“You think so?”
“Yes.” Cody smiled to himself, picturing the startled look on the anchor’s face again. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he started believing in miracles after meeting you.”
Smitty nodded, satisfied. “That’s what it’s all about. Living for God. Believing His Word. Looking for miracles.”
Whatever his professors taught him in the coming years would only be gravy, Cody thought to himself. DeMetri Smith was already wired to be a preacher.
He gave the same sort of answers at the luncheon with the SI staff. Hans Tesselaar welcomed them and introduced them to the other writers in the office. DeMetri entertained them with anecdotes from the season, and he finished with the same answer he’d given the ESPN anchor: that the team had merely started believing in miracles, and after that God started handing them out.
“I love this kid.” One of the editors shot a look at Hans, then back at DeMetri. “If you ever need a magazine job, come here first.”
Smitty laughed. “I better stick to Plan A. That’s the one that feels most right.”
The men around the table and a few women laughed at Smitty’s sincerity. The fact that he was so serious about the path God had called him to. When the lunch was over, Hans handed him an envelope. “This is from all of us. We want you and DeMetri to see a show, have dinner at one of our favorite Times Square restaurants, and then of course, the hotel vouchers are in there as well.”
“Thank you.” Cody felt honored. Certainly this wasn’t the way they treated every cover story. Something about the boys of Lyle, the way God had worked among them, had touched the staff at SI in a special way. Cody wondered what sort of long-term impact the story might have on the staff — an eternal one, he hoped. It was something he and DeMetri would pray about later.
He didn’t open the envelope until they were in the elevator. By then Smitty was practically breathing down his neck. “What show, huh, Coach? Tell me it’s not Mary Poppins.”
“Listen.” Cody held the envelope at arm’s length away from his player. “If it’s Mary Poppins you’ll be thankful, and we’ll have a great time. That show really is one of the hottest on Broadway right now.”
DeMetri backed up, hands in the air. “Fine. I’ll be grateful. Just hurry and open the envelope already, Coach.”
Cody did as he was asked, and the second the tickets came into view he felt his heart react. They were for Hairspray. Of course they were for Hairspray. Hans couldn’t possibly have known that Cody knew someone in the Hairspray cast or that seeing these tickets would hit him like a truck. But God had known. And for some reason he was supposed to be at Bailey’s show tonight.
“What is it?” Smitty peered over his shoulder and let out a squeal. “Are you kidding me? Hairspray?” He did a little dance, sort of an eighties move that made Cody worry the elevator might stop between floors. “Hairspray, Coach? That’s like the ultimate black and white party! Have you heard of it?”
There was no reason to tell DeMetri about Bailey, about his past with her or the fact that she was in the show. He could tell him later if the subject came up. For now it was enough that he nodded. “Yes, Smitty. I’ve heard of it.”
“I saw the movie. You saw the movie, right, Coach?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “It’s hysterical. Has this dude John Travolta.” He paused. “You heard a’ John Travolta, Coach?”
“Yes, Smitty. I’ve heard of him.” The elevator opened and they stepped into the lobby. Out front the limo was already waiting for them. They climbed inside with DeMetri still going on about the movie version of the play.
“Anyway, this Travolta guy used to be some big stud, but in Hairspray like he plays a mom.” He made a face at Cody. “I know, weird, right? But that’s the way it always works with Hairspray. Some big dude plays the mom and that just makes it more fun. Plus,” he paused only long enough to grab a breath, “did I mention it’s like the best black and white dance party ever?”
“I know the storyline.” He chuckled. “How about we get dinner? Then you can tell me everything you know.”
“Everything?” DeMetri rolled his eyes in as exaggerated a fashion as possible. “That’d be the whole thing, Coach. I can’t do that.” He waggled his finger toward Cody. “You have to leave some element of suspense. I mean, this is our first Broadway show.”
“It’s our only Broadway show, Smitty.”
“Well,” he hesitated, gazing straight up as they entered Times Square. “That’s probably true.” He grinned back at Cody. “But a guy can dream, right?”
“Yes.” Cody imagined seeing Bailey dancing in Hairspray in just a few hours. “A guy can certainly dream.”
They ate dinner at Sardi’s, a restaurant on Forty-Fourth Street in the heart of Times Square. The moment they walked up to the hostess desk, Cody could feel DeMetri was about to pass out.
“Coach!” His voice was the loudest whisper possible. “Look at this place. The waiters are wearing tuxedos!”
“Yes.” He held his finger to his lips. “Let’s get seated. Then we can talk about it.”
DeMetri’s eyes were almost completely round, his shock as obvious as the view through the glass walls that made up the dining area. “Look at that. There’s like a million famous people on the wall. I mean, their pictures are on the wall. You see that, right, Coach?”
A quick look and Smitty quieted down. “The table. Wait till the table.”
After they were seated the bursts of amazement continued to come from his favorite player. Their gift card allowed them whatever they wanted, so Cody ordered steak and lobster, and DeMetri chose a shrimp cocktail, filet mignon, and a flaming cherry soufflé for dessert.
“Tell me to stop eating the bread,” he said halfway through his meal. “I’m getting too full. But, Coach, this is the best bread I’ve ever eaten. Seriously.”
“Stop eating the bread, Smitty.”
“I can’t, Coach.”
“Fine. Then be full.”
DeMetri burst into a big grin. “I can handle that.”
Cody kept checking his phone, making sure they would leave the restaurant in plenty of time to reach the theater on the early side. He wanted to soak in the atmosphere, enjoy the fact that he was actually in Bailey’s territory, in the place where she’d spent most of her time for most of the past year.
Finally, after DeMetri polished off his dessert and still had room for another soda, Cody decided to share the truth about Bailey. As much as Smitty needed to know, anyway. “Okay, so this play we’re going to see …”
“It’s called Hairspray. You’ve seen it, right Coach? You said you’d seen it.”
“I’ve seen the movie. But not the Broadway show.” Cody had seen DeMetri fired up before, but never like this. “Anyway, about the show … so there’s this girl in the cast. Her name’s Bailey Flanigan.”
DeMetri raised one eyebrow. “You know a girl in the cast?”
“She’s from Bloomington. Where I grew up.”
With a muffled gasp, Smitty pushed back from the table and rose to his feet. He only sat back down when Cody urged him to do so. “Your old girlfriend is in the cast of Hairspray?”
Cody wasn’t sure how to answer that one. He shifted in his seat, angling himself toward DeMetri to buy a few seconds. “Well … I mean, I guess. I used to live with her family.”
“Coach!” Shock mixed with a teasing sort of indignation. “You lived with her?”
“Not like that.” Cody shook his head. “Very funny.”
“Just kidding.” Smitty crossed his arms, pleased with the situation. “So you lived with her family, and you fell in love with her. But then she left Indiana for New York City, and you found Cheyenne … and now you’re here to see her on Broadway for the first time? Is that what’s happening here?”
If only the kid knew how close he was to the truth. “You’re missing a few details.”
“But for the most part?”
“Well, yes. I guess so.”
; “So why didn’t we plan to see Hairspray from the beginning? I mean, Coach, we just got lucky that’s all. Otherwise you would’ve missed her.”
He would’ve missed her. Cody let the thought work its way through him. Like I’ve missed her so many times, Cody told himself. “Yes … it must’ve been meant to be.”
“Ooooh.” DeMetri’s eyebrows lowered and he looked suddenly worried. “What’ll Cheyenne think? You seeing your old girlfriend tonight?”
Again there were things Smitty simply didn’t know. “Chey’s sick.”
“I thought she was over it. Whatever it was.”
“No.” The truth about the gravity of Cheyenne’s illness would come out eventually. For now it was enough that Cody didn’t betray her confidence. “She’s still pretty sick, Smitty.”
“So … she’s okay that you’re here. That you might see this Bailey girl tonight.”
Cody nodded slowly, picturing his last conversation with Cheyenne. “She told me to come.”
“Wow.” He gave an impressed shake of his head. “Not sure I could tell my girlfriend to go hang with her old boyfriend. That’s pretty big of her, Coach.”
“Chey has a pretty big heart.” He checked the time again. “Finish your soda. It’s time to go.”
DeMetri slurped down the rest of his drink, catching himself and quieting the process before he reached the bottom of the glass. “Ready!”
Whether he saw Bailey after the show or not, the next few hours would be some of the best Cody had experienced in months. They didn’t need the limo to reach the show on time. The walk was only four blocks from the restaurant, and it gave them the chance to take in the enormous lit advertisements and craziness that could only be found in Times Square. “Would you look at that M&M guy up there?” Smitty stopped and shaded his eyes, squinting at the display above the three-story shop that featured exclusively M&M candy items. “It’s the size of King Kong.” He looked at Cody. “Don’t you think, Coach. I mean seriously. Who puts an M&M man that tall on the top of their store?”
The running montage of exclamations continued the entire way to the theater, and only after they’d been let in and found their place in the third row, center, did DeMetri finally fall quiet.
“What … you don’t have an opinion for once?” Cody whispered as they settled into the red velvet seats.
“Shhh.” DeMetri put his finger to his lip. “You can’t talk in the theater. Didn’t your mama teach you anything?”
Coming from anyone else the idea of a mama comment might seem heartless. But both their mothers were serving time. Smitty’s statement only made Cody smile. “You can whisper. It’s okay. The show won’t start for fifteen minutes.”
Once he had permission, DeMetri began to comment on everything from the quality of the seats to the way SI had picked the best place in the whole theater for them to see the show. “Coach, I say try to win it all again next year. This is too nice for one time only. Those SI guys know how to do a night on the town right, you know what I mean?”
Finally, when DeMetri must’ve been nearly out of words, he settled in on the program and for the first time that night Cody had a few minutes to think. At the same time he texted Tara. He couldn’t enjoy the next few hours without at least an update on Cheyenne.
We’re at the theater … DeMetri’s having the time of his life … How is she?
Her response came back almost instantly: The same … sleeping. Don’t worry about her, Cody. She wants you to enjoy your night with DeMetri.
A flash of guilt came over him, like maybe he should mention that the next few hours wouldn’t be just about him and his player. They’d be about Bailey too. But he let it pass. He would explain the situation later. After all, he didn’t pick the show. The guys at SI did. He tapped out a quick response. Will do. Thanks, Tara.
“Hey, Coach.” Smitty’s tone was awestruck again. He held up the program. “Is this her? Your Bailey girl?” He pointed to a black and white photograph, one Cody hadn’t seen before. In it Bailey looked absolutely stunning. Her face and cheekbones, the way her hair fell. And her eyes … most of all her eyes. He steadied himself, not willing to let his feelings show in front of DeMetri. “Yes … that’s her.”
“Coach! She was in Unlocked! Why didn’t you tell me that?”
“Sorry. She was in Unlocked.”
“That means … he did a quick calculation in his head. “She’s the girl dating Brandon Paul.”
“You know your pop culture trivia, Smitty. Gotta hand it to you.”
“Coach, she’s famous and she’s hot.” He dropped the program on his lap and held up both hands in a sign of mock surrender. “I mean, don’t take that wrong, Coach. Just saying.”
“Yeah.” He laughed quietly. “She’s pretty.”
He shrugged big. “Just saying.”
Before Cody could respond, the lights went down and the audience erupted in applause. The house wasn’t quite full, but the people in attendance were enthusiastic, for sure. Only then, as the curtain came up, did Cody notice something he’d missed before. Seated in the front row in what looked like a group of three people was — yes, it was him. It was Brandon Paul.
Cody felt the blood leave his face. After all this time he was finally at one of Bailey’s shows and now … now the few minutes he might have with Bailey after the show would be awkward at best, with Brandon here too. Cody glanced at DeMetri. The kid’s eyes were glued to the stage, oblivious to the fact that Brandon Paul was in their midst. Just as well. He probably wouldn’t be able to focus on the show.
As the first scene got underway, Cody remembered the show a little better. If Bailey was in the ensemble, then her first appearance would happen at the end of this number. And sure enough that’s exactly what happened. Despite the high energy of the number, Bailey came onto the stage moving in what felt like slow motion. He felt his lips open, felt the surprise work through his body, heart, and soul.
“She’s really good.” DeMetri leaned close and whispered. “And definitely hot.”
“Shhh.” They couldn’t talk now, during the show. Not seated this close to the stage. “Later.”
DeMetri flashed the okay sign and turned his attention back to the stage. Cody did the same and by the end of the scene the mix of emotions coursing through him was almost more than he could handle. First, she was a brilliant dancer. And that only made his next emotion more upsetting. Why had he waited until now to see her perform? He could’ve certainly found a way here before tonight. But instead she’d followed her passion and he hadn’t seemed even remotely interested.
He was so angry with himself he had a hard time staying seated. Like seeing her now was enough to cause him physical pain — especially in light of all he’d missed, all the ways he hadn’t been invested in her passion. No wonder she’d fallen for Brandon Paul. He was working in New York. So did that mean he came to every show? Cody had a feeling he knew the answer, and it only made him feel worse.
No matter how much he hurt, he had no right messing with what Bailey had found with Brandon, the way he clearly adored her. But partway through her next number, Bailey seemed to spot him. A minute later, she glanced his direction again and this time he was certain she’d seen him. Because she nearly tripped. For a brief instant, Cody considered leaving so he wouldn’t cause her any more confusion. But he couldn’t pull himself away, couldn’t do anything but watch the entire show and then walk with DeMetri and the rest of the crowd to the stage door.
No matter how awkward the coming moments might be.
Cody couldn’t tell her how she made him feel or that he still loved her or that watching her tonight made him fall in love with her all over again. None of those things would be right or fair. But Brandon Paul or not, Cody couldn’t leave New York City without telling her at least this much:
She was absolutely perfect in Hairspray.
Fifteen
BAILEY COULD ONLY THANK GOD THAT SHE HADN’T FALLEN FLAT on her face when she spotted Cody in t
he audience. Not only was Brandon there in the front row, but Cody had never come to see her before. Why in the world would he be here now? She tried to ignore his presence, but clearly he was there with one of his players. The kid from the article — DeMetri, right? That was his name, Bailey was almost sure.
Again, why would the two of them be here in New York City?
She focused by finding Brandon in the audience instead. And each time, Brandon’s belief in her, his love for her kept her from looking at Cody and carried her through the scene. But that didn’t stop the fact that she was barely going through the motions, or the way her heart wouldn’t drop the subject: Cody Coleman had finally come to see her perform on Broadway.
When the show finally wrapped up, despite Cody’s presence she checked her emotions and realized something that made her relax a little. She was still most excited to see Brandon. The loyal way he had of being here every night, the way he’d opened his heart so completely to her. But she had to find a way to see Cody too. If he waited near the stage door anyway. And knowing Cody there was no guarantee he’d do that.
She wanted to tell Brandon that Cody was there, but in the rush backstage, there wasn’t a perfect moment to have that conversation. She changed clothes quickly and together they headed out. They’d been doing this more often lately, and there was no denying one very real truth: Brandon’s presence at the show each night, his willingness to sign autographs and take pictures with fans after the show had helped attendance.
“You were amazing.” He hugged her and kissed the side of her head. “Let’s get through this. I can’t wait to be alone with you.”
She opened her mouth to tell him about Cody, but as she did one of the girls from the cast came up and hugged her, and then Gerald and Stefano did the same thing. “Loved the audience tonight.” Gerald’s eyes looked happier than usual. “They loved us.”
Stefano rolled his eyes. “I liked how the hairspray can wasn’t on the prop table — always great to pantomime the biggest song in the show.”
Again before Bailey could find even a single instant to say what she needed to say to Brandon, the two of them were shuttled out the stage door and immersed in the crowd. Bailey spotted Cody the moment the New York night air washed over her. He waited for her off to the right, a little before the actual start of the line to meet the show’s cast.