Stars Align

Not-Boyfriend

Dani~

I hold my hand out as the girls pass me as I did some physical therapy with one of our trainers. "Mik, let's get it done!"

"You got it, Cap!"

I switch legs as I've been building some strength back in both legs. I start moving to the side as I have the exercise band around my ankles. I do squats as I move laterally. "Oh shit! Cap is gonna come back stronger than ever. The world better watch out!" Mik says as she watches me. She tosses me a ball and I use it as weight as if it weighed like a metal plate.

I focus on my steps, going down only enough to feel the tension in my knee. "Okay, that's enough for today. Back at it tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sounds good."

I hand her the elastic band before going over to sit by my coach. "You miss it?" he asks as I lean back in the chair.

"Of course, I do."

"Are you still messing around with that baseball player?"

How many times do I have to tell people that we're just friends? "Just a friend. Nothing more."

"Better not be. I need you focused on your return next year."

I toss the ball in the cart as it rolled past me. "Also, no boys," he tells me.

There's no way I'm 25 and getting told 'no boys' by my coach, of all people.

I don't say anything but just lean back in my chair. "Got it?"

"Yeah." He doesn't need to know what I do when I'm back in Milwaukee.

"Dani, you're not just going to sit here. I'm putting you to work. Do the book for us," my coach tells me after we stood on the line for the National Anthem.

He hands me the spiral notebook and I sit down. I knew he would put me to work at some point. He hands me a pencil and I fill in everything that I can.

My phone lights up in the seat next to me as I write down our lineup.

"Dani, what did I tell you about him?" my coach says, looking down at my phone.

"Just friends. Nothing more."

I pick up my phone to see what Christian wants.

Christian: Call me tonight. I'm bored all by myself at the hotel
Me: Where are you guys?
Christian: Miami
Me: You're in Miami and not going to go out? Miami's a great city. Get out of your hotel, enjoy it
Christian: Already have enjoyed it in the past. The guys want to go out and I don't
Me: I'll let you know when we get back
Christian: Don't worry, I'm watching right now. Looks like you're too distracted by your phone though
Me: Wonder why? 😐
Christian: 😉

"Dani!"

I look up and see Mik and Lauren standing in front of me. "What?"

Mik elbows Lauren, "Guess who she's texting."

"The baseball player? Still?"

"Friends. That's it," I tell them.

"She says that now but in a few months, it's not going to be that."

I stop listening to them and just hold my hand out for them so they can high-five me.

Getting back to the hotel, we all grab one of the food bags that are provided for us before heading up to my room. "Dani's about to go call her not-boyfriend so don't bother her. She'll be busy," Mik says as we get out of the elevator. She just had to throw that in there, didn't she?