?”
Oh I have time for lots of coffee, just not with a certain ballplayer, who looks more appealing every time I see him. And I really wish Keera hadn’t been here when he asked. She’ll never let me live it down.
Instead of answering, I tapped the screen of the iPad and started our video again.
“I think our routine is solid. I’m not going to obsess about the two places we were slightly out of sync. This is just a fun recital, not a competition. No one is keeping score.”
“You’re just going to ignore my question?”
I sighed and set the iPad in my lap then looked over at her.
“Like I said, this week is going to be crazy. I just don’t have the time.”
“I’d make time for Leo Marakis.”
“Then you go for coffee with him.”
“Trust me when I tell you, that if that man was interested in coffee or anything...and I do mean anything...I’d make time.” She leaned closer, her eyes locked on mine. “But he’s not interested in me. It’s pretty obvious you’re the one he wants.”
I definitely feel a vibe from him. He and Keera were bantering the other night, but there wasn’t any heat between them. But all he had to do was look at me and I swear I nearly got singed.
The man makes me feel so much with a single glance, it’s unsettling. Especially since I’m way out of practice. Unfortunately, my libido doesn’t seem to care about that, it’s determined to take notice of Leo Marakis any time he’s near.
I shook that thought out of my head and turned my attention back to Keera, who was patiently waiting for a response to her comment.
“To quote Buffy, ‘I don’t want to be the one.’”