“You domesticated him,” I tell Whimsy. “I’m impressed.”
She laughs. “It’s only because Craig’s hair gets everywhere so we have to vacuum constantly.”
Whimsy’s adorable Persian cat has quickly become my brother’s favorite. I overheard him the other day begging Whimsy to bring the cat with them when the new ATP year kicks off in Australia.
Elias returns the vacuum to the closet I keep it stashed in and turns to us with his hands on his hips. “Why do I feel like you ladies are making fun of me?”
“It’s not my fault you’re so easy to mock,” I tease.
“You know you love me.” He ruffles the top of my head as he passes behind me for the refrigerator. He grabs a bottle of water and turns, swinging his arm around Whimsy’s shoulders. “Ready to go, Whim?”
She covers a yawn. “Yeah.” Shrugging off his hold, she crosses the few feet between us and wraps her arms around me in a hug. “I’ll make sure he stays at home next time,” she whispers.
“And I don’t want details on how you convince him to do that,” I tease.
“You two are definitely talking about me again,” Elias says, grabbing his hoodie off the rack by the door. We might live in Florida, but there’s still chilly days here and there, especially in December.
After hugging my brother goodbye, I lock up behind them and head to my bathroom for a long hot shower. When my bonesare thoroughly warmed through, I hop out and tug my robe around me.
Padding out into the kitchen, I scour my cabinets for my favorite sleepy time tea.
“Come on,” I mutter. Surely, I have at least one packet stowed somewhere. I really should have gone to the grocery store this morning.
By some blessed miracle, I find a lone tea bag in the back of a drawer. I can’t guarantee it’s my favorite one, but it’s better than nothing.
When my tea is ready, I set the cup beside the bed and change into my pajamas before I burrow beneath the covers and turn the TV on.
The tea is just beginning to kick in when my phone rings.
I’m tempted to not reach for it, but I always worry that something might’ve happened to someone. I think my accident, and the pregnancy loss, made me paranoid when it comes to that sort of thing.
Sabrina’s name and a selfie of the two of us together fills the screen.
“Hello?” I answer.
“Hey,” she says, sounding slightly breathless. “I know this is last minute, but my final dress fitting is scheduled for Friday, and I was wondering if you would come? I was going to ask Whimsy, too. I know it’s probably silly of me, but since my mom isn’t around for this kind of thing it’s nice to have my friends. Don’t feel bad if you can’t, though, because Lucy and Alyssa will be there too. But I just got to thinking about it and I know the final fitting isn’t a huge deal but?—”
“Sabrina, please, for the sake of your lungs take a breath.” I laugh when she does just that. “If you want me there, then there’s no place I’d rather be and I can’t officially speak for Whimsy, but I’m sure she’d love to come too.”
“Oh, thank you, Ebba. You, or both of you, can stay at our place for a night or two so you don’t have to immediately fly back.”
“You’re welcome and I don’t want to be in your way.”
“You wouldn’t be. I promise.”
She gives me a few more details and promises to send a plane ticket—even though I insist I can pay for my own—and hangs up to call Whimsy.
It only hits me just as I’m about to fully fall asleep, that chances are I’m going to run into Fisher. Sure, I’ve seen him around plenty, but something about this feels different. Maybe since it’s not related to tennis.
I wish the thought of him didn’t haunt me like it does.
But it seems like there’s no moving on from Fisher Grant.
CHAPTER 3
EBBA
Elias endsup tagging along on our trip to Texas for Sabrina’s fitting since it will allow him more time to practice with Noah and Fisher.