Page 93 of Jaded

“An open tryout?” Nat asks as I hold out a hand to let Avery take the lead onto the trail. “What does that mean?”

Avery’s Vans crunch through the thin layer of crusty snow at the trailhead. Kid’s in Vans, ladies and gents. Vans, ripped jeans, and a jacket that wouldn’t be warm enough for a mild fall day in the South, let alone Day River brutality.

He seems unbothered.

“That’s what Coach is calling it.” I wave Syd onto the trail after Avery, then fall into stride behind her. Nat brings up the rear. At least he’s in work boots, I guess? “He wants to invite Ice Out players to try out for the Dingoes.”

“What! That is so cool!” Sydney seems to have inherited a more practical set of genes, maybe from her mother; she wears actual hiking boots, leggings, and a scarf. “Like, is it gonna be masked?”

“I have no idea.” Compared to the City Slicker Brigade, my boots make almost no sound in the snow. Even Nat, still behind me, sounds like his own personal herd of elephants. “Maybe?”

“It would be so cool!” Syd says. “And like, ‘open’ means the public is allowed to come and watch, right?”

“Um?” I scratch at my hat. “We can add that to the list of things I don’t know slash didn’t think to think about thinking about.”

Syd giggles. But then goes serious to say, “Okay, but that would beawesome.”

She’s right. How much would people absolutelylovewatching their Ice Out boys with the Dingoes? “It would be pretty cool.”

“If they’re all masked,” Avery calls back over his shoulder. “Then everybody’s trying to guess and bet and shit.”

“Right!” Syd throws him a bright grin, and I turn back to notice Nat definitely noticing them. Aww, poor Papa. “And what if—”

Sydney’s voice goes quiet, like she’s lost all her confidence. Her fingers curl around the brim of her backwards baseball cap. “Nevermind. It’s stupid.”

One of the most amusing things about this strange little family, I’ve decided, is that theyallwear backwards baseball caps. Like some kind of uniform. Avery’s blond hair leaks out in silken tufts, alongside his cold-reddened ears. Syd’s got a long black ponytail draped over her shoulder. And Nat . . . Well.

He’s Nat.

“I have loved every idea you’ve had so far.” I hurry to get in front of Syd, then stop, forcing us all to pause.

“Really?” A wide smile blooms across Syd’s face, transforming her from an awkward teen into a young woman—honestly kind of disconcerting when I consider that she’s Nat’s daughter.

“Yeah.” I grin in return. “Tell me more.”

“Okay, so . . .” She nibbles her lower lip—then plows ahead. “What if the Dingoes gave half-priced game admission to everyone who comes to watch the open tryout?”

“Dang.” My brows lift. An idea woman, eh? “That’s pretty good.”

“You think?”

“I truly do."

“I really like the masks idea.” Avery slides up next to Syd—damn, does he feel Nat giving him the stink-eye? Surely, a look like that’s gotta burn? Maybe that’s why he adds, “How do you pick who gets invited?”

Well, he got there quick.

“Um.” I wince. “That is kind of my first hurdle . . .”

“The crowd should do it.” Nat’s voice drifts up from behind. “Since the crowd picks who gets invited back to the Ice Out.”

“Yes!” Avery snaps his fingers. “Exact—not that I know—I mean . . .”

“This is America,” Syd cuts in smoothly. “Let the people vote!”

“Hm.” I scratch at my hair under my itchy wool cap. “I agree. But . . . how do I arrange a vote on secret masked players in an illegal underground arena that’s not supposed to exist?”

At the back of the group, Nat lifts a shoulder in a helpless shrug.

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