Chapter Ten Sienna
Chapter Ten
Sienna
It’s Saturday afternoon. Game day—the first one of the football season, and we’re playing at home. The stadium is packed to the brim. The UCSM band is out on the field, playing a rousing version of some Metallica song I recognize, but I don’t remember the name of it. Everleigh is sitting next to me, her face fully painted with the team colors and Nico’s and Coop’s numbers on each cheek, thanks to me. My face-paint artistry has improved over the years, and I now consider myself an expert. I even painted a pretty cool dolphin on my own cheek for the game. Not sure what I might do once my brother and the rest of his friends—ahem, Gavin—graduate. Will I come to games next year?
I’m not sure.
“The air is positively electric,” Everleigh says as our team runs out onto the field to the roar of the crowd. She’s rubbing her arms, and I notice the goose bumps dotting her skin.
“It’s really just the best time ever. I have so much fun at games.” Even sitting in the friends-and-family seats.
My first year, I tried sticking to the student section, but I didn’t have many friends, and honestly? I didn’t want to reveal to anyone that my brother was out on that field. Though my first year, Coop was benched most of that season only because they had such a strong offensive line. Right before playoffs, Coop got to go in, and he wowed everyone with his brute strength. My brother has zero hesitation out on that field. He will mow someone over with his big, burly body and make it look easy.
He makes me proud. They all do.
Even stupid Gavin. Gav. Just to irritate myself I should only think of him as Gav because oh, how I loathe that nickname. I don’t know why. Maybe because all the women that surround him call him that, thinking somehow it sounds more intimate.
While I’m the complete opposite. I feel it sounds far more intimate if I call him Gavin. Who else ever calls him by his full name? He has so many nicknames, and he answers to all of them. Some of his teammates even call him Mad Dog, and I’m like ... what? Why?
Okay, I need to get over myself.
After I gave up on sitting with my fellow students, I found my people in the friends-and-family section. Parents and siblings and girlfriends and wives all sit here, and last season, I was great friends with the wife of one of the players. They got married when they were barely twenty, and while I thought they were rushing things, they were high school sweethearts. And he was stunningly gorgeous. Like maybe even better looking than Gavin?
Nah.
Anyway, she had to lock that boy down, and I don’t blame her. He was recruited by the Broncos, and now they live in Denver. Her life has been so busy; we’ve sort of lost touch these last few months. I should text her.
Everleigh and I make small talk before I get up to go grab some popcorn. I’m PMSing big time, and I’ve got the munchies, so I need something to continuously snack on. Plus—and I’d never admit this to anyone—I’m full of nervous energy over this game. I don’t know why. These guys do so well, I shouldn’t be worried.
But I am. It feels like so much is on the line, and I want them to do well. I want the team to succeed and go all the way. Not just for my brother, though he’s the most important member on that team to me, but I also want it for ...
Gavin.
Stupid Gavin and his charming smiles and broad shoulders and dark hair I want to run my fingers through. Who says the silliest shit I’ve ever heard in my life. Like how we can only be friends, though I know I stunned him when I admitted that I was into our brief encounter we had oh-so long ago.
Men are clueless. I don’t know what else to think.
I’m about to be first in line when a typical clueless man is about to walk right past me and then stops, his gaze zeroed in on me.
“Sienna?” His smile is friendly, and okay, yes. He’s very cute. A little on the small side but still cute.
“Yeah?” I don’t recognize him at all.
“Hey.” He approaches, stopping directly in front of me. Pretty sure I’m taller than him but not by too much. An inch, maybe two. “We went to high school together.”
I frown. “We did?”
“We definitely did. Sienna Cooper. Your brother plays for the Dolphins. He’s a senior. I graduated with him.”
I am racking my brain trying to remember this guy. He’s got darkish-blond hair that’s a little long on top and floppy, but not in a bad way. No, more like in an attractive way. He has a nice face. Friendly. And when he smiles, he goes from cute to handsome in an instant.
“Ryland. Ryland Hartwig.”
Oh.
Oh.
I remember him. He was even shorter back in high school, and heavier too. Much heavier. Back when Coop was on the wrestling team in middle school and then his freshman year in high school, Ryland was too.
“I’ve lost some weight since then,” he says sheepishly, a self-deprecating laugh leaving him as he dips his head. “I understand if you don’t remember me.”
“I totally remember you.” His head lifts, and his eyes sparkle. They’re hazel, a swirl of varying colors. “You were on the wrestling team with Coop in high school.”
“I was, though he left after freshman year. Football took all of his time up, which I get.” He keeps pace with me as the line inches forward, and now I’m next to order. “How is Coop? Looks like he’s doing well.”
“He’s doing great. Have you been here since freshman year?”
“Nah, I took a year off school after I graduated and fucked around.” He snaps his lips shut, seemingly embarrassed. “Eventually got my act together and went to community college. Transferred here this year. I’ll graduate next year.”
“Me too. What’s your major?”
“Environmental science. I want to be a park ranger.” Again he seems a little embarrassed, though I don’t know why. “I like spending time outside and figured I may as well find a job where I can do that all the time.”
“That’s so cool.” I send him an apologetic look when the lady at the concession stand barks at me. “Hold on, okay?”
I go up to the counter to order a large popcorn and pay for it, taking the giant bucket from her before I turn, fully expecting Ryland to have disappeared, but nope. He’s still standing there waiting for me with a hopeful expression on his face.
Hmm. I think my expectations in regard to men are terribly low thanks to the jerks I usually deal with.
“Do you come to all the games?” I ask him.
“Yeah, most of them. I’m here with some friends today. We’re in the student section since tickets are cheap,” he explains. “I assume you go to all of them.”
“Definitely.” I nod, holding the popcorn bucket toward him in offering, but he shakes his head no.
“You’re with friends too? A boyfriend?”
Oh, he’s fishing. I sort of love this for me. Even though I swore when I was fifteen that I would never date a man who’s shorter than I am, I might reconsider breaking that rule.
“I’m here with a friend.” I smile. “And there’s no boyfriend.”
“Oh yeah? Cool.” He shoves his hands into his pockets, trying to look nonchalant, but I can tell he’s pleased with this information. “Maybe we could, uh, get together sometime. Catch up on the hometown gossip.”
“That sounds nice. Want me to give you my number?”
Ryland seems startled by my offer. “Yeah. Yeah, that would be great.”
He opens up his text messages and starts a new one while I rattle off my phone number. Within seconds I receive a message that says, this is Ryland . He included a smiley face emoji.
How cute.
“It was great to see you after so many years,” I tell him once he pockets his phone. I lift my bucket of popcorn up. “I should head back. The game will be starting soon.”
“It was really great running into you, Sienna.” He takes a few backward steps, lifting his hand up in a wave. “I’ll text you. Maybe we could get together next week?”
I am beaming. “That sounds perfect.”
Rylan smiles and nods, then turns and walks away while I just stand there, watching him. That was a different experience, having a guy seek me out versus me always either (a) chasing after him or (b) avoiding him like he’s trash.
For once, a man approached me . One who seems sweet and kind, and he’s attractive. He’s not Gavin Maddox status, but I am most likely aiming too high and wasting my time with guys like that. I need to find a normal man. One who seems into me and isn’t afraid to talk to me.
Like Ryland.