Page 108 of The Tryout

I turn the screen around, sure that it’s not helping, and complete the last few steps of the calculation.

“So, if you played twenty-four days with Iowa and six with Minnesota this month…”

Again, I turn the screen around.

Nov 8 - Dec 8 Gross Salary: $37,800

All color falls from Finn’s face, and I’m genuinely concerned for his well-being as he falls backward on my pillows. I put the laptop back on the bedside table, crawling up to lie next to him. Deciding there’s not much I can do, I throw my arm over his waist. He rolls toward me, planting his face again in the crook between my neck and shoulder. Slowly, I rub his back as he takes deep breaths, clearly trying to calm himself. Finally, several minutes later, he pulls back his head, looking at me.

“Sorry, you must think I’m ridiculous.”

I shake my head, leaning in to kiss him gently on the forehead.

“Never.”

“It’s just…I’ve never had that much money before. I…I don’t even know what to do with that much money.”

“Well, I think my dads would say ‘put it in an investment account and touch as little of it as possible’”.

Finn nods, although the uncertainty starts to sneak back onto his face.

“I’ll help you get that set up, okay? It’s not a big deal. Actually, we can probably have Jack set up a meeting with a financial planner.”

“But you’ll come, right?”

His eyes are big and innocent and I can’t help but wrap my arm even more tightly around his waist, wanting to keep him here, next to me.

“Of course I’ll come. And Finn, I think there’s something else you should do.”

He lifts an eyebrow, a question in his eyes.

“You should take some portion of the money and use it to buy something just for you. Something to celebrate.”

“What, like a Rolex?” he asks, eyes rolling.

“I mean…do you want a Rolex?”

He shakes his head.

“Seriously. Something nice. A gift for all the work you’ve put in to get here.”

His eyebrows cinch together, clearly struggling to think of something. I’m sure I could give him some ideas – a laptop, a new phone, bedding in the exact thread count he prefers. But hopefully, he’ll have lots of other paychecks for those things. What matters now is what he wants. As he thinks, I card my fingers through his hair, gently scratching at his scalp.

After a few minutes, he sits up, wide smile on his face.

“I know exactly what I want.”

I laugh, reflecting back the joy that’s on his face.

“What is it, Finn? What do you want most?”

“Avery, can I take you to dinner?”

When Finn first suggests taking me to dinner, I want to turn him down. Not because I don’t want to go – by now, I think he knows I’m up for a meal with him any time. No, it’s because I hate the thought of him spending his hard-earned money on me. Surely, there’s something more…worthwhile.

But the look of excitement on his face keeps me from saying it out loud. Besides, this one meal isn’t going to break the bank for him. He looks through Yelp and Google reviews, trying to decide on a new place for us to try together.

So far, we’ve been working our way through the wide variety of Asian food on offer in Des Moines – Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese. Partially that’s been because it was new and different for Finn. But part of me has also known that the prices on those menus wouldn’t scare him off too much, wouldn’t have him renegotiating our once-a-week deal.