Page 82 of The Tryout

Oh, and do you think Ethan would invite him to stay again?

Actually, can you send me Ethan’s address?

I want to DoorDash some food to be there when he gets in.

He had to leave before we got dinner.

As I’m writing my next text, the phone rings in my hand. I answer it, glad that Jamie at least had the sense to turn this into a phone call.

“Is there something you need to tell me?”

I’m confused for a moment, then realize he may not have seen the texts at all.

“Yes! Check your texts, there’s a bunch of things I need to ask you.”

There’s a pause while, I assume, Jamie checks his texts. Finally, he jumps in again.

“Um, I saw those already. I meant is there something you need to tell me about you and Finn?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean…you never met the guy two months ago and now you’re DoorDashing dinner to my house for him? What’s up?”

“What do you mean, what’s up? He’s a nice kid, and I think Vietnamese is turning into his comfort food. Thought it was a nice gesture.”

I don’t know what Jamie thinks he sees, but I’m not about to feel weird about doing something nice for Finn. Then, I realize what else he’s said.

“Wait, did you say your house?”

“I, uh, moved in with Ethan. My lease was up.”

I wait for the feeling of anger to come over me, the flicker of inexplicable rage that I’ve felt each time I think of their relationship. Not so much jealousy as resentment – not just resentful that Jamie didn’t think he could trust me with the information but also, if I’m being honest, resentful that he had found someone while I was floating through the world alone, untethered. But, to my surprise, I find…nothing. No, that’s not quite true, either. I think I’m…happy for them?

“That’s great, man. I’d love to see the place sometime.”

This time, the silence goes on for so long that I’m sure the call has dropped. After checking to make sure he’s still on the line, I try again.

“So, would it be okay if Finn stays with you guys?”

At this, Jamie seems to snap out of it.

“Yeah, definitely. I already told Coach we’d host him.”

Good. I don’t want Finn staying in some team-funded hotel room by himself, but I also don’t want him stressing out about finding a place to stay.

“Ok, great. And someone will get him from the airport? I’ve got his flight info, he should be in around seven. It’s his first time flying and he checked bags, so if someone can actually go in and help him, I’d really appreciate that.”

I hear a muffled conversation between Jamie and Ethan before he comes back to the phone,

“Yeah, Ethan and I will get him. Can you text us the flight number?”

I do as he asks while he’s still on the line, satisfied when I hear the faint buzz of the notification coming through on his end.

“Alright, anything else?”

I think for a moment.

“Do you know of any Vietnamese places open on Sundays?”