Lachlan
“Well, color me impressed, Lachlan Hale.” Julia dabbed her mouth with her napkin. “Amazing in the bedroom and the kitchen.” She smirked, meeting my gaze from across the table. “What more could a girl ask for?”
I shrugged dismissively. “It’s just steak.”
“There’s no such thing as ‘just steak’. Steak is a complex cut of meat that needs to be properly understood in order to be prepared correctly. So many people soak it in marinade, then char the fuck out of it. But you… You knew all you really needed to bring out its natural flavor was salt and pepper.”
“And butter,” I reminded her. “Don’t forget the butter.”
“That’s a given. Butter makes everything better.”
“Agreed.” I lifted my glass, warmth filling me as I admired her.
Throughout the course of our meal, we enjoyed the same easy conversation as always. But tonight, it felt even easier. There was no longer this invisible line drawn about what we could and couldn’t discuss. We were finally free from the chains we’d shackled around ourselves. It was liberating in a way I hadn’t expected.
“Although, I will confess, it took a lot of trial and error to figure it all out,” I added after taking a sip of wine. “There was a time not so long ago when the only thing I could cook was Ramen noodles. Or boxed macaroni and cheese. Granted, when I played minor league ball, that was pretty much all I could afford.”
“They don’t pay well?”
I barked out a laugh. “Not even close. I probably would have made more working at a grocery store.”
Most people had no idea what it was like in the minors. It wasn’t the glamorous life that often went along with being in the major leagues. Hell, most of my teammates had to work second, even third jobs just to make ends meet. Then there was the cramped housing, sometimes six or eight of us in a small apartment. Life in the minors tested you, made you question whether it was worth it. For many, it wasn’t.
For me, though, it was worth the sacrifice. I knew I wouldn’t be happy until I gave it my all. And that meant putting up with the low pay and overcrowded living conditions.
“The minors is kind of like military training for baseball players. Weed out those who aren’t ready to put in the hard work. A lot of guys can’t handle it.”
“How long were you in the minors?”
“About four years. I was recruited my senior year in high school. It was either go to UCLA and play ball there or head straight to the minors. It wasn’t as easy a decision as you might think,” I added quickly. “There was a lot to consider. Some players go to college, play ball there, get a degree, then are recruited straight to the majors. In the end, Claire was the one who encouraged me to follow my dream. She may be a year younger, but she’s always been my voice of reason.” I smiled nostalgically as I peered into the distance. “Or she was.”
Julia placed her hand over mine. “I’m sorry.”
I brought my eyes back to hers, offering her a small smile. “Thank you.”
I held her gaze for a beat, then pulled away, clearing my throat. “You mentioned you have a brother. Are you two close?”
She beamed, the affection she held for him obvious. “He’s my best friend. Granted, we may not always see eye to eye on certain things, and we certainly get into our fair share of disagreements, but at the end of the day, we know we love each other, even if we may not like each other at that precise moment.”
I swallowed hard, her words bringing to mind my relationship with Claire.
Ever since her death, I’d buried myself in guilt, angry at the world and myself for taking her for granted. If there was anyone who knew how fleeting life could be, it was me. Regardless of the distance I put between us in her final months, I hoped she knew how much I cared for her. How much I appreciated her.
How much I loved her.
“The last time I spoke to Claire, we had an argument,” I confessed.
I wasn’t sure what compelled me to do so. What I was searching for. Forgiveness. Redemption. Absolution.
Julia straightened. “About what?”
I opened my mouth, hesitating.
“You don’t have to tell me,” she added quickly. “It’s none of my business. It’s not part of our arrangement anyway.”
“Our arrangement…,” I mused, laughing to myself.
Bringing the glass of wine to my lips, I took a sip, savoring in the robust Syrah that was the perfect complement to the steak. Then I set it back down, focusing on Julia, her eyes shining as a gentle breeze blew around us.