Page 19 of Lavender and Linebackers

She runs out in front of me and strikes a pose. I take several pictures, we trade places, and just as quickly we are done. Today, I’m wearing a teal sundress with cork wedge sandals. Usually I’m wearing heels, but we’re not allowed to wear them on the field because they damage the turf.

“All right, let’s go mingle,” Kelli says, linking her arm with mine. We make our way over to the tables, and I pause to fix the strap on my shoe. Next to us is a group of players.

“This team barbecue is my favorite barbecue of the year.” That comes from Rico, one of the cornerbacks. “The guys are all here, and the food is damn good. Especially Lexi’s pies.”

“Yeah, I think Vivi has already sampled every flavor Lexi brought. Forget the grilled chicken and the mac and cheese. She went straight for the dessert,” says Jonah Dallmann, looking toward the tables where a little girl sits next to someone else’s son.

I remember hearing about how he came to be her guardian. Such a sad story.

“Girl after my own heart.” Rico pats his chest twice while again glancing toward the food tables longingly.

From behind me, I hear my name being called.

I turn to see a guy who looks like Clark Kent standing there. He’s tall, but not as tall as Ryder, built, and has dark hair combed to the side. He’s wearing black-framed glasses, and they look hot on him.

“Alice . . . Camden Drake, it’s nice to meet you.” He holds out his hand.

It’s funny that he thinks I don’t already know who he is. The question is, why does he know me, and why is he introducing himself?

I take his hand and shake it. His dwarfs mine. “It’s nice to meet you, too.”

“Welcome to the team,” he says, not really smiling, but not not smiling either.

“I appreciate that. This is my friend Kelli.” I gesture in her direction.

“Very nice to meet you,” he tells her. The smile he gives her makes me think he doesn’t smile very often. You know, tight lips pressed together along with an acknowledging head nod.

The teammates next to us see him. “Superman, are you going to introduce us to your new friend?” This comes from Rico, and he’s all gleeful.

He makes the introductions, and then out of the corner of my eye, I see Ryder has spotted us. Ryder is wearing all black with white sneakers. A black T-shirt with the Tarpons logo on it in white, and casual black shorts, not the athletic kind, maybe the golf kind. I hate that this outfit looks good on him. I hate that I’ve even noticed. Those two familiar little lines strike between his eyes, and then he frowns as he makes his way over to join our little group. He’s giving the side of Camden’s head a death stare, and this irritates me in a way I wasn’t prepared for.

Are other people, other teammates, not allowed to speak to me? We’re going to have a problem if he’s dictating how others treat me.

Ryder holds his hand out to Kelli. “Hi, we didn’t actually get to meet the other night. I’m Ryder.”

Without missing a beat, she does not return the greeting gesture of shaking his hand, and she looks him over from head to toe. “Yeah, I already know who you are.”

His brows jump a tiny bit at the slight. He drops his hand, and Rico starts laughing.

“Yes, but I don’t know who you are.” He gives her an attempted flirty smile, and I see red.

I know that Kelli would never ever cross that line with him. She knows exactly how bad things were for me after he ghosted me, but still. Who does he think he is to smile at my friend like that?

“Oh, Rookie, Rookie, Rookie.” Sully clamps down on his shoulder and shakes his head.

Ryder’s gaze skips from Kelli to Rico to Sully to me, where it lands and stays. There’s something in the expression on my face that has his brows pulling down. I mean, how dare he.

The rejection he doused my life in flares and burns through my veins. I can feel my cheeks heating, and I hate that I’m giving him any kind of physical reaction. But to be kind to her and a continued dick to me, just no. This is all wrong.

“Hi, everyone,” Danica says, all cheery, as she’s popped up out of nowhere. “Can I steal Ryder and Alice? I’d like to go ahead and get y’all in the hot seat. Chase, you and Marcus are up next.”

There’s a long pause.

“Of course,” Ryder finally tells her, giving me a look that screams, pull your shit together.

I get it, after what Gretchen said at the photo shoot, and he’s here with his team. Everyone has eyes on everyone, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling embarrassed and like I’m being led to my own execution. Heat floods into my cheeks, and Kelli squeezes my hand in support as she comes with me. The others bail for food.

“Mighty Monarchs. Mighty Monarchs. Mighty Monarchs,” I remind myself.