Page 154 of Things I Wish I Said
“I mean, I guess you did show me last night.”
I lean into her ear, and whisper, “Twice.” I grin at the rise of goose bumps over her skin. Keeping my hands off her now that we’ve gone there seems to be a Herculean effort. Even this morning, I found myself getting handsy on the gondola ride through the Venice Canals.
Leaning back, I kiss her cheek so as not to mess up her makeup.
She fusses with her wig a bit more, showing her nerves. It’s the first time I’ve seen her wear it without the ball cap, and I know she’s paranoid someone will know.
“You could just ditch it.”
Her gaze shifts back to mine. “No, though I’m starting to think you’re developing a fetish for bald chicks.”
I wink. “Only when said chick is you.”
She laughs and nudges me playfully in the chest.
Ever since her meeting with the Sandy from MaxPreps this morning, she’s been quiet and a little subdued, so it’s nice to hear her laugh.
“You ready?”
“Yeah.” She exhales. “I think so. How have we been here three days already?” she asks with a little shake of the head.
“It’s gone fast.”
Too fast. I like having Ry all to myself, and when we get home, I have only two weeks until I leave for college, and I’m dreading the distance.
“Remind me who all is going to be here tonight,” I say, as she hooks her arm in mine, and we leave the room.
“Well, this is just a meet and greet for all the national nominees, so it’ll be a small group. Maybe twenty-four in total, including dates.”
I ignore the twist of nerves at her answer. For some reason, I’ve been nauseous all day at the prospect of this dinner, and I can’t shake it. “Yet I get the privilege of escorting the winner.”
Ryleigh snorts. “Lucky guy.”
We take the escalators down to the ground floor, then proceed to the banquet room where the dinner is being held.
I scan the room, taking in the glimmer of the chandeliers and the sea of people as we step inside. The air is thick with the scent of expensive perfume and cologne, paired with the low hum of excited chatter.
Four small, round tables with nameplates fill the space, but mostly everyone is still on their feet, mingling and chatting. A bar with refreshments is set up against one wall, while a podium which I assume is meant for the keynote speaker sits center stage.
Immediately, Ry is approached by another girl who introduces herself—a basketball player from Michigan.
They chat for a while as I stand beside Ry, happy to let her take the limelight.
Every person she meets gasps when they discover she’s the national title holder, some of them already recognizing her from her picture on the website.
The next thirty minutes pass quickly with Ryleigh drawing attention from person to person, though I’m not surprised. She’s a shooting star; all you have to do is open your eyes and you’ll find her.
Most of the conversation is simple, focused on Los Angeles and the area, and everything everyone has done since flying into the city for the award ceremonies. How excited they are about tomorrow.
With every interaction, Ry’s confidence grows. She beams as she talks to the male soccer nominee, Sam from Kansas, who checks her out when her head is turned, and accepts when Amanda, a softball player from Florida, invites her for coffee.
Finally, when dinner is announced, everyone takes their seats and conversations slowly shift. It’s no surprise Ry is the center of attention at our table, considering she’s the one receiving the award tomorrow night.
Ryleigh regales them on her most recent season, answering question when asked about the awards she’s won, and her time spent on the women’s national team. All the while, a gnawing doubt starts to creep in, sinking under my skin and turning my stomach.
When the keynote speaker takes the podium, I’m almost relieved. She’s a twenty-four-year-old volleyball player and past winner, and delivers an inspiring story from her trials and tribulations through high school, to receiving the award, and eventually going pro.
I shift in my seat, the knot in my stomach returning when a quarterback from Alabama and Amanda, the softball player from earlier, start talking about their upcoming seasons.
