22. Ryder
22
Ryder
“ H ey, Ryder! You got guests!” I glance up from my charts when I hear Marvin calling me from the entrance of the locker room and then hustle around benches and down aisles until I reach the door. Rachel and Everly are waiting together with one of the on-site guards when I step out into the hall.
“Hey!” I wrap my arms around Everly and rest my cheek on the top of her head. “It’s my favorite person!” I stand there, staring Rachel dead in the eye while she taps her foot and clears her throat repeatedly. Finally, I let Everly loose and spread my arms wide for Rachel to duck in for a hug just as I say, “and someone else!”
At that she jerks back, but it’s too late. I’ve got her in a bear hug grip, and she struggles to no avail. When I release her, I’m careful to dance back quickly, barely dodging a swinging fist aimed at my arm. Everly shakes her head as she holds out a hand and says, “Children, please!”
I take advantage of the lifted arm to slide into a side embrace, managing to sneak a quick kiss that leaves her pink and breathless.
“You ladies all set for a great game?”
“Of course!”
“Absolutely!”
They both chime in at once and I hold a finger up to them, saying, “Hold that thought,” just before I run back into the locker room and grab the bag I brought with me. Back out in the hallway, I hand out our latest jersey in their sizes. Rachel already has a few, but Everly’s eyes widen and she jumps up and down with excitement.
“Oh my gosh, It’s official! I’m dating one of the Mavs!” She squeals and hugs me. “Thank you, thank you!” Then she pulls it on over her t-shirt right there in the hall to model for me and Rachel. It’s adorable, and I’m gratified to see that somehow the jersey makes her boobs look even bigger.
“Alright, you ladies got your tickets? Do you know where you’re heading? If not, I can ask one of the security guys to walk you to your spot.”
We’re in LA playing the Clippers tonight at the Crypto.com Arena, and the girls reassure me they are okay on their own.
Rachel lives here in LA, but I’ve invited Everly as my special guest and left her a key to my hotel room. It’s our first night away since we started seeing each other, and after driving her home from my place after making her dinner, I really thought she wouldn’t come.
I stare down at her, still wondering how the night will end, but she’s all smiles and staring right back at me.
“How’s your aunt doing?” I lower my voice and notice that Rachel tactfully steps away. Everly’s face clouds over, and I can see worry there as she turns toward me.
“Honestly, I don’t know Ryder. She’s so strong, and we’ve been through a lot…but this is such a blow.”
“No news, then?”
“She has some bloodwork and a sonogram scheduled for next week, so hopefully by Friday we’ll know if it’s cancer or not.”
I heave a sigh and lower my forehead to Everly’s when I tell her, “You two are not alone, okay? Let me know what I can do.”
She smiles and gives me a kiss before murmuring, “Thank you, Ryder.” I step back and let them head out to their seats, lingering for a moment to watch them as they walk away. I see Everly turning to look back just as they reach the curve in the hall, and I give her a wink before turning back to the locker room. I’ve got my own mess to sort out here, and the tension inside is high.
An hour later, we’re in the heat of the game and my ears are inundated with sneaker squeaks on the floor, the sound of the rebound, and the crowd roaring behind us. As starting point guard, I call the plays and set them up on the court, but tonight something is off.
Coach called me into his office earlier to tell me that Daryl and Bills are down with Covid. So, I’m working with Marvin as my other guard and Nichols playing forward in place of Bills. Wikoff and Brauer fill in the other two positions.
We’re one team and we all drill together, so technically we should be able to switch in and out like this, but tonight is different. Time after time our shots are stuffed, and we’ve had so many turnovers I can’t keep count. I don’t even recognize my team, and I can’t help the bitter sense that this sudden change is going to wreck our chances, that somehow, we have to play harder and faster and better to compensate for this last-minute shift to the roster. We’re dealing with two of the world’s best players down and out while we try to make do with their subs.
By halftime we’re feeling drained, and we’re down by forty points. It’s a ridiculous gap and a massive failure. We straggle off the court, grabbing water bottles and heading to the locker room. Coach is bellowing orders before we’re even off the court, but once I grab my squeeze bottle I guzzle a couple of gulps and then pause to search the seats courtside. A few seconds later I spot Everly and Rachel waving.
We may be playing the worst game of the season, but you wouldn’t know it from the looks of those two. They’re jumping and screaming and waving like they’re our biggest fans. I love it. I throw them a salute and smile to myself as I head to the locker room. Some changes are good.
I mull that thought over as I join the others. During halftime, we study our plays and Coach calls out the fixes: Step in here, block here, be quicker, don’t stutter, sink it, pass it, one, two, go.
I watch him and take it all in, but another loop is running in the back of my mind. I’ve known Everly all my life, and then suddenly something changed. My world flipped and she went from the periphery to front and center. I honestly think she may be the love of my life.
I stare at the players around me, and then it hits me. I know what to do.