Miss You, Love You /// D. Mauldin

3

February 18, 2023

Charlie's POV

I woke up at eight and made breakfast before cleaning the house. I showered and got dressed in my white Mauldin jersey, some black jeans with a yellow long-sleeved shirt under the jersey, and my yellow Converse before heading to the store for some stuff for tonight. I got some Chipotle for lunch on my way home and Jayden came over around 2:30 to help me set up the food.

"Thanks for coming over early," I say as she walks inside.

"Of course. Did you ask him about the ticket?"

"Yeah, but he's not giving it to me until the night before the game you're coming to just because of concerns of selling it at a ridiculous price."

"Understandable. What do you want me to start with?"

"I found this charcuterie board in the shape of a banana on Pinterest, so I'm gonna have you do that while I get the snack bowls from the basement."

"Sounds good."

I get everything out for her and head downstairs. I find the bowls and grab the banana cream pie from the freezer that I bought last week. I go back upstairs and put the pie in the fridge.

"Of course, you bought a banana cream pie," she laughs.

"You can't throw a Savannah Bananas party with banana foods."

I laugh and grab the chips from the pantry. I head out to my car and get the drinks from the trunk. I put the drinks in the fridge and head back down to the basement for the White Claw and Bud Light. I put them in the fridge and grab the bacon and cheese. I grab the potatoes and start the cheese and bacon potatoes. I put them in the oven and have Jayden start the Sloppy Joe's breadsticks. I start the veggie tray and make the buffalo chicken pasta bake.

"Who all is coming," Jayden asks.

"Some of Dalton's buddies and some of our other classmates."

"Cool. Are you excited for next weekend?"

"You have no idea. Even my mom is excited and she's not going!"

"That's cool! When did he move down again?"

"He left on the 29th and arrived on the 30th. He stopped overnight in Atlanta since he left midday."

"Is he glad to be back?"

"Oh, yeah. So, when we talked last night, he told me he's having a concert on June first!"

"That's exciting!"

We finish the food and everyone starts to show up around six. The game starts at seven and the broadcast ends around nine. Jayden stays behind to help me clean up after everyone else leaves.

February 22, 2023

I got dressed this morning in my grey Bananas crewneck and some skinny jeans when I woke up. I had two classes today and work this afternoon. When I got to the campus store, I saw Jayden sitting at the register.

"Game day," she asks, looking at my crewneck.

"Daytona Beach tonight and tomorrow," I say.

"Are you ready for this weekend?"

"Totally. Tanner's picking me up around 9:30 and then we're getting breakfast before he has to be at the stadium at 11:30."

"Fun. And none of the other guys know about you?"

"Well, the owner, Jesse Cole, does. Dalton had to ask him if I could room with him and Tanner when I go to Texas."

"Nice. Has anyone in your family or his said anything about the age difference? I know it's not ideal."

"My dad's aunt was skeptical at first but when she met Dalton at that barbecue early on in our relationship, she let it go."

I head to the office and see our supervisor, Bailey, sitting at her desk.

"Hey, Bails."

"Hey, Charlie. How's his season going," she asks, referring to Dalton.

"Pretty good. Opening night was on the 17th and this weekend is the home opener, along with our anniversary."

"Any plans?"

"I'm flying down and surprising him Saturday morning. I'm staying until Monday night."

"That'll be fun. Are you gonna go to any of the games over break or Easter?"

"Yeah. I'm joining them in Texas and then Dalton's flying me down to Sav over Easter."

"Cool. And then they play up here the first weekend of June?"

"Yep and then Dalt's playing a concert on the first at First and Home Bar."

"That's exciting. Alright, some boxes of gear need to be unpacked and restocked before we leave tonight. I'm keeping Jayden on register and you're gonna open and restock."

"Sounds good. Mind if I listen to the game while I work? It starts in about twenty minutes," I say, looking at my watch.

"Not at all. Just keep the cheering to a minimum if possible."

"You got it."

I put my bag in the break area and connected my AirPods. I pull the game up on YouTube and grab a box cutter. We finish our shifts around eight and I head home, stopping at Panda Express for dinner. I get home at 8:30 and pull the game up on my laptop. I sit on the counter and watch the rest of the game while I eat. I start packing after I finish eating and get ready for bed, texting Dalton that I'd call him tomorrow and I was going to bed early. I put a load of laundry in before heading to bed and plugged my phone in for the night.