Champagne & Baseball

Lucky & Lackluster

"You're Delilah's sister, yeah?"

It wasn't the first time I had been asked it like that, like I had the hookup to the hottie down the block. Most of the high school body had asked me that, girls included. We were only a year apart but no one mistook us for twins. Delilah was beautiful and smart, a frustrating combination. Growing up in her shadow was half the reason I went to an out of state college.

"Yup, I'm the luckiest sister in the world," I replied second nature. Jealousy flaring up again, I swallowed it down. I gave up on the thermostat and pulled myself up onto the counter, legs swinging off the edge. "You know her?" I asked.

"We've met." He shrugged his shoulders and then ran a hand across the back of his neck. A nervous tick I noticed immediately. I smirked at him, he didn't know that I knew he had been with my sister. Meeting was a nice way of saying f*****g.

I felt my cheeks flush just at the thought of him being with someone and jumped off the counter. I busied myself with unpacking boxes.

He gathered the keys I put out for him off the coffee table and went to the door, halfway through it he looked back at me, "Any house rules?"

I shrugged, I hadn't thought about it. Would they be necessary? He was an adult himself. "I'll set them as I see them" I answered not sure if he was happy or mad about it before he closed the door behind him.

Once the apartment was more or less settled, I started getting ready for the big night ahead of me. The first night all of us would be together. I had rented out the entirety of Rachel's not only was the team going to be there but the all of the coaching staff, their assistants, even the two owners would be in attendance.

I sighed, looking in the mirror. Being back in my hometown made me remember what I used to be like. New York had certainly changed me. Before moving, I copied everything Delilah did, desperate for the attention she got. Delilah dyed her hair, I dyed my hair. Delilah bought a red striped dress I bought a purple striped dress. It was cringeworthy how I followed her around, though she took it very well, never complaining about her mini-me.

In New York I found myself, I stopped trying to be Delilah. I took care of myself the way that made sense to me. I took up running, gave up junk food, delved into natural products. My hair hadn't been dyed in four years.

I pulled on a fitted navy dress, put on and took off stockings three times, ultimately deciding against them and slipped on a simple pair of stilettos. It was better to be overdressed than underdressed. I brushed through my dirty blonde hair which without boxed hair dye had come into itself as well, my long natural curls were finally something to look at.

I went light handed with the make up, trying to maintain a professional look. I assessed myself in the mirror, my nervous fidgeting had wrinkled the whole of my dress. I pulled it off and flipped on my steamer. 10 minutes and this would be fixed. Calm down, Danny.

The door to the apartment clicked open and I heard Brady's voice. I slammed the bathroom door shut. s**t. I had forgotten about him. It was my first time living with a man. I needed to re-understand privacy.

It was only after the door shut, muffling Brady's voice when I realized my dress was hanging on the other side of the door. "Brady" I said, trying to sound casual.

I heard shuffling and then "You want your dress?" I could almost hear the smirk on his lips.

"Yes please." I cracked open the door and hid my body behind it. This smirk was there. He slipped the dress through the door.

"Do you wanna ride together?" He asked, once the dress was in my hand. I closed the door and told him yes.

"I'll be ready in one minute."

I put the dress on, gave myself a wink in the mirror and opened the door. Brady leaned against the wall in front of me, focus on his phone. He glanced up running his eyes over me.

"You look nice." Hardly a compliment, still it made my stomach flutter. Maybe living with him wouldn't be so bad. I grabbed my keys from the kitchen and put them in my purse along with my phone and wallet.

"Uhhh - Danny?"

"What? What's wrong?" His tone had me freaked, were we late? Was it canceled? Was he going to be sick? Was I?

"You want me to zip that up?" He asked, pointing at the back of my dress. I whipped around. My hand jumping towards the zipper on my back. I closed my eyes out of embarrassment and zipped it up, thanking God himself that it hadn't been too deep of a zipper.

"Thanks." I told him, "I'm so nervous, I think I'm losing it."

He tilted his head, giving me a sweet smile. "You'll be alright."

Rachel's was located just outside the stadium but that wasn't the only reason I picked it for tonight's meal. Delilah had recently gotten a promotion and she now managed the entire place. I figured I owed her one and knew she would do a great job.

It was a classic Massachusetts bar and restaurant, wood floors matched checkered tableclothed wood tables. Servers zipped around in matching black shirts. It brought a certain nostalgia to my heart. Coach Matthews spotted me as we walked in and gave me a friendly hug. He looked just like I pictured him, mid 30s, great shape, tanned body, baseball cap sewn onto his head, Falcons jacket draped around his shoulders.

"There's my superstar." He exclaimed, flashing me a dazzling smile. "How are you liking it?"

"I'm loving it! Thanks for sending the boys over, they really helped." He nodded as he pulled out my chair for me.

"You ever have a need for muscle, don't be afraid to ask." I sat down letting him push me into the table.

"Thanks, Coach." He was just as nice in person as he was over the phone. "Dave. How have you been?" I asked the man across from me. He was one of the co-owners of the Falcons and actually the person who hired me. An older man, his hair was as thin as it was grey. He gave me a smile.

"Nice seeing you Danny. I don't think you've met my partner, Jared" He motioned to the man on his right, I put my hand out across the table in greeting.

"Wow -" I start, not knowing what to say. He was so young. "You - " I started again as we shook hands. How did I say this without coming off rude? Lucky for me, he was a good sport.

"I know how I look, what Dave failed to mention was I'm also his nephew. He's grooming me for the business." I nodded, that made more sense. I spent most of the meal meeting the people around me, Derek and the assistant coach, Andrea the public relations director, Katherine the lead physical therapist. The names jumbled in my head. I needed to make flashcards.

I tried to listen to the important conversations around me, but I just couldn't sit still. I felt exhilarated, blown away that I was here, that I had made it, that I was sitting at this table. I had done this. And I was damn proud.

Jared's eye widened at something behind me, I followed his gaze. Of course.

Delilah walked in, she was casual with tight jeans and a T-shirt that said Rachel's across the right breast. In contrast to her simple outfit, she had flawless make up and her stunning white blonde hair fell pin straight over her shoulders. She saw me notice her and gave me a breathtaking grin. I pushed myself out of my chair and wrapped myself around her. I loved her.

"Delilah! I missed you" We pulled apart, our hands staying together.

"Missed you too. Thanks for picking Rachel's!" She winked, as if I hadn't known it was her place.

"Literally anytime. Sit with us?"

"No I can't, I'm training new servers today." She jerked a finger at the wait table on the far wall and cringed. She lowered her voice, "Who's that?" Her eyes were on Jared.

"He owns the team, well co-owns it." I amended after a thought.

"Still. Not too bad on the eyes" she said dreamily. "And he's your boss, right? So if you can't date him - I might as well try." I laughed, like I would ever be able to compete anyways.

"Be my guest"

She gave me a cheeky smile and then she said earnestly "You look good Danny."

I squeezed her hand in mine before she excused herself muttering that she saw too many empty glasses and that she was going to fire someone. I told her to call me and we would set up a lunch.

"That's your sister?" Coach asked when I returned to the table. "Yup, I am the luckiest sister in the world."

I was still high on excitement when Brady was driving us home, he had practice tomorrow but I didn't have to be in the office until around nine.

Back in the apartment, I looked at a mirror hung crookedly in the living room seeing if I needed to touch up my make up, or pull myself together. I deemed my appearance acceptable before telling Brady, "I think I'm going to go downtown."

"You want to cab it together? The boys are going out too, I was gonna meet them."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"