Page 54 of Unrivaled Love
"Bryn K. Lee? The author of all those summer baseball stories?"
"Yes."
"Do you have an athlete kink Bryson Svoboda?"
Yes. Absolutely, I do. But she's not ready to hear it yet.
"No," I insist in a tone that tells her I very well might have an athlete kink. "What about you? Why are you readingRaven Squall?"
"I like the escape to another world." She admits quietly.
"Why do you need to escape?" I can't help but ask. There is a three ring circus of emotions happening on her face and I am praying she decides to let me in. I am hungry for any bit she’ll give me.
"Same as you, like, the season gets to be a lot. And since I started with the US team too, there's been even more."
"I'm so proud of you for that, by the way." I tell her sincerely.
"Sure, thanks." She says dismissively and before I get the chance to question it she stands abruptly. "Who wants to eat room temperature yogurt for dinner?"
Chapter 16
Jo
A Little Menty B
Idon'twanttoeat warm yogurt for dinner but I also don't want to hear Bryson try to butter me up with platitudes he doesn't mean. After all, he believed me making the US squad was far-fetched.
Getting on the team was always my goal and I’m the first to say I’m honored just to be on the roster. But there’s no point celebrating or accepting praise, especially from Bryson, until the World Cup trophy is in my hands.
Nothing is going to get in my way.
Which is why I need to stay focused and serve my sentence before going back to Salt Lake and picking up for the second half of the season.
Bryson follows me inside and I watch him set his book down next to mine. I like that we're reading the same thing. I like that he finds enjoyment in reading too. And then another part of me doesn’t like that we have this in common. It’s making it difficult to continue despising him.
And I hate that his favorite author is also one of my favorites who writes smutty sports stories with characters you just want to be friends with.
Bryson hands me a spoon. "This is going to be kind of gross but we should eat it before that cooler really warms up." He says and I nod.
We peel back the tin covers and dig in.
The audible swallows are making me want to gag. I think Bryson is feeling the same way based on the look on his face.
"Wanna go back outside?" I ask and he nods.
It's a little better on the patio because there are some natural noises in the background. We finish our dinners and sit in companionable silence.
"So," he starts, dragging the word out to a few syllables. "What's it been like to join the US team?"
"It's been pretty great." I tell him. And it's true. Being on the national team has been awesome. We have so much work to do and I’m looking forward to it because this line up is special. "It's a super talented group of women and we're all able to put our league rivalries aside and play together."
"Is that weird? Like playing together one week and then being on opposite sides of the ball the next?"
"Yeah, but it happens for you in hockey when guys are traded mid season."
"True." he nods.
"Coach Taylor is all about team bonding too."
