Chapter 15
COLE
I sit, listening and taking notes as Coach outlines plans and strategies for our upcoming game. Ricketts is to my right, and the notebook in front of him is mostly blank. Will Jenkins is on my left, scribbling notes so fast I’m surprised his pencil isn’t smoking. I want to laugh, but I hold it in.
Jenkins is my backup, and he takes his role seriously. He knows the game’s outcome could rest on his shoulders if I get injured, but he prepares like he’s the one starting.
He was the Stingrays’s quarterback for the second half of the season before I was drafted. He played well, and it has everything to do with his dedication, even more than his talent. If I’m out, he’ll carry on just fine. If only that took some of the pressure off.
“All right, that’s all I’ve got. It was a good practice today. We need to see that in Atlanta this weekend.” Coach gathers his notebook and papers. “You are free, except for those hanging around to sign merch.”
We stand, and T-Bone stretches and groans in the back like a bear waking from a nap, which I have no doubt he was enjoying.
“You signing today?” Ricketts asks, shoving this notebook under his arm.
“Yeah. Mindy sent me an email.”
“It’ll be extra special with T-Bone flapping his jowls the whole time,” Ricketts mumbles.
Jenkins laughs. “Don’t smudge your name. Your fans will come for you.” He bumps my shoulder with his fist. “Ice your hand after. Wouldn’t want you on the injury report for writer’s cramp.”
“You heading out?” I drop my phone and pencil in my pocket.
Jenkins nods, collecting his stuff. “Yeah, Rachel has an appointment.” His tone turns serious.
His daughter was born with cerebral palsy and has been in and out of the hospital.
I’ve wondered if that’s part of his dedication to the team and game.
I understand the need for escape and a way to release some of the fear and heartache.
He started a foundation in her name to fund research and aid families with medical supplies, devices, and care.
“Let me know how it goes. Tell Rachel I said hi.”
He nods once.
Ricketts and I head down the hall to another large room filled with Stingrays’ merchandise.
“Are you attending the SportsElite event next weekend?” Ricketts asks as I sit at a table lined with hats.
“Yeah. My agent wasn’t letting me out of this one.”
“He’d better not have.” Mindy, one of the PR managers, drops a stack of jerseys on the end of my table. “You’re their featured player this year. We’ll have a booth set up for you to sign autographs and take pictures.”
“Have fun with that, man.” Ricketts leaves me to find his table as Mindy moves closer, reorganizing the hats as I sign them.
I don’t miss his backward glance and smug smirk.
I pretend to ignore it, but I know what that asswipe is smiling about. Mindy. She’s nice, personable, and good at her job. She also seems to find reasons to share my space. Apparently, Ricketts has noticed.
Mindy is pretty. Her long, dark hair falls around her shoulders in waves, and I’m not sure she wears anything but a smile. She’s a little too eager, casually suggesting we hang out. I’ve always played dumb and side-stepped her invitations.
I don’t date women I work with. Really, I don’t date at all. Even if I did, Mindy is likely more infatuated with my profession than with me. Either way, I’m not interested in finding out.
While she chatters about the event and her plans to showcase the team’s latest achievements, I sign my name over and over again, ready to go home.
Soon, the room fills with T-Bone’s laugh as he goes on about his latest obsession—some model who ghosted him. It only makes my hand move faster.
I check my watch, knowing I’m running out of time. Ryder will be here any minute, so I scribble my name faster, trying to ignore the cramp in my hand.
Just as I cap my marker, Mindy orders someone to bring over a stack of T-shirts.
“These are for the kids at the hospital.” She arranges the shirts in front of me.
I check the time again and see I’m already thirty minutes late. “Ok. I have to go after this.”
Mindy takes a seat beside me, folding shirts as I sign them. I reach the bottom of the stack and stand, knowing Ryder is waiting.
I thank Mindy and grab my stuff, hurrying out the door, but as I round the doorway, she stops me.
“Hey, Cole.” I exhale, knowing I don’t have time for this.
I turn, still trying to inch my way toward the exit.
“Hey, I uh. . . ” She fidgets with her bracelets with a smile plastered to her face. “I’ll be at the event handing out the items you signed, but when I’m done. . . ”
I hear the thump of footsteps and turn to see Ryder storming down the hallway, but her pace slows when she spots me. I frown, wondering how she got in, but also shit. I’m late, and I made her wait. I hate making people wait on me.
I twist back to Mindy, who’s still smiling expectantly.
She continues. “Anyway, when I’m done, I was thinking I could find you. You know, we could. . . ”
She doesn’t finish her statement as Ryder stops beside me. Her face is back to expressionless, and I don’t like it. Her eyes meet mine, but then shift to Mindy, and they stay there without wandering.
“Hey,” I say, grateful for the rescue but also concerned about the stoic vibe she’s releasing.
“You’re late.” Her body angles toward me, but her gaze remains on Mindy.
“Yeah, I’m sorry. I had merch I needed to sign.”
The clink of Mindy’s bracelets reminds me she’s standing here.
“This is Mindy.” I gesture to her. “She works in Public Relations.”
Mindy’s brow furrows, probably confused about how Ryder got past security and who she is. I don’t offer information she doesn’t need.
“Super. Nice meeting you.” Ryder glances at me. “Are you done here or…”
“Yeah. I uh. . . ” I glance at Mindy, wondering if I can pretend she wasn’t about to ask me if I wanted to meet up. Again. “Thanks for helping me today. I guess we’ll see you at the event.”
Mindy’s eyes jet between Ryder and me. Her brow smooths as her smile reappears, but it’s forced.
“Oh yeah, sure. See you there. I’ll. . .have things all set.” She does a little wave, and I turn, more than ready to leave.
Ryder and I walk side-by-side, and I can feel more than see her stiffness as we make our way out of the practice facility.
“How’d you get in?” I test the waters.
“While I sat wondering if you’d been kidnapped, I made a few calls.”
Her tone is tense. All seriousness has returned.
My phone buzzes, and I slip it from my pocket.
NICK: My flight gets in next Thurs at 4. See you then, bro.
NICK: And who’s the chick?
Shit.
I shove my phone back in my pocket. With everything going on, I completely forgot about Nick coming.
Great.
“New rule,” Ryder states as we hit the doors and step out into the parking lot. “If you’re late, you text me.”
I stop. Ryder continues a few steps, then halts, turning back.
“Hey, what’s going on?” I need to know what’s up because it feels like it’s a whole lot more than me being late.
She crosses her arms over her baggy T-shirt tucked into the front of her jeans as her eyes circle the parking lot. “I can’t do my job if I don’t know where you are. If you don’t show up when you’re supposed to, I have to go searching.”
Her body is rigid, and her eyes are fierce. She closes the short distance to stand right in front of me.
“There’s someone who’s threatening to kill you. That’s not happening on my watch, but that means I need you to communicate if you’re going to be late or if plans change.”
She’s pissed. I get that, but I feel like I’m missing something.
“I’m sorry. I lost track of time, and I’m still getting used to. . .this. It won’t happen again.”
She inhales and lets it out, her shoulders relaxing. “Ok.”
“Ok?”
She gives a quick nod and continues her quest to the car. I need to tell Ryder about Nick, and the thought has my calm interior stirring. I want to see my best friend, but explaining all of this to him and now to Ryder feels taxing, and I’m already exhausted.
“How long have you known her?” Ryder’s blunt question interrupts my inner turmoil as she begins to inspect her rental.
We’ve been switching between cars to help deter anyone who could be tailing us.
“Who? Mindy?”
She peeks at me over her shoulder as she checks the underside of the SUV. “Yes, Min-dy.”
I struggle to keep my mouth from turning upward at the way she says her name. “I don’t know. I guess since I joined the team. Although she’s been more involved in my PR schedule this season.”
“Do you have a personal relationship with her?” Her tone is softer as she rounds the car.
It’s my turn to cross my arms. “As in, have I dated or slept with her?”
Ryder stops and faces me, her hands moving to her hips. “I don’t need details, but she clearly has her eyes on you. As far as I can tell from that little interaction, it’s manic lust, but I need to know if there’s any reason it would go beyond that.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Manic lust?”
“She’s one wink or cocky smile away from picking out her wedding dress.”
I laugh, but Ryder remains impassive. “Seriously?”
“Matthews, you need to get with the program. That woman might have a life-size standee of you in her closet and be stringing together a collage of how your life will be together.”
“Well, that’s frightening.”
“You should be scared. Obsession is dangerous,” she says, getting back to work.
I scan through my encounters with Mindy. “She’s alluded to us hanging out a few times. I’ve ignored them. Other than that, she’s always kept things professional.”
“Yeah, well, she’s going on the map, and I’m running a background check.” Her arms fall to her sides. “We’re clear here. Let’s go.”
She climbs in the driver’s seat, and I throw my stuff in the back, then join her. Something happened with the woman sitting next to me, and I want to know what it is. The easygoing rhythm we’d fallen into is gone. All guards are back in place.