Page 32 of On Merit Alone
Ice Queen.
The envelope I had clutched in my hand crumpled a little in my grasp and it brought Ira’s attention down to it. Clearing his throat, he murmured, “Guys.”
“Well, gotta go. Nice to meet you,” Rogers said quickly. A little more dejected, Stephens followed suit, “Nice to meet you, Merit.”
And then they were gone.
And I was alone.
With Ira.
I’d been alone with him plenty of times before, but why was this making me feel so nervous?
Ice Queen.
“Mer?” Ira said softly. The nickname made me look up at him. On contact, he searched my face with quick, assessing eyes, his face pulling down into another frown. Maybe I really was an ice queen if I could make this guy frown. He never frowned, not for real. Stepping a little further into my space, Ira lowered his voice, “Did he say something to you?”
Ice Queen.
Quickly, I shook my head. Over my dead body would I run to him about that little comment.
“No, I came over to ask you about these,” I said, holding up the tickets.
He looked down at them but only for a moment before returning his gaze to my face. What was with his attention today? “What about them?”
“What am I supposed to do with them?” I asked.
He scoffed. The first semi-smile touching his face since I’d appeared. “It was my understanding that you liked basketball games. So I suggest you go.”
“You gave me four tickets.”
“I know how to count, Six.”
“I only need one. Here, take three back.” I started opening the envelope ready to return his expensive tickets.
“Merit, hey. Easy,easy.” He laughed as he laid his hands over mine. Swiping the tickets away from me, he started tucking them back into the envelope. “I know how many I gave you. They’re yours, bring whoever, just make sure you’re there.”
Bring whoever.Ice Queen.
I fidgeted slightly, and his face fell into that serious expression again. “What, you don’t want to come?”
“I—” I started but thought better of saying the first thing that came to my head.
This man had practiced with me for over an hour yesterday, given me advice, and cheered me on. He said he was my fan. I’m not sure if he said it just to be nice or if he meant it sincerely, but I was beginning to believe it was the latter. Now he was inviting me to go see one of his championship games… I couldn’t just spaz out and say anything because of my own hesitations. I should honor his effort with an equivalent response. But still…
Sighing, I started over. “I do, I just… why?”
And just like that,just like Ira, he let a slow smile creep across his face. “I told you, your good luck the other day didn’t work. Last time you came to a home game, we won, and I’m superstitious.”
“Sothisis the favor you wanted?” I asked.
“Yup,” he said. “I got you seats exactly where you were last time. Like I said, bring whoever you want.”
“I don’t—” I cut myself just short of admitting I had no one to bring. “Okay, if you’re sure.”
“I am,” he said and reached between us to give my shoulder a squeeze. “Look, I gotta go, but don’t sweat it, Six.”
“Okay.”
