An Inconvenient Flame

Chapter 17 - Nobody Like U

Jade found herself sitting in the stands with an excited crowd in the stadium. The Astros were winning and Jason seemed to be in rare form. She knew he was showing off for her because he told her and a reporter before the game that he would. The game was a fun one and she talked a little with the security detail Hannah Jean demanded she take.

Jade couldn't be mad though. The guys were great and seemed to anticipate her needs. When she was cornered by a few of the girlfriends and spouses of the players they could sense immediately that she wasn't down with it.

They got her out of there so quick and she thoroughly appreciated it. Now she was watching the game and pretending like she knew what the heck was going on.

She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and took it out. She smiled at the name on the screen.

Lyle: You're on tv.

Lyle: Knowing that smile is for me just made my weekend.

Jade looked up and looked around. She didn't see any cameras, but she was sure the entire stadium as retrofitted with those bad boys. She looked back at her phone.

Jade: I didn't even see a camera. How long was I on tv?

Lyle: For a good minute. They made sure to illustrate that you were Mrs. Tatum, wife to star pitcher Taylor Tatum.

Jade couldn't help but laugh, because she could hear his sarcastic voice.

Jade: I'm never going to get used to this newfound celebrity status. It's so weird. Who the fuck cares about baseball?

Lyle: *gasp* It's only America's favorite pastime!

Jade: I want you to know I just rolled my eyes. This shit is boring, but don't tell my husband I said that. This boring sport is allowing an expensive lifestyle.

Jade: And by expensive lifestyle, I mean, it affords having all the streaming services to curl up on the couch with and be a total blob. I'm talking Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, Funimation, Paramount+ and Apple TV. Mama is spoiled now!

Lyle: LOL...you deserve to be spoiled, Jade. You're an actual angel, so I'm glad he's doing right by you and giving you everything you want.

Jade: What about you, Lyle? No lucky lady has snagged you up yet? You're a catch if no one has told you that.

Lyle: Thanks, Jade. I don't know if love is in the cards for me to be honest. I kind of just want to focus on my career, family and my overall mental health. It was really hard seeing my mother again. A lot of old traumas were revived, you know?

Jade: I definitely understand. It was so rough seeing my father again. I'm proud of you doing the work to ensure you're at your best.

Jade: Quinn and I should probably go back to therapy to be honest. We stopped a few years after our mom died, but like you said trauma resurfaced with the little reunion Lyla planned.

Lyle: I think therapy is amazing and if you two benefited from it before it'll help once more. I'm just going to focus on me and go from there. If an amazing woman comes along great and if not, it is what it is.

Jade: So, life as a doctor is that fulfilling?

Lyle: It really is. I love my patients.

Jade: That's really sweet Lyle, but I know the bad days can be hard on doctors. I've seen Grey's Anatomy. What do you do for fun?

Lyle: Code. I was meant to be a programmer in another life I swear. It's a hobby that has allowed Oliver and I to bond.