Page 39 of Nailing Heat
“Nothing, I asked him something about home,” I lie.
“He winked at you.”
She saw that. “Yeah,” I reply, my voice a bit shaky with worry.
“Are you two seeing each other or something?” DJ asks me.
“No, of course not,” I try to sound adamant, hoping she buys it.
“Just curious because the day he got here, August changed the policy regarding fraternization. And then he moved in with you. I thought maybe there was something going on there.” Her brows lift in question, and I shift on my feet, unsure of how to respond.
I walk closer to her so that I’m not talking so loudly that the other girls will hear my response. “No, I think that August was only trying to make it okay that he was making Dex live with me.”
DJ nods, “Okay, so you’re not starting anything with him?”
I stare at her for a moment. “No, he’s just my roommate I have to live with until August can find him somewhere else to go.”
“Think I could ask him out?” Her eyes are sparkling, and I can tell she’s excited.
“Umm, sure, shoot your shot, girl.” I tell her.
I feel something in the pit on my stomach; it feels like jealousy. But I can’t figure out why. I have no claim over him, and he hasn’t given me any indication that he’s interested in me. I’m also not sure if I would even recognize if a man was interested in me. I’ve shut that part of my life down for so long. Soccer has been my focus. Getting here was all I’ve ever wanted. I shake off my own thoughts before I end up saying something out loud that I shouldn’t.
I glance over and see that Dex is back on the turf. Sure, he’s an attractive man, but he’s also recently divorced. It’s on the tip of my tongue to say something to DJ about this divorce, but I decide to let it go. Dex should be the one to tell that detail of his life. It’s not my news to share and I have no idea who else knows about it.
“So, you don’t care if I ask him out?” DJ asks me.
“Huh?” IthinkI heard her correctly, but I want to be sure. I look DJ over. She’s tall, blonde and slender. Not curvy and short like I am.
“Do you care if I see if Dex wants to get dinner sometime,” she repeats the question slower like she’s sure that I couldn’t comprehend it if she spoke faster.
“No, sure, go ahead. Shoot your shot.” I tell her again with another twinge of jealousy that she is going to ask him, and he might actually say yes. DJ is a very pretty girl and I’m betting the type of girl that Dex would go for. I haven’t Googled him to see if I can find his ex-wife, but maybe I should satisfy my curiosity.
“Thanks! I might do that.”
Thankfully, at that moment Coach Watts blows the whistle, and we are all called in to huddle up.
We begin jogging and I notice that DJ smiles and waves at Dex. He waves back. I never get a wave, only a nod. Another wave of jealous washes over me. I tell myself he is just being niceto DJ and has no real interest in her. I don’t know if I believe that, but that’s what I pretend to be true.
“Alright, ladies, make sure you are at the airport and ready to head to Kansas City by eleven on Wednesday. We’ll get in, have a team dinner and then head off to bed. Make sure you get your heads right and ready. Big game coming up!”
Mac leans into the circle, and says, “Blaze on three.”
We all shout “Blaze!” as practice is broken up for the day. I look over and see that DJ has made a beeline for Dex. I can’t watch. I turn my back on the interaction and head into the locker room.
“What’s that look for, girl?” Hendrix catches up with and stares me down as we walk.
“It’s nothing. I’m fine. Just tired is all. You know, late night watching movies.” I try to lie to see if she buys it.
She doesn’t.
“Nope, sorry, you were all chipper this morning when I saw you. That’s not it. What’s going on with you?” she pries.
“Nothing. I’m good. Like I said, just tired.”
I leave it at that and gather my things. I don’t bother to shower here at the stadium like I normally would. I want space. I want to leave here before DJ comes in bragging that she has a date with Dex. I try not to think about why this bothers me so much. I get my shit and get out of there.
“Amelia, you okay?” Cassie calls after me when she sees that I’m heading out already.
