Chapter 13
How was your night? Chase asked, as if Id danced naked on the table or got up on stage and quoted Shakespeare. Of those two things, I would only do one, and it sure as hell wasnt quoting some dead poet guy.
I wouldnt do the other either; I told Grace Id be good and I would.
Uneventful. I cringed as I watched myself on screen fumbling that ball for the nineteen thousandth time.
Really? Chase glanced toward me, then back to the replay. Last time I saw you, you were leaving with some woman Ive never seen before.
That describes most of the women in Storm Valley, Hawk said from the other side of Chase. He didnt take his eyes off the screen for a moment.
Right. I only have eyes for Ashley, Chase said.
Her and whoever you think I was with last night, I said. I mean, youre the one who brought her up. What was her name again? I couldnt remember.
Im just looking out for you, man, Chase said. Who was she anyway?
I shrugged. Just a fan. I signed her cleavage and put her into a taxi.
Alone? Chases face flicked toward me for a moment.
Yes, alone, I said. I gave the driver a few dollars and got my own.
Shed asked me to come with her, almost insisted, but I declined on the grounds I was tired.
That was true, I was. But also, I wasnt interested. It wasnt like she wasnt hot and all that, she was. Any other night, I would have been all over that.
Last night— I dont know. I didnt want to go there, not with her. For some reason, I kept thinking about Grace, and how Id screwed it up by flirting like I had. I didnt just call her beautiful because I wanted to sleep with her. I said it because it was true, and I suspected she didnt hear that nearly as often as she should. A woman like her should be told that every day.
And given chocolate and diamonds.
I had a feeling she didnt care about stuff like that. Diamonds that was. Id never met a woman who didnt care about chocolate, unless she was allergic. Grace, she deserved all the shiny, nice things in life.
She certainly deserved better than a dumbass like me. I should have told—what was her name—to go away, Grace and I were talking. The brain in my head turned off when the one in my pants turned on.
Ignoring Grace and letting her walk away like I had… That might be more unforgivable than getting her fired. Id be really, really, really lucky if she ever spoke to me again.
I turned back in to hear Chase humming, U and Ur Hand, and giving me sly looks.
Speak for yourself, I said.
Hawk chuckled.
So was she good? Chase asked.
I swear on my mothers life, I didnt find out, I said. And if I did, I sure as hell wouldnt tell you. When have I ever been the kind to kiss and tell? Never, Im telling you now. Not once.
I put her in a cab and that was it. I didnt even get her number. And she didnt get mine.
I watched myself shouting from the sidelines as the guys swerved around the opposition and headed for the end zone.
She probably remembered how you played the other night, Chase teased.
I flipped him the finger. How come Ashley hasnt realised youre a dick yet?
I keep it hidden around her, he said.
Your dick? Hawk asked. You need to keep something that small hidden?
Fuck off. Chase glared. Anyway, that cant be true or I wouldnt need an extra large cup.
Thats for your head, I told him.
Would that make Chase a dickhead? Ollie asked. He turned in his seat and grinned.
Great, now Gods Gift over there is picking on me, Chase complained.
You started it, I pointed out.
Yeah, but I liked it better when it was aimed at someone else. Chase pouted playfully. He could take it as well as the rest of us.
Poor baby, Hawk said.
I know, right? Chase said. I should file a complaint or something.
You should shut the hell up, Pinky snapped.
We were supposed to concentrate on the replay, so we could avoid making the same mistakes in the next game. As far as I could see, the biggest mistake was letting me play. My head was not in it. I couldnt let that happen again. For any reason.
For one awesome Bam Clinton, there were a hundred almost as awesome guys ready to take my place. Not as good looking, of course, but talented enough to make the team. Sooner or later, Id be put out to pasture, as the saying goes, but I didnt intend that to be soon. If I wanted to keep my spot, then I needed to keep my head. The one on my shoulders. Even if that meant ignoring the one in my pants.
We were quiet until the replay finished, then we clapped like wed watched a live band or something. We always did that, ever since I joined the team. The habit probably went back to the early days of the Rapids. It would outlast everyone in the room, as long as the team existed.
Have a break for lunch and well watch the Otters’ plays, Coach Grant said. Toby Grant was an assistant coach, but I could already see him eyeing the Head Coach position. There was nothing wrong with a bit of ambition.
The Otters are going down, I said. Wed narrowly beaten the Otters the last time we met. Their team was strong, but wed beat them again. Or go down trying.
As long as you can catch the ball, Pinky muttered.
I could have been offended by that, but I chose not to be. Everyone had an off day, even me. I wouldnt let it happen again. That was all there was to it.
As long as you dont fall on your face, I said back.
That earned me a bunch of chuckles, and a glare from Pinky.
That was one time, face first right into the mud. We hadnt let him forget it since. Of course we didnt. It was epic. Some day hed learn to laugh about it. The internet sure had. Memes, gifs, the works.
Maybe I should fall in the mud like that someday. Then people might forget the bar fight thing. On the other hand, I might damage my good looks. We couldnt have that happening.
Im surprised you havent been sacked yet, the asshat retorted. Apparently he didnt know when to stop.
Fortunately I did.
Unfortunately I didnt exercise that restraint right now.
Im an asset to the team, I said, a cocky smile on my face.
Coach Quinn cruised past. He didnt even pause, he just turned his head and said, Everyone is replaceable.
Yeah, I said to Pinky, who grinned like he got one over on me. See, youre replaceable.
Before he could knock my block off, I followed the guys into the break room and grabbed a cup for coffee.
I filled it with two scoops of coffee, hot water and nothing else. I liked it hot and strong, just like me. Or bitter, if you want to look at it that way.
Your mouth is going to get you in trouble some day. Chase put two sugars and a ton of milk in his coffee. Oh yeah, it already did.
He grinned and sucked his spoon.
Yall worry about your own mouth, I said. Ive heard you say enough dumb things.
Hes right there, Hawk said. He drank his coffee black too, but with one sugar. Weve all let our mouths work before our brains are switched on before.
Yeah, Ollie said. He grabbed a bottle of water and cracked it open. Its really embarrassing during an interview.
Lucky for you no one is listening to you. Hawk patted him on the shoulder. Theyre too busy staring.
Ollie blushed. You guys need to stop saying that.
You know what you need? I said.
What? he said cautiously.
Someone to make you less pretty, I said. Broken nose, maybe.
Are you offering, Bam? Chase asked.
Hell no, I said quickly. Not on purpose. Im in enough shit already.
I dont know, but Im almost sure a broken nose would make him look prettier, Hawk said.
Ollie made a face. Im not that good looking, he muttered.
Handsome and humble, Chase said. No wonder women like you so much.
They like me and Im not humble, I said.
Or handsome, Chase said, before I realised Id walked myself right into that joke.
I flipped him the finger. Whatever I have, women like it, I said, while the other guys laughed.
Only you dont like them anymore, Chase said. If you really put that woman in a taxi. He narrowed his eyes and cocked his head. You have spent a lot of time with Grace lately. Maybe its luurrrvve.
I raised a single eyebrow at him. Single, like I was single, and happy to stay single.
Maybe its work, I said, more blunt than I intended.
She doesnt work here anymore, Hawk pointed out. He was watching me like, well, a hawk.
Were hatching something, I said. Theyd know about it soon enough. For one thing, Id need their help. For another, I expected them to be there. Which they would, once they got the details.
Ive never heard it called that before, Chase said jokingly. I suppose it works. She opens her hatch and you poke on in.
You know what your problem is? I asked him. You have no class. Were not sleeping together. Were not even dating. No one is gettin into anyones hatch.
Sure, Chase said. Yet.
I shrugged at him and turned away to sip my coffee.
Problem was, Id like to get into Graces hatch. Id thought about it a lot in the last few days. Too much, probably, especially since she didnt even like me. I dont know why she agreed to work with me, but she had. I texted her before the meeting this morning to remind her, and ask when she was available to get together again.
I was looking forward to it, more than I should. If we pulled this off, it would be legendary. More than that, it would change lives. More than playing football ever could. Carson Thomas would sit up and take notice of Graces abilities then. Shed have job offers right and left. Shed be fighting them off.
If we didnt pull it off…
I put that idea out of my head. Failure was not an option. We would rock this so hard people would talk about it for years to come.
I found myself smiling, and stopped. I didnt need those clowns thinking I was smiling about Grace. Just because she was smart, hot and classy, didnt mean I was into her.
No way.
Okay, a bit, but it didnt count because she wasnt interested. I could deal with it. I would deal with it. Somehow, Id stop thinking about how soft her hair looked. How much I wanted to kiss her lips. The way she smelled like some kind of flower.
Id stop thinking about how badly I wanted to run my hands all over her body. I wanted to kiss the hollow of her neck and find the places where she was ticklish. I bet she had the cutest giggle. She certainly had the cutest ass Id seen in a long time.
Yeah, see, I wasnt smitten at all. Okay, just a whole damn lot. The question was, what the hell was I going to do about it?