Page 95 of Rookie Season
Now I’ve failed everyone. My teammates because I can't play tonight, Ally for being a reckless man, and her parents who will surely hate me now.
This day started so beautifully, so perfect. And I spoiled everything.
CHAPTER 40
ALLEGRA
AsI helplessly watch Noah walk away, following his brother-in-law with his head bowed, I break out of my mom’s embrace and run to Fisher, who immediately gives me a hug.
“Are you okay, Ally?”
“I’m fine.” I shake my head, frustrated. “I just don’t want Noah to get in trouble because of me.”
It’s why I told Noah he should go with Mitch, because I didn’t want any more of a scene to go down publicly, in the presence of spectators and cameras. I know how much Noah hates media attention, how much he cares about protecting his privacy, and now he’s going to be all over the internet in the worst light possible.
“Not because of you, because of that asshole.” Fisher’s mouth sets in a firm line as he turns a withering look in Tyler’s direction, who's now being tended to by a team medic. “What the hell is he doing here anyway?”
“I guess he saw me at theExpressionsaudition with you guys and thought he might find me here,” I tell Fisher. “I think he wanted to take his chance to gaslight me intothinking nothing happened that night. Make sure his golden boy image was still safe.”
Fisher’s face is seething angry. “That dirty motherfu?—”
“Pucker,” I cut him off with a wan smile, attempting to lighten the mood. It’s a comment that would usually make him laugh, but his stoic expression doesn’t budge, so I continue, “I don’t give a damn about Tyler right now, Fish. I’m only worried about Noah. Do you think Coach Anderson will discipline him for something that isn’t his fault? Can you talk to him?”
Fisher looks around. “Coach Anderson already has Noah in his office, but maybe I can talk to Coach Slater.”
I nod, my heart beating too fast. “Sure, whatever. Just—you have my permission to say whatever you need to for people to understand that Noah didn’t do anything wrong.” I glance over to where Penn is standing off to the side, his features contorted in confusion. “And Penn, too; he deserves to know what the hell is going on.”
“Okay,” Fisher agrees. “Why don’t you get out of here with your family, away from this mess, and I’ll do what I can to take care of things here.”
I want to argue, say I’ll wait for Noah, but I know my family also deserves an explanation. So reluctantly, I nod.
“Thanks, Fisher.” I look at my friend gratefully.
“Anytime, Ally. You know we’ve always got your back.” Fisher says, and then his green eyes gleam with hatred as he jerks a thumb in Tyler’s direction. “Do I have permission to deal with that asshole, too?”
And despite everything, my lips slide into a little smile. “Absolutely.”
My dad drives my vehicle back to the loft, Jamie riding shotgun and my mom sitting in the back with me. A heavy silence hangs in the air, but when we pull up outside, I watch as my mom and dad look at each other, a million unspoken words moving between them, like they’re talking their own little silent language.
“I’m gonna take Jamie to grab some of San Francisco’s famous cioppino,” Dad says out loud a moment later, and I blink. In the heat of everything that went down at the practice facility, I’d totally forgotten the original plan was for mom and dad to take everyone out for lunch.
“What’s cioppino?” Jamie asks.
“Seafood stew.”
My brother wrinkles his nose. “Gross.”
“Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it, kiddo.” Dad looks back at me and mom. “We’ll bring enough back for everyone.”
“Thanks,” Mom puts a hand on Dad’s shoulder before she opens her car door.
Jamie tries to do the same. “I’ll just get out here and hang with Mom and Legs?—”
“No,” my mom cuts him off softly, but firmly. “We’ll see you boys soon.”
And with that, Dad drives away, and Mom and I go inside and upstairs.
“What a beautiful place,” she says as we step into 3B. She’s clearly impressed, and this makes me glad. “Who’s the art collector?”
