Chapter 11
You ladies talking bout me? I gave them my best, panty melting smile.
Bec and Ashley smiled back. Grace gave me a look like she hoped I would melt. Not in a good way.
For some totally unfathomable reason, it made me want to melt in a good way.
Bloody women.
We might have been. Bec gave him a sly smile.
Nothing bad, I hope. I ran a hand over my head like I was worried about what they might say. Thing was, I was worried. I couldnt blame Grace if she told them every detail. She didnt need to embellish the story to make me look bad.
Thats for us to know, Ashley said.
Its not as if he doesnt, Grace said darkly. Unless hes conveniently forgotten already. She fixed her narrow-eyed gaze on me. Just in case, I got fired.
I shifted from foot to foot like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Yeah, about that. Can we talk?
Isnt that what were doing? She was giving me nothing here. I admit it, if I was Grace, I would have given me the finger and maybe dumped a drink on my head. Obviously she was too classy to do either of those things.
For now.
I mean, just you and me, I said. Please. I want to clear the air.
Her lips twitched to the side. Did she have to be so cute when she did that? She made me feel even worse than I already did.
Fine, she said after thirteen hundred years. Okay, a minute or two. Whatever, it felt longer, okay?
Im going to join Chase, Ashley said. It looks like the guys have finished dissecting last nights game.
Yeah, me too, Bec said. I mean, Ill join Hawk, not Chase, but for the same reason. I think she was trying to lighten the mood, but this time it didnt work.
Yeah, that should be done, I agreed. Like any good post game ritual, breaking the game into tiny pieces and bitching about where we went wrong was a part of our lives. Wed spend a lot of the week watching replays and discussing tactics, and where we could improve.
Sometimes it did my head in, especially when I played less awesome than I liked. Id watched myself fumble the ball at least a hundred times today. More than half of those were in my head.
We could have lost because of me. If we had, I wouldnt have let myself forget it. I never did. My brain was a catalogue of times I could have played better. Of course, it was also a catalogue of times I played so awesome I surprised myself. That wasnt often. I wasnt too shocked at my own talent. Some guys can paint. Some can make furniture. I can play football. I wouldnt be a Rapid if I couldnt.
Bye, Bam, Ashley said. She patted my shoulder as she walked past. Good luck.
I blinked. Luck? Did I need luck? Should I see if Grace had a sharp implement before I sat down? I was attached to all the body parts I was about to put under the table. Some more than others.
I sat.
Grace looked at me, her face expressionless except for a tightness around her mouth.
After a while, she raised an eyebrow.
Uh, I could start, I said awkwardly. Since when was I awkward? Only since I met Grace. Around her, I felt like I was off side more often than not.
She waved a hand for me to go ahead.
I ran a hand over my head again. Im sorry, okay? I didnt mean to get you fired. If I knew he was going to do that, I would have…
What? Begged him not to? Told him about visiting those sick kids in hospital? Stole his helicopter to distract him from everything? Okay, that was a bit extreme. Besides, I didnt know how to fly one. Maybe I should learn. Then I could…
I would have made it right, I said finally.
How? she asked.
I frowned. I dont know. I woulda thought up something.
She sighed and her shoulders slumped. The damage was done the moment I came up with the whole gala idea. I should have taken more time.
I shook my head. I should have said I couldnt go. I could have made up some bullshit excuse. Or gone to the hospital first, then to the gala. Then you would have only been pissed that I wore jeans.
She snorted. I have a feeling the result would be the same. I didnt snap a leash around your neck and make you do what I wanted.
I grimaced. Im not a dancing monkey. For one thing, I cant dance for shit.
She gave me a wry look. The great Bam Clinton isnt good at everything?
I gave her a grin out of the side of my mouth. Its shocking, isnt it? I also cant sing for nuts. The things I can do, though, I do really well. I turned my best seductive smile on her. I expected her to roll her eyes, but she actually blushed.
Interesting. Apparently I was breaking through the walls around her after all.
Go me.
Im not good at jumping through hoops, I said, as if she hadnt worked that out already. But I didnt think Id take you down with me. Thats unfair of Carson, if you ask me.
Yeah. She shrugged. It is what it is. Ill find something else. She looked so sad, I wanted to put my muscular arms around her and hold her against my burly chest. Surely that would help?
I could ask him to reconsider, I suggested. If we communicate better, we could make me look like a choir boy.
Wouldnt you have to sing then? She managed a faint, teasing smile.
Ill fake it, I said. No one will notice. For real though, I can talk to Carson. How could he say no to me?
I suspect he could do that easily, she said. He might be the only one who can.
Does that mean you cant tell me no? I asked immediately.
Make that two of us who can tell you no. She sipped her wine and said, I spoke to your sister.
That would explain why you look angry with me. I grinned and wiggled my eyebrows, but I was worried on the inside. What the hell would Chantel have said to Grace? She could have told her I never stay with one woman for long, but Grace knew that. Chantel might have told Grace about the time I snuck out of the house and went to get pizza. Was that so bad? Most people would understand. After all, its pizza. Its not like I put peas on it.
Grace sipped again. She told me you stuck up for her, because that asshat was slut shaming her.
Ah. Remembering that made me angry all over again. No one slut shames any woman around me, especially my sister.
Yeah. He kinda pissed us both off, I said.
She also said it was her fault you were there in the first place, Grace said.
I shrugged. That was on both of us. I wished we hadnt stepped foot in that bar. Grace and I might have gotten off to a better start. I asked myself why I cared about that, but I had no answer. Well, not one Id admit to right now. She was cute and hot, and I wanted to kiss her, but that was all.
That was the story I told myself.
Grace nodded. I have a hard time saying no to my baby brother whenever he stays with me. He asks for ice cream and then gives me those big puppy dog eyes.
I grinned. They must learn that in baby brother and sister school. If mine asked for the moon, then gave me that face— Id take her to get a moon tattooed wherever she wanted. I have skills, but bringing down rocks from space aint one.
Grace laughed, a sweet, throaty sound that gave me little goosebumps all over. Im sure you would if you could.
Nah, I replied. It would ruin all those romantic walks on the beach. Folks would hate me.
Good point. She raised her glass to me and added, Besides, the moon would crush you, and probably the whole city too.
That would make everyone really angry, I said. Really flat too.
Right. Best leave it where it is. She nodded.
Sounds like a plan, I said. I might buy her a ticket when Carson Thomas has a rocket made so he can go to space. That seemed to be the thing all the cool billionaires were into now.
Personally, Id prefer to look up at space than go there. Each to their own though. I wasnt going to space shame anyone. Not that theyd give two shits what I thought.
Is he going to do that? Grace asked. Have a rocket made?
I shrugged. Who knows? Im sure someone wants the title of first AGL team owner to go into space.
Grace muttered something about people having too much money.
I found I couldnt disagree. Maybe they need something better to spend their money on, I said.
Like charity galas, she said dryly.
I pointed a finger toward her. For the record, I ponied up a tidy sum for the homeless people. Probably helped more than me standing up and me talking about this and that. I looked down toward the table.
What? Grace asked. Im sure you had something interesting to say, even if you didnt stick to the speech we spent two hours writing.
Yeah, sticking to that was never on the cards.
I shrugged one shoulder. I spent a few weeks living in the back of a car with my mum and Chantel. Back when I was a kid. Shit, it still hurt to think about, much less talk about. The feeling of going to sleep scared and waking up cold and scared, still gave me nightmares and shivers.
Dad used to beat up on Mum. She took us kids and ran. Had nowhere to go, so we just drove around, lookin for somewhere safe.
I looked up when Grace curled her hand around mine. She looked about ready to cry.
Im sorry, she said just loud enough to be heard by the band who started playing now the replay was over. I had no idea.
Yeah. Its another thing I dont talk about. When you mentioned the gala was for the homeless, my brain kinda switched off. If I told you I didnt want to go, you would have asked why.
She didnt deny it.
I honest to God thought we were gonna die, I admitted. People walking the streets at night— After that, I decided I wouldnt let anyone hurt any member of my family, or me. I started working out, getting stronger. Took up football when we settled long enough to get back to school. Turns out Im good at it. Now Chantel and Mum dont want for anything. Theyre livin the high life, like they should.
Everyone deserves to live their best life. Grace glanced down at our entwined hands and drew hers back.
Thats why I visit the kids. I immediately missed the feel of her skin. I want to help them live their best lives, as much as I can. They dont deserve whats happened to them.
Neither did you, Grace said. No one does.
Yeah. Sometimes I wonder about that, I admitted. I used to think I pissed off God somehow. Kid Bam was a confused, troubled kid, that was for sure. If it wasnt for football, Id probably be a cell somewhere.
Now look at you, she said.
I grinned. Yeah. Turns out he likes me after all.
You worked hard. She turned her empty glass between her fingertips.
I couldnt have done it alone though. I scratched the back of my ear. You know what, that gives me an idea.
Oh? She at least looked curious.
Over the sound of Ice Blue Roses rocking out, I told her my plan.