10. Chapter 10
Ames
It's early December and less than a month since I moved in with Saint.
I have yet to find a new big catering client.
My days are a mix of admin and a desperate search, and blissful cooking.
Who knew that losing the most important contract I had would give me the time to lose myself creating new recipes?
But it did, and now I spend a few hours coming up with new flavor profiles, and translating them into something my employees can make for our current clients.
Good news, they've been praising the new recipes. It's encouraging.
A long time ago, I hoped to build a secure, established business that worked seamlessly on its own.
I would grow it until I could hire a business manager and a kitchen manager.
When the right time came, I would step aside and focus on cooking again, creating meals that brought people together.
Some I would repurpose for my catering business.
Some I would share with the world somehow.
That future seems further away today than it did when I signed the contract for my kitchen three years ago .
I sigh. At least, I'm creating new recipes, and they are the perfect marketing tools to get new clients. I arrive with a bunch of them at the Strike's training facility.
I park the van in the right spot of the TD parking lot and get an insulated food carrier out. It's a cold day. I'm close to the building's main doors, but the freezing wind prompts me to rush inside. Right as I enter the building, Evie makes it out of the elevator in the back of the hall.
"There you are!" she exclaims. "Can I help you with the carrier?"
"No, no, just lead the way!"
"I'm so happy to see you." She turns to the hallway that connects to the training area. "How are you doing?"
I've been to the Thunderdome before, but I'm thankful for her presence.
She offered to meet me as soon as I reached out to ask for permission to bring a treat.
I hadn't wanted to create issues of any kind by being impulsive and not only did she assure me it was a great idea, she insisted on being my bodyguard.
They'll swarm you , she said. They're hungry after training.
Images of Saint preying on me fill my head with no warning.
"I'm okay." My voice is a bit shaky. "Trying to come up with a plan."
"Did Saint tell you about the TV show yet?"
"What show?"
"Of course, I only told him what I put together this morning." She leads me through a few offices. "I'm sure he'll tell you a-sap."
From memory, I know we're close to the locker room. Laughter reaches us alongside a few raised voices.
"Rumbunctious guys." Evie stops me right before we go into the large space. "Give me a second to announce our arrival."
I nod. It's not the first time I witness this.
"Please cover the goods!" She's loud enough to break through their noise. "I'm coming in and I bring company." In a lower voice, she adds a few words for me. " We want to preserve their mystique, right? Seeing them in all their naked glory seems like too much."
I shouldn't be surprised that the first thing I imagine is seeing Saint in all his naked glory.
I've been living with him for a few weeks.
It makes sense that warmth feathers through my body at the possibility.
It's reasonable. Logical, really. Spending all this extra time with him, sharing the kitchen, hell, knowing what he looks like in his underwear.
Of course my brain would be curious as to the little left unknown.
I'm about to fan myself with a hand when Logan appears from around the corner. Just like with Evie and most of the team, I haven't spent much time with him. He's a client and Saint's friend, and neither has given me a chance to get used to his severe frown.
The gesture doesn't change as his eyes zero in on Evie. She doesn't seem intimidated, so I refuse to let myself be.
Logan puts a hand around Evie's nape and brings her in for a short, but intense kiss. I smirk. I may not know him, but this seems on brand to what I would expect of him.
"Hello to you, too," Evie smiles.
I clear my throat. "Can I just have a handshake hello?"
Evie laughs. Logan doesn't say anything but smirks. After shaking my hand dramatically, he welcomes us to the locker room.
Soon, a few curious players approach us. I give Logan his smoothie, then put out a few trays. One of them holds sandwiches, the other is full of cookies.
"Please take your fill," I say. "If you like them, I offer catering and private chef services, including the smoothies you always see Logan and Saint drinking. I'm accepting clients at the moment."
It may not be enough to keep all my employees in the long term, but a few more small contracts with professional athletes would pay well. It may give me some breathing room. Logan, Saint, and some others on their team have been great, stable, well-paying customers .
"I may be interested." Leon comes closer, cookie in hand.
"Here, have my card, Leon," I say.
"Call me Bear." Leon winks.
"Can I have one, too?" Dom chews down a cookie of his own, and takes a card from me. "This is delicious, and Saint sings your praises."
"Speaking of." I take my roommate's smoothie from the carrier. "Where's Saint?"
"In the pool room," Dom replies. "Which, coincidentally, I have a question for you."
"Coincidentally?"
Dom shrugs, like making sense is only secondary to him. "You've known Saint for a long time, haven't you?"
I nod and he comes closer.
"I made a bet." He points to the big whiteboard hanging near the showers. "This is the year I learn who makes the Hypersquared."
I glance at it. A whiteboard with heavily decorated edges, bold and loud with colorful ribbons and patterned paper letters that read The Seattle Strike Best of the Best Betting Board Team destroyer Builder: The B-Hypercubed .
A list of small bets is scribbled on the white surface, waging points to be counted at the end of the season.
Whoever collects the most points, gets to take the crown and keep it for the offseason.
I raise my eyebrows.
"Every year," he says, "Saint comes in at the start of the season with this board. Gaudy as always. Never shares who made it."
I scratch my chin. "I have no idea, actually."
There's fake innocence in my voice. Bear and Evie laugh. I smile.
Saint has two little sisters. He doesn't talk much about them. My guess is they make the board, but I don't mention it. If the team doesn't know, then I won't reveal it. Loyalty is the most basic thing I can give in return for the friendship we've had over the years, strange as it is .
Dom's eyes narrow. "I don't believe you."
I shrug. "Oh well. Where is the pool? I'll take this smoothie to Saint."
"I'll figure it out," Dom says. "The pools are through the hall, past the weightlifting machines and treatment area. All the way to the back."
"Do you want me to take you there?" Evie asks.
I push the food carrier into a corner, to pick up later on the way back to the van.
I shake my head. "I'll find my way."
"Remind him to tell you about the show." She smiles. "We can text about it later if you like? Or, now that I know you're from Uruguay, we can get together to share a yerba mate drink sometime."
Evie and I have texted a bit over the past month. It's tentative, as we're just getting to know each other, but she's been incredibly kind. Gently asking me if I'm okay, and if I need anything.
I give her a sincere smile. "I'll take you up on the mate sometime, and I'll text you later regardless. Thanks, Evie."
She smiles, gives me a quick hug, and I leave in search of Saint.