7. Alice
Alice
“Ihate that we have to go to these things,” I tell Kelli as we walk onto the field at the practice facility. Amber, from content marketing, stands next to a photographer and waves us over for a photograph. We pose for her, then make our way toward our other team members standing near the tables.
“No, you don’t. You usually love these things. Your name fits you perfectly, because you are a social butterfly. You just hate that he’s going to be here,” she teases.
“I really do,” I tell her as I scan the large group of people, seeing if I can spot him. For the first time in what feels like ever, I don’t. All the guys here are equally as big as Ryder, so he doesn’t jump out immediately. Good. If I don’t see him, hopefully he doesn’t see me either.
“And correction, we don’t have to go to these things. You do,” she teases. “But that extra money is worth it. No feet pictures in your future.”
She’s trying to get me to loosen up a bit, and it works. I laugh because selling feet pictures for extra income has been our running joke for years.
Every year, the team hosts a preseason barbecue.
Different departments of the organization are invited, as it’s attached to the corporate offices, it’s more open than the team picnic, which is held during the bye week later in the season.
That one is more of a family event just for the team, which is held in the stadium.
There are a few kids here, but not many.
I’m also grateful this one is indoors. The feels-like temperature today is one hundred and six.
“Mighty Monarchs. Mighty Monarchs. Mighty Monarchs,” I chant to remind myself why I’m doing this, while breathing in the smell of a pit smoker. It smells so good.
“Any idea what kind of photos they’re looking for today?”
We both slow our steps to look around. There are balloon towers, tables, outdoor activities like corn hole and volleyball, a DJ, and all the food.
“The packet said they were setting up a social media station. They want us to join them at some point for photos and video. The conversation for our video is supposed to focus on our excitement for the beginning of the season.” I look around for this and find it next to the desserts.
They were smart to be near the food. Otherwise, less enthusiastic people might have avoided it.
“That doesn’t seem that difficult.”
“No, I agree. Some of the other events are more complicated than this one.”
I’m already dreading the one where we go back to our former high school to be presented at the all-school convocation and interviewed by their student social media team. I’ve worked really hard to put the past behind me, so I already have anxiety over taking that walk down memory lane.
“Oh, wait.” Kelli pulls her phone from the tiny cross-body purse she’s carrying and hands it to me. “Take a full-length picture of me really quick with the team logo in the background. I’m going to link the dress.”
That’s a great idea.
“Only if you’ll do the same for me.”
She runs out in front of me and strikes a pose. I take several pictures, we trade places, and just as quickly we are done. Today, I’m wearing a teal sundress with cork wedge sandals. Usually I’m wearing heels, but we’re not allowed to wear them on the field because they damage the turf.
“All right, let’s go mingle,” Kelli says, linking her arm with mine. We make our way over to the tables, and I pause to fix the strap on my shoe. Next to us is a group of players.
“This team barbecue is my favorite barbecue of the year.” That comes from Rico, one of the cornerbacks. “The guys are all here, and the food is damn good. Especially Lexi’s pies.”
“Yeah, I think Vivi has already sampled every flavor Lexi brought. Forget the grilled chicken and the mac and cheese. She went straight for the dessert,” says Jonah Dallmann, looking toward the tables where a little girl sits next to someone else’s son.
I remember hearing about how he came to be her guardian. Such a sad story.
“Girl after my own heart.” Rico pats his chest twice while again glancing toward the food tables longingly.
From behind me, I hear my name being called.
I turn to see a guy who looks like Clark Kent standing there. He’s tall, but not as tall as Ryder, built, and has dark hair combed to the side. He’s wearing black-framed glasses, and they look hot on him.
“Alice . . . Camden Drake, it’s nice to meet you.” He holds out his hand.
It’s funny that he thinks I don’t already know who he is. The question is, why does he know me, and why is he introducing himself?
I take his hand and shake it. His dwarfs mine. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
“Welcome to the team,” he says, not really smiling, but not not smiling either.
“I appreciate that. This is my friend Kelli.” I gesture in her direction.
“Very nice to meet you,” he tells her. The smile he gives her makes me think he doesn’t smile very often. You know, tight lips pressed together along with an acknowledging head nod.
The teammates next to us see him. “Superman, are you going to introduce us to your new friend?” This comes from Rico, and he’s all gleeful.
He makes the introductions, and then out of the corner of my eye, I see Ryder has spotted us.
Ryder is wearing all black with white sneakers.
A black T-shirt with the Tarpons logo on it in white, and casual black shorts, not the athletic kind, maybe the golf kind.
I hate that this outfit looks good on him.
I hate that I’ve even noticed. Those two familiar little lines strike between his eyes, and then he frowns as he makes his way over to join our little group.
He’s giving the side of Camden’s head a death stare, and this irritates me in a way I wasn’t prepared for.
Are other people, other teammates, not allowed to speak to me? We’re going to have a problem if he’s dictating how others treat me.
Ryder holds his hand out to Kelli. “Hi, we didn’t actually get to meet the other night. I’m Ryder.”
Without missing a beat, she does not return the greeting gesture of shaking his hand, and she looks him over from head to toe. “Yeah, I already know who you are.”
His brows jump a tiny bit at the slight. He drops his hand, and Rico starts laughing.
“Yes, but I don’t know who you are.” He gives her an attempted flirty smile, and I see red.
I know that Kelli would never ever cross that line with him. She knows exactly how bad things were for me after he ghosted me, but still. Who does he think he is to smile at my friend like that?
“Oh, Rookie, Rookie, Rookie.” Sully clamps down on his shoulder and shakes his head.
Ryder’s gaze skips from Kelli to Rico to Sully to me, where it lands and stays. There’s something in the expression on my face that has his brows pulling down. I mean, how dare he.
The rejection he doused my life in flares and burns through my veins. I can feel my cheeks heating, and I hate that I’m giving him any kind of physical reaction. But to be kind to her and a continued dick to me, just no. This is all wrong.
“Hi, everyone,” Danica says, all cheery, as she’s popped up out of nowhere. “Can I steal Ryder and Alice? I’d like to go ahead and get y’all in the hot seat. Chase, you and Marcus are up next.”
There’s a long pause.
“Of course,” Ryder finally tells her, giving me a look that screams, pull your shit together.
I get it, after what Gretchen said at the photo shoot, and he’s here with his team.
Everyone has eyes on everyone, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling embarrassed and like I’m being led to my own execution.
Heat floods into my cheeks, and Kelli squeezes my hand in support as she comes with me. The others bail for food.
“Mighty Monarchs. Mighty Monarchs. Mighty Monarchs,” I remind myself.
The social media team has brought in a large barnwood background with a sign that says, “Tarpons Team Barbecue.” In front of it are two teal Adirondack chairs.
There’s a round red grill next to one chair and a Tarpons cooler next to the other with a football propped against it.
Between us is a small table covered with a teal-and-white-checked cloth and two large glasses of lemonade, complete with sliced lemons and a straw.
Around us is staged lighting, and in front of us on the ground is a microphone.
Ryder and I both take a seat, and Danica sits diagonally to us.
If I weren’t so emotionally thrown off balance, I’d appreciate all of this more. This really is a cute idea.
Danica doesn’t explain anything. She just dives right in.
“Welcome to our first episode of five of Barbecue Showdown. First up are our hometown heroes Alice and Ryder. How this game works is I’m going to ask you both a series of five questions about each other, and you’ll each write your answer on your chalkboard.
Since you two have known each other for quite some time, let’s see how you do.
Whoever gets the most questions right will win a prize. ”
This is going to hurt. I don’t want to go down memory lane.
“Ooh, a prize. This sounds fun,” I tell her, playing the part and making sure my presentation face is fully on. Ryder stretches his long legs out in front of him as he gets more comfortable in his seat. Meanwhile, I make sure mine are crossed, and nothing is showing from the camera’s point of view.
“Okay, first question.” She leans forward a little conspiratorially. “Of course these have to be football related, but viewers are still curious to know more about the two of you. How well do you two actually know each other? Write down what you think is each other’s favorite concession food.”
I know this, and a large smile takes over.
He’s predictable in a way that I don’t see this having changed.
I write out that if there’s candy, he would get Reese’s peanut butter cups, and if there’s not, cheesy nachos.
It didn’t matter what sports event or concert we attended. He always ordered this.