Page 87 of Wildcat
LEO
I getto the plane way, way,wayyyearly to make sure I’m in my seat ready to go to Dallas before Coach arrives.
He didn’t threaten to trade me or bench me, so there’s that. He did, however, inform me that if I couldn’t keep my head in the game and show up today ready to go, he’d strip me of the A.
And stripping me of the A, essentially demoting me, is the fastest way to get traded next season. I don’t want that. Especially now. Scarlett and I are just getting started. I can picture a life in Minnesota.
“You’re alive,” Ash says as he falls into the seat beside me.
“For now, anyway.”
My buddy, soon-to-be former buddy, laughs, then mocking me says, “We’re friends. Just friends.”
I scratch the side of my face with my middle finger.
His laughter gets louder. “Did you get Daddy Miller’s permission to date his daughter or what?”
I bob my head side to side. “He’s not thrilled, but as long as I don’t let it interfere with the team, then we’re cool.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, if I had a daughter, I’d totally let her date you.”
“Yeah?”
“Hell yeah,” he says more enthusiastically.
“Thanks.”
He rests his elbows on either armrest. “What about me?”
“What about you?” I ask as I stretch out and get comfortable for the flight.
“If you had a daughter, could I date her?”
I haven’t given a lot of thought to having kids, but I get a pretty great visual of a dark-headed girl with a smile like Scarlett’s.
“Oh, uhh…” I struggle to decide on the right answer. Ash is great. No question about it, but his dating history is a little all over the place.
His mouth falls open, and his eyes widen. “Seriously? I’m not good enough for your daughter?”
His voice carries, and people look our way.
“Can you not draw any attention to us today?” I whisper and duck my head.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m trying to stay off Coach’s shit list.”
“Not that. Why can’t I date your daughter? Maybe she’s my dream girl.”
I rub my forehead with two fingers. “I don’t have a daughter.”
He presses me with a hard stare.
“If I did, then I’d let you date her,” I relent. I’m proof that when you meet the right girl, the past shit doesn’t matter. “But I’d be keeping a close eye on you.”
One side of his mouth pulls up into a knowing smile. “Couldn’t blame you there.”
In Dallas, we go to the arena for a light practice first and then to the hotel.
