Page 6 of Brick Wall
The three of us also had dinner together at our place one night. I really like Bryce so far. He makes her happy, which is pretty much my main requirement for liking a friend’s beau. Plus, her smile is ten times bigger than she had with her last boyfriend, so I’m elated for her.
Still, I’d rather stay in tonight. I don’t want to chance any run-ins with a certain teammate of Bryce’s or meet any more players. Oh well. It’ll probably be fine.
* * *
I am such an amazing friend.That’s what I keep telling myself as Goldie and I walk along the sidewalk to our favorite bar that’s conveniently a few blocks from our place.
We enter the heavily wooded space and the familiar scent of popcorn fills my lungs. Goldie spots Bryce immediately as I see that my beloved popcorn machine has no line. I fill up a bowl and make my way over to Goldie’s table, where she is already smiling beside Bryce.
Bryce is a good-looking guy if you like that whole tall, dark, and handsome kind of thing. According to a local social media account, @RavishingtheRevs, Bryce is the second-hottest Revs player on the team, only trailing behind the team quarterback, Quinn Banks. Sebastian didn’t make the top ten, so I’m not sure how legitimate the list is if you ask me.
Sebastian must hear my inner thoughts because I turn, and there he is, sitting at the bar with a big bald man that I slightlyrecognize, but he’s staring directly at me. We make eye contact, and he turns away immediately and resumes talking to his teammate.
I see that he’s still an idiot, so I grab my popcorn and listen to Goldie as she introduces everyone she has just met. I wish I could box up her memory and sell it because I’d make millions. Goldie can remember everyone’s name instantly, which is a skill I do not possess. I would have forgotten all these names already if I hadn’t seen them on my TV screen every Sunday during football season.
I smile and introduce myself, feeling every bit out of place. I’m at a long table with Goldie, Bryce, three other players, and two wives of said players. I’m sitting next to the stag male who is currently answering to the name of Feet. He must be good with his footwork or something? I guess that comes in very handy when you’re a professional football player.
“Feet?” I hear Goldie ask Bryce.
“Yeah, I forget what his real name is, but we call him Feet. It’s short for fetus,” Bryce answers.
Goldie blinks. “Why?” she asks, sounding as confused as I feel.Thank you, Goldie, for asking the important questions.
“Because he was a fetus,” another player answers easily, as if the answer is obvious, and his wife just rolls her eyes at his response.
“It’s easier to call me feet,” Feet, formerly known as Fetus, responds.
“Are you a running back?” I ask him. I recognize some of the players from following the team, but I’m not familiar with him. He’s so young that he could easily be a rookie.
“Nope, but I am quick on my feet if that’s what you are thinking.” Then he lowers his voice only for me to hear. “But I’m never quick in bed,” and then adds a wink for good measure.
I reply by chugging the last of my beer.
“I’ll be back,” I say while lifting my pint, although I don’t think anyone cares.
I slide up to the bar where there’s the most space, but I incidentally slide right next to Sebastian, a man who inconsequentially takes up a lot of space. I’m not sure how I didn’t realize he was right there. I hope I didn’t do this subconsciously or something. That’s a depressing thought, if so.
Sebastian notices me, however, and it’s not a good thing by the look on his face. Ah well, how much more can a guy dislike me? Might as well have fun with it. I’m the baby sister of all brothers, after all. I’ve got annoying boys down to a science.
“I’m surprised to see you here. You don’t seem like the meet-the-friend’s-girlfriend type,” I mock.
He ignores me, so obviously, I decide to prattle on. “At least tell me how right I am about how wonderful Goldie is.” I bat my eyelashes for good measure, admittedly a move I don’t do often.
“You didn’t tell me she sells stickers for a living,” he bluntly says.
“Yeah, so? She runs her own sticker empire. What could you find wrong with that?”
“She has a little sticker business. I would hardly call that an empire or even a suitable business for that matter.”
“Excuse you, but her ‘little sticker business’ did over two million in sales last year alone,” I say with a source of pride. Goldie is so fierce.
“Please.” He says it like it’s the most ridiculous statementever. “She’s using Bryce so she can stay home, do her little hobby, and live off him. She obviously spotted Bryce on the app and saw this as her golden opportunity for a guy to buy her pretty things.”
Wow.
“Goldie doesn’t need a man to buy her things. She can buy her own damn things.” I practically spit fire. I’m so beyond pissed.
“He’s paid for everything so far, so excuse me if I’m a little skeptical.”
