Love Under Quarantine_Simple

by Scott, Kylie

  “It’s not that late,” I grumble. Then I grin because this is happy news and I am determined to drag my mood out of the gutter. “Anyhoo, so I’ve met someone.”

  “You met someone? How on earth did you meet someone with all of this going on?”

  “He lives next door. He’s a professional athlete and a wonderful person and I think you’re going to love him.” I happy-sigh at just the thought of Evan. His smile. His body. His laugh. His everything. God, I’m so gaga about him. “We got to talking out on our balconies and really just sort of hit it off.”

  “What’s Sean going to say about this?” asks Mom.

  “Who gives a fuck?”

  She clicks her tongue. “Sadie. Language. Have you been drinking, dear? You sound strange.”

  “No. Of course not.” I take another sip of wine. “Well, maybe a glass or two. The point is, you need to forget about Sean. God knows I’ve been trying to, black hole of a man that he is. You know he rang me the other day to talk at me about his work. Not to me. At me. There’s a difference. He’s the most self-involved jerk I’ve ever met.”

  “Sean rang you?” She sounds so hopeful I cringe.

  “You’re missing the point here. Focus, Mom. Sean sucks, Evan rocks. That’s the state of affairs here. Now you’re up to date on my romantic adventures.”

  A deep sigh from Mom this time. The sigh of so much disappointment. It worked on me up until about age eight or so. Still, it’s never stopped her from pulling it out of her arsenal. “All right, Sadie. Tell me about this new man. A professional athlete called Evan, I take it.”

  In the background, deep mumbling commences.

  “Your father wants to know what sport?” she asks.

  “Football. He plays for the Oakland Marauders.”

  Mom relays the information and Dad’s mumbling increases dramatically in both volume and duration. Oh, no. I have a sudden bad feeling about this. Dad follows sports, even those that aren’t golf. Why didn’t I think about this first? How best to break this information and present Evan and his recent troubles in the best light. Because I believe in his innocence and I am not going to tolerate any unnecessary, uninformed negative backlash.

  If only I’d kept my mouth shut. Damn wine.

  “Not…what was the name? Evan Sparks?” asks Mom, voice filled with concern. “Sadie, he’s a drug addict. What on earth are you thinking? Your father says he’s being kicked off the team for selling and using steroids. I know you took the breakup from Sean hard, dear. But is that really the kind of person you want to get involved with? Have you lost your mind?”

  “He was set up, Mom,” I say through gritted teeth.

  “Well of course he would say that, wouldn’t he?”

  “I’m serious. Both of you, listen. Evan is a wonderful, kind, non-drug-taking person and I like him a lot. Like, a lot a lot.”

  “I’m not even sure I know what that means. A lot a lot.”

  “Guess, Mom. Just guess. Perhaps you can even tell from my tone of voice that this man is meaningful to me, hmm?”

  “It sounds to me like you’re feeling scared and alone, so you fell for the nearest man available. Paying absolutely no attention to what kind of person he is behind the smile he gives you. I knew you should have come home to Texas. You’ve always lived with your head in the clouds, Sadie. But you’ve never been quite this foolish before.”

  “Mom…” My jaw hangs open. Seriously. I’m gobsmacked by my parents’ opinion of me.

  “A drug addict. Good Lord.” Mom’s voice is terse and filled with reprimand.

  “Firstly, stop. Secondly, you really need to stop.”

  “Sadie—”

  “Jesus, Mom. Do you really think I’m that much of a naive idiot? So you’re just going to automatically believe bullshit tabloids selling sensationalist stories over your own daughter’s judgement, huh? Really?” I sit up, wine sloshing about in my glass. “I’m twenty-eight, Mom. I run my own business and have done so for years now. I’m a fully functioning adult with no small amount of dating experience and I’m telling you the papers are wrong about him. He’s a good person. You’re wrong about him.”

  “Surely the journalists would have done their research and know what they’re talking about,” Mom says in a huff.

  “I honestly don’t know how I’d have gotten through the last week and a half without him and you won’t even give him a chance. Your mind is made up. No room for the truth.”

  The Empress of Pained Sighs lays another long and loud one on me. That should be Mom’s new official title. “Sadie…”

  “I need you to trust me about him. Can you do that?”

  There’s more mumbling in the background, but I can’t make out what Dad is saying.

  “I need you to open up your mind and consider just for a moment that maybe I’m not thirteen any more, giggling and making eyes at cute boys. In fact, that was a hell of a long time ago. I know what’s best for me. I know who is best for me.”

  “Let’s talk about this tomorrow when you’re sober,” she says. “We love you. Good night. Get some sleep, sweetheart.” And then she hangs up on me. Holy cow.

  Mostly I want to bang my head against the desk. It feels like the appropriate response right now. However in lieu of giving myself a concussion, I’m going to have another drink.

  Because I’m an adult and I can. So there.

  CHAPTER 12

  QUARANTINE: DAY 12

  SADIE

  “BABY, WHAT’S WRONG, IT’S AFTER midnight? Also, holy shit, look at you.” Evan’s eyes are wide as the moon highlighting the Bay.

  I raise my wine glass to him. A cool night breeze ruffles my silk kimono. A friend gave it to me a few birthdays back, but I’m not a robe kind of person. I have, however, thought of the best use for it tonight because I am a genius. “Nothing’s wrong, silly. We’re drinking alfresco and enjoying the city lights, that’s all.”

  “Really?” he asks, setting his cell down on the small table on Jake’s balcony. “Your text sounded upset.”

  “How can a text sound upset? It’s just words with no context.”

  “Okay. It sounded blunt. A little off, somehow. Not the normal you.” His tone is laced with concern.

  “Strongly disagree with you there, Sparky. I think ‘I need your ass out on the balcony’ is in fact a coy, charming, and warm invitation from a woman who admires you greatly. But she’s also a woman who doesn’t wish to overstate her growing emotions for fear of…stuff. It’s complicated. Let’s not get into it right now.”

  He just blinks. “How drunk are you?”

  “Eh. A little. Let’s label it tipsy. That sounds about right.” Lie. I’m on my second bottle but it’s the first glass and I’ve been drinking since my call with the parents.

  After a nod, he pulls a chair up to the balcony closest to me and sits. Only he does it with his chest against the back of the chair and his legs spread wide in that way dudes do. “Okay. What’s on your mind?”

  “You’re not going to have a drink with me?” I work hard to cover the slight slur.

  “Sorry, baby. Cutting back. I need to watch my intake. But I’m more than happy to sit over here and keep you company.”

  I slump down on my own chair. “Fine. Spoil my plans.”

  “What plans would those be?”

  “I was going to greatly improve this lousy ass night by trading you a flash of my boobs for a glance at your dick,” I tell him very seriously. Because it’s a very serious topic of conversation. I mean, I even put on makeup for this occasion. Smoky eyes and shiny red lips to go with my navy kimono. Black patent heels finish the whole look off just so.

  “That’s why you’re all dressed up in that sexy getup?” he asks.

  I nod. And pout. It’s been that kind of night.

  “While I fucking love how into my dick you are, darling, you previously said doing anything revealing out here on the balcony was a bad idea. And you were right. We do not want anyone accidentally getting
a look at your gorgeous body. Let alone possible taking a picture of it, hmm? Besides, I have enough bad press.”

  “Oh, man. You make sense. I hate it when you make more sense than I do.”

  “That’s okay,” he says with an amused grin. “I’m sure you’ll be back to making all the sense in the morning. And I’m definitely saving your idea of a peep show for another time. That is a most excellent idea. Now how about you tell me what got you in this bad mood?”

  “My mom. We may have butted heads over certain matters.” I shrug. “It’s honestly not that unusual when it comes to us. Margaret hasn’t been wrong a day in her life.”

  “So that’s where you get your strong will from, huh?”

  “You should see us fight over games of Scrabble. Dad calls it Word War whenever Mom and I sit down to play.”

  Evan laughs.

  I take a sip of wine. “Ah, aged grape juice. So much Vitamin C. I’m almost as healthy as you are!”

  “A little Cheez Whiz on a cracker and you’re all set.” He smiles and it’s beautiful. And exactly what I need.

  “You’re mocking me. But I like you and I’m happy to see your gorgeous face, so I don’t care.”

  “Nuh uh. I’m not mocking you. I’m admiring you and all of your idiosyncrasies. Keeps me on my toes, having a woman like you in my life.” He looks out over San Francisco, I assume taking in the night sky and the tall buildings. “Figure I’m about the luckiest son of a bitch in this city right now, getting to sit here with you.”

  “Don’t be sweet. I can’t handle sweet right now. You’ll make me cry.” I sniffle not so delicately.

  “Whatever she said, your mom sure upset you,” he says in a low growl.

  “It’s not just her. I was looking at the headlines and some asshole sent me hate mail and all of the signings got cancelled and my muse was being a bitch and honestly everything just kind of hit the wall necessitating copious consumption of alcohol.” I sigh. Woe is me. “Wine, meaning booze. And whine, meaning to moan and carry on. Wine, whine. Whine, wine. Hey, do you think there’s a link?”

  “Undoubtedly.” He chuckles. “You’re kind of hilarious when you’re hammered. And I’m sorry your night took a turn for the worse. We should have just stayed sitting in front of the TV talking to each other on the phone. Much safer.”

  “True,” I say glumly.

  “What does signings getting cancelled mean to you?”

  “Means my bank account will take a hit.” I punch the air but instantly realize my mistake when the wine sloshes onto the concrete. Good thing it’s white.

  He raises his chin. “You need money?”

  “Huh? No. Thank you. I’m fine.”

  “Sadie, are you sure? Because there’s enough in life to be worrying about right now without you counting your pennies when I can afford to help you out.”

  “Absolutely not. My earnings will be down a little this year, but I’ll work it out. I’ll find a way, I always do. And I do not want your money.” That’s the last thing I want from him. I can only imagine how many women before me wanted him for that very thing.

  “Yeah. But do you need it? That’s the question.”

  “No, Evan. Just no. This conversation is over now. I mean this topic. It’s done. Gone. Kaput. Goodbye.”

  He’s doing the jaw tensing thing. I can almost see the little muscle jumping on one side. “We’ll talk about this later when you’re in a better and more sober mood.”

  “No, we won’t.” I take another sip of wine. “I appreciate you, but I am not going to mooch off you. Get that idea out of your head right now. Besides, there’s no cause for alarm. I am writing—some of the time—which means things are moving forward. There’s no reason to freak out just yet.”

  Nothing from the grim-faced man with the determined expression sitting across from me.

  “My indomitable hero. You’re awful cute when you’re all put out like that.” And he is. I wish I could climb into his lap, press my face to his neck and just breathe. I’ll bet he smells amazing. He’d wrap his arms around me and just make it all better.

  “Am I now?” Something glitters in his eyes.

  I grin. “I could just sit and watch you for hours. You’re fast becoming my happy place, Evan Sparks.”

  His shoulders sink a little as he relaxes. “You’re mine too.”

  “Aw. Aren’t we a pair?”

  “And that’s why this is so important. Because one day soon, you’re going to be sitting on my lap wearing nothing underneath that pretty robe.”

  Oooh he took my little wistful vision to a saucy place. “Am I now?” I all but purr. That’s one hell of a mental image I’ll be replaying later.

  “Oh, yeah. And when you refuse to be sensible and let me help you when you’re in trouble, I’ll turn you over my knee and turn your gorgeous ass pink.” His corresponding grin is panty-dropping wicked.

  My mouth falls wide open in surprise. “You did not just say that. The fuck you will, Evan.” There goes the wine again spilling all over the place.

  “The fuck I won’t, Sadie.” His hands sit on the high back of the chair, his chin resting on top. “I may not have a huge amount of experience at relationships, but one thing I know for sure. We’re either in this together or not at all. We look out for each other. We have each other’s backs.”

  “Backs, yes. Backsides, not so much, mister!”

  He lifts his thick shoulders in a shrug. “If you’re my woman then I’m going to want to look out for you. Get used to the idea.”

  “Looking out for someone does not include running roughshod over them. Partners love and support each other. They do not dictate to them.”

  “Partners also share what they have with each other. How about that?”

  “No. Just no. I am not taking your money. I will not be one of those women chasing after you hoping you’ll pay my bills. That is bullshit. You’re supposed to be my boyfriend, not a damn sugar daddy. I can stand on my own two damn feet. And also, Sparky, you sure as hell are not spanking me.” At least not without my consent. Hmmph.

  I drain the last of my wine and get to said feet. Oh boy! These heels really are high and I’m just a tad wobbly. Bare feet might have been safer. But still, I stand tall, staring the beast next door down. “Evan, I’m going to bed now. I’ll expect an apology from you in the morning.”

  And the man is not in the least bit fazed by my evil empress glare. Dammit.

  “Good night, sweetheart. Make sure you lock the door and put a glass of water and some aspirin by your bedside.”

  Grrr. And he’s so fucking calm it’s rage-inducing.

  I may or may not have flipped him the bird on my way back inside.

  These things happen.

  * * *

  EVAN

  The second I wake in the morning I realize my day is already off to a shit start. It’s raining. Again. That means no face-to-face with Sadie. Not that she’d be willing to see me after last night.

  Maybe it was the booze? For her at least. For me, seeing her upset and worried does my head in.

  I sit up and run my hand through the messy layers. I need a haircut, but that won’t be happening any time soon. All non-essential businesses, salons and barbers included, are closed. Hell, I read last night they closed down all the schools in the state and are starting to do the same across the country.

  This shit is becoming insane.

  I read an e-mail last night from the team that they’d be suspending Spring training until further notice. At least that’s something positive. None of the guys are practicing so I don’t feel so put out by this scandal. The press is fifty-fifty as Polly expected. Half believe I’m innocent while the other half believe I’m lying through my teeth and paid off a specialist to doctor my results for the media’s benefit.

  Inhaling full and deep, I place my elbows on my knees and rest my head in my hands.

  My career is on thin ice.

  A virus is taking over the world.

&n
bsp; The woman I’m falling in love with is pissed at me. And I can’t touch her. Not for two more days.

  Fuck me.

  My phone buzzes on the end table. I pull it off the charger, hoping it’s Sadie and she’s ready to talk. A FaceTime request from Jake pops up.

  I smile and instantly hit accept.

  “Whoa. Hey, brother. You just wake up from a bender? You look like shit.” His concerned brown eyes are a welcome sight.

  I rub at my bed head. “Can’t get a haircut and I just woke up.”

  “Ah, I see. How are you?”

  “Been checking the papers lately?” I ask, fearful of his answer.

  He offers me a sad smile. “I’m sorry, Evan. This shit with the picture and the planted dope stinks.”

  I shrug. “Yeah, but there’s nothing I can do but try and figure out how to clear my name. The medical reports only got me out of half of the trouble with the team and my contract. There’s still a moral and ethical conduct issue because I was seen like that.”

  “Ridiculous. How’s my pretty princess?”

  I turn my head and see her fluffy ginger ass lying on the pillow next to the one I slept on. Feeling generous, I move the camera so he can see her sleeping.

  “Aw, my girl. I miss her.” He frowns. “Are you being nice to her?”

  “Dude, she’s sleeping in the bed on the pillow next to my head. And that’s only when she’s not stealing the covers.”

  He laughs and wipes at his tanned, sweaty brow. His dark hair is a riot of espresso-colored curls all over his head. By the time we hit college together, he was the dark to my light. The ladies loved it. Like a physical yin and yang. Which is also how our lifestyles have always been. I entertain people, he heals them. Though we share a love of sports, beer, outdoor activity, good food, and family. We appreciate one another’s differences and at the heart of us both, we have the same moral compass.

  “Yeah, she’s greedy. And she looks a little fatter. Have you been giving her too many treats?” He frowns and squints. I turn the camera off his beloved pet and back to me so he can’t figure out the cat has definitely gained a pound or two.