Chapter 11 Bill
eleven
Bill
(Three Months Later)
I step through the arena doors, which are wide open, welcoming the entire community of Mapleton to unveil the new facility just a week ahead of training camp.
There were a couple of weeks when I didn’t think we’d open in time, but it’s amazing the sense of urgency people have when you throw enough money at it.
Today, we’re hosting a carnival with booths, games, and concession stands.
My Granite Ice players mingle with the crowd for their first official team meet and greet.
It’s festive, and I love it. It’s exactly how I envisioned the place when I thought of our ribbon-cutting event.
Mapleton has received this great team with open arms.
I stand near the plexiglass with my hands on my hips, trying to act calm and not like I’m holding back a tidal wave of emotions.
I cannot wait to see this place packed for our first home game.
The arena smells so clean and new. Now my team is home, and as I glance around, I still can’t believe it’s all real.
“Bill Baker?” a female voice cuts in from my right.
I blink and turn. It’s a reporter with a Mapleton Times logo on her jacket. She’s holding a camera and smiles politely enough. “Would you mind if I get a team photo for the front page?”
“We’d be honored.” I turn back to my guys and call out in a loud voice, “All right, players! The paper needs a press shot. Everyone line up in front of the glass.” They move, most of them being silly at first, striking a few dramatic poses.
A couple try to look tough but ultimately ruin it by grinning too large.
Taking my spot on the far end, I cross my arms and stare forward with my best game face on.
Because of course, I’m going to look tough.
The woman centers herself and takes a few shots, but that’s not the only person with a camera aimed at us.
A line forms of locals all holding their phones up, taking the same shot.
I certainly didn’t expect this, but it feels good.
Pride fills my chest, and I stand still as people file through, all grabbing their photos.
And then I see someone I know.
Ruth steps forward, lifting an old-school, clunky camera with a strap around her neck and a giant flash attached to the top.
It instantly reminds me of her love for vintage things, and I smile as her gaze meets mine for a split second before she raises the camera in front of her face.
The click of her camera is audible, and my breath hitches.
Months have passed since I last saw her. Yet seeing her now feels like a punch to the heart. We went on that one casual date. It shouldn’t seem like much, but our conversation was easy, and that spark was darn-near electric.
I never stopped thinking about her, but when I went to visit her at the diner the next day, she was polite and then almost ignored me. I got a vibe that she was giving me the brush-off. Taking the hint, I kept myself distracted in the bustle of getting my team started.
Now she is here, and I can’t take my eyes off her.
The photos are done, and the team breaks formation as everyone heads into their own clusters. I step forward, closing the gap between Ruth and me until I’m a mere arm’s length away. While she adjusts something on her camera, I clear my throat. “It’s great seeing you here.”
She slowly lowers the camera then offers me a toothy smile. “I couldn’t miss the big opening. It’s the most exciting thing to happen to Mapleton in years.”
And just like that, the noise of the arena fades, and it’s just the two of us.
It’s crazy how that happens.
The chemistry between us is pulsing. Knowing I only have a few moments with her before I’ll get pulled off in another direction, I rush to say something, “You look… great.”
Then I cringe.
That was too direct.
I mean, she does look great in her blue jeans and sweater with her long hair down her back, but that compliment definitely feels blunt and burns hot on my cheeks.
“Thank you.” She tilts her head away from me, like she’s not quite accepting the compliment. “I’m excited for the season. They did an incredible job on the arena.”
“They did.” I stuff my hands in my pockets, rocking back on my heels. “I couldn’t be happier.”
She smiles at me, and I’m about to say something when Noah walks up beside her.
He’s got a foil-wrapped cheeseburger in one hand, and he pulls another foil-wrapped burger out of his Granite Ice jacket pocket.
“Here, Mom. I know you prefer to snack but,” he says, handing the burger to her like it’s a prize, “I got this for free.”
She raises an eyebrow but takes it. “You got it for free?”
“Yup,” he says, clearly proud of himself. “The concession stand worker said since I was on the team, it was free for me.”
I bite back a laugh as Noah digs into his jacket pocket yet again and removes another foil-wrapped burger. This one is flattened, and he holds it out to me. “You want one, Bill?”
I glance down at the burger, then at his jacket pocket, then back at him and wag my head. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not sure how I feel about pocket burgers.”
Ruth chuckles as she nudges Noah with her elbow. “I don’t know how many more you have in there but maybe don’t take any more. Save them for someone else.”
He shrugs while still holding the extra one. “It’s not a big deal. They’re free.”
Ruth looks at me and then back at Noah. “They’re not free. I’m sure Bill is paying for them.”
I hold up both of my hands in a stop motion. “Hey, you know what? You keep eating them, and I’ll just deduct them from your salary.”
Noah blinks, and Ruth laughs again. The sound of her sweet laughter sticks with me, like something I heard in a dream. I catch her eyes for a moment before she grins at her burger while shaking her head.
“Excuse me, Bill.” A man wearing a concession T-shirt taps me on the shoulder. “I’m sorry to interrupt you, but I can’t seem to find Cleo. I don’t have a key to the pantry, but we are completely out of hamburger buns, and I need to get in there to get more. Would you have a key?”
“Out of buns? You don’t say.” I shoot a suspicious glare toward Noah, who raises his hands in innocent surrender, before I add, “I know we ordered enough buns to feed the entire town and half of the next one over.” Pulling my giant key ring out of my pocket, I fidget until I find one that I have no idea what it belongs to and figure I can start with that one.
Then I look over at Ruth. “Excuse me. Bun crisis.”
“Of course,” she says quickly with a tight smile.
“I’ll bring them over to the stand.” I tap the concession guy on the forearm as I step aside. I can’t help but give Ruth one more glance and freeze as I catch a flicker in her eye.
Is that flicker for me?
Or maybe it’s just the bright lights reflecting…
If only I had at least a few more minutes with her.
Shaking my head, I stride toward the hallway, muttering, “This wouldn’t have happened if people weren’t taking eight extra hamburgers for their pockets.
Now I must leave Ruth during my one chance to talk to her in months.
Who knows when the next time will arise that I’ll be able to run into her. Maybe it’s no use.”