Page 70 of Playing the Field
Hunter: Awfully brief response for a woman of words
Me: More words not needed. See you later
Hunter: Ok
I’m purposely vague.Better if Hunter walks in tired and hungry, and then I’ll blow him away with my dinner of pulses. That’s a sentence I’ll never say again.
Everything will go according to plan, and I’m a woman who likes a plan.
CHAPTER 35
Hunter
Something’s been botheringme all day, but I can’t put my finger on it. Practice was uneventful. Coach felt the need to kill us with drills, but that’s nothing new. The closer we get to the league season, the better shape we need to be in. He doesn’t mess around, and neither do I.
Gracie’s text doesn’t do anything to alleviate my edgy feeling. Maybe it’s that she isn’t specific about why she wants to meet at the house. I know I’m reading way too much into a text exchange, but it feels cold and distant. Like something’s different.
I can’t imagine what, given that last night I’m certain I took care of her, and she fell asleep in my arms. But that was before Ashley came down to the field and pulled me aside before training.
“Hey, I wanted to talk to you about tonight, the big press announcement with AIFund. Not sure if you were thinkingabout being there, but please don’t. We only need a few players to represent.”
I wasn’t thinking about being there, but her outright exclusion stings. I’m used to her guiding me away from public showings where she thinks my “vibe” isn’t right. In other words, she doesn’t want a hothead saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. Normally, I acquiesce.
I know tonight kicks off a big splashy deal, and everyone on the team is falling all over themselves because we’ll be the prototype when the AI company rolls out its next-generation gaming console. But I only want to be supportive of Gracie. I’m thinking about a guy she mentioned, the boyfriend she loved and recommended for a job. Then he turned tail and acted like the ultimate dick.
I know how badly he hurt her and how their relationship cost her a job. I’m worried about how she’s going to feel if she runs into him tonight.
“Why not me?” I ask.
“We have enough players is all. This is about a great deal for the team, Reyes. Don’t make it about anything else.”
Message received. She doesn’t want me there, but I’m tired of being viewed as an unhinged troublemaker.
I don’t plan on making tonight about me, not at all. But I would like to be there for Gracie. Offer her a shoulder to lean on if she feels flustered at the sight of her ex. And who am I kidding? I’m hoping that, just for a minute, she’ll parade me around in front of him like a prize so he’ll see he was a fool for letting her go.
Of course, I know that’ll never happen because it’s a work event, but the caveman in me wants to beat his chest and show the world she’s mine.
By the end of the day, I’ve convinced myself I need to be at the event.
I tell myself I’ll only stay for as long as it takes to make sureshe’s okay and support her. If she’s holding her own, I’ll obey Ashley’s advice and get the hell out, go home, and wait for the rehash when Gracie comes back. Maybe that’s why she texted and asked me to meet her at the house. Perhaps I should respect her request and go home instead.
But I’m my own worst enemy when it comes to making impulsive decisions. So I put on a sport coat and drive to the event.
As I’m mulling yet again whether to abort the mission, the elevator doors slide open and I’m greeted by Dario Conner, our genial striker, who seems glad I showed up. He grabs me by the arm and drags me over to where Dave Ryan, the head of AIFund, stands off to one side in his trademark baggy jeans and a pale blue shirt with a button-down collar.
“Reyes, come hear about how your avatar is going to be new and improved with AI.”
Ryan introduces himself and immediately launches into a lengthy explanation of how his company’s computer interface will revolutionize gaming. I don’t understand a lick of it, but he reminds me of Gracie, so passionate about what he’s telling me that he doesn’t seem to notice I’m not following along. But Dario notices, and he follows my roving eye around the room.
“Sounds great, sir. I’m grateful to be a part of it. Please reach out anytime if I can help.”
“Oh, will do. Will do.”
Dario tries to steer the conversation away from techspeak, but Ryan is impassioned about AI's potential, so he keeps talking. I excuse myself and roam through the crowd, which is mostly corporate execs mixed with media people and a few players for authenticity, I imagine.
I don’t spot Gracie right away. For a moment, I worry that her nerves got the better of her, and she isn’t going to show up. All the better reason for me to get the hell out of here and go meet her at home like she asked.
Dario catches up to me, looks at my ragged face, and nods. “Hey, man. I don’t know what’s going on with you tonight, but if you ever need to talk, my door’s always open.”
