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Beatrix
You know that moment when you’ve had enough? Where everything in your life has been on a downhill slide, and now, the smallest, most ridiculous thing imaginable is about to send you into burn-everything-down mode? That’s me right now. Standing outside the Queen City Chaos football team’s auxiliary building in front of a man who I am sure is otherwise a very lovely gentleman but is currently wielding his access power to the team like he is the last bastion between the players and certain doom.
“As I said, I don’t have my badge yet. I’m still new, but I’m Beatrix Xavier. I should be on the list. I’m Madison Westfield’s assistant and part of the PR team.”
“If you don’t have a badge, you can’t get in.” He doesn’t bother to look at me now.
“Well, I’m required at this event, and the PR team knows I don’t have a badge. They said I’d be on the list. Could you please call someone and have them double-check? You’ll see that I’m on the PR staff list, I promise.” I give him my sweetest smile, praying that he’ll be reasonable. I glance at the time on my watch. I’m about two minutes away from being officially late and the anxiety turns my stomach.
“Ma’am, I don’t have time for personal favors. We have an event here tonight. If you don’t have a badge I can scan, you can’t come through. Those are my orders.” He looks at me dismissively and moves on to the next person behind me in line.
I’m so frustrated I could cry. Nothing has gone right lately. But I fight the tears because I’m not about to let anyone think I’m anything less than professional. Especially not when I’m fighting for any sort of chance I can get at a full-time job here. Some way that I can keep my dreams alive.
“Okay. Well, what if I can get ahold of someone inside with a badge? If they come get me, will you let me in?” I ask as I watch him usher several more people inside the building.
“If they can bring you a badge with your name on it, sure.” He gives me the kind of smile that tells me he thinks I’m making shit up, and my nails bite into my palms as I smile back. “But you need to step aside. You’re in the way, and we have other people trying to get through here.”
“Okay. I’m going to call Madison then. Thank you.” I flash another saccharine smile in his direction, willing myself to keep a calm, polite demeanor despite the fact he’s toying with my sanity.
“I have no idea who Madison is, ma’am, but you need to get out of the way, please.” He dismisses me sharply, like I’m a cocklebur stuck in his shoe.
I step to the side and let out a soft growl of frustration as I root for my phone in my purse. I watch as he picks up his walkie-talkie and says something into it, his eyes lifting to look me over one more time while he talks. I have a feeling if I keep pressing the issue, I’m going to be banned from the Chaos’s buildings for life.
I don’t need this today of all days. I really can’t afford to be late or have people wondering where I am when this is a big event for the families. His refusal to even look at the list I’m positive he has somewhere behind his desk or on his phone has me ready to scream. But I can hear my mother’s voice in the back of my head, telling me to stay calm and prove him wrong by doing what he asks. Class over crass, she always used to say.
More players and their families easily slide past me, notably without badges. But Mr. Rules over here strikes me as the type that has every single player’s name and current stats memorized before the season starts so he can chat them up. Sure enough, he nods, smiling and waving them in quickly.
I press the call button next to Madison’s name, and it starts to ring. And ring… And ring. As more people file by, it sends me to her voicemail, and I send a text instead.
I start walking back and forth trying to burn off my nervous energy while I wait, staring at the city skyline, and wishing that I had her brother Easton’s phone number. He’s the wide receiver for the Queen City Chaos and one of the city’s favorite players. I’m sure if he came out here, Mr. Rules would be eating his words. I’m out of luck there too. I try Wren, his wife, instead, but her phone goes to voicemail as well.
I’m guessing Madison is too busy setting things up, and Wren is probably busy greeting other players and their families. I pace the sidewalk again, trying to think of another solution that isn’t just bull rushing past Mr. Rules and hoping I can run faster than him. I can’t imagine it looks good that I’m missing. I’m supposed to be helping get photos for the day and helping oversee some of the activities the team has arranged for the families.
When the next players go in and Mr. Rules is busy scrolling his phone for a moment, I approach him again, hoping that politeness can still win him over.
“Hi again. I called my friend, but she’s not answering. I’m guessing she’s busy helping with stuff inside and can’t hear her phone. Is there someone you could call over the walkie-talkie to ask her to come out? Or could you ask for Easton Westfield? He’s a friend as well. Either of them would be happy to explain to you that I’m part of the staff and just haven’t received my badge yet.
“Ma’am. I’m not going to repeat myself. If you don’t have a badge, you don’t get in. I’m not bothering any of the players to have them come out here and get you. They’re busy enjoying the day with their families and don’t have time to be bothered with friends right now.”
The way he says friends has snapped my last bit of patience. If he wants to pour gasoline everywhere, then I’m ready to toss the match. I open my mouth to speak when an arm suddenly wraps around my shoulder, and I’m pulled close to a hard chest. The scent of a soft, masculine cologne wraps around me and a warm, deep voice I haven’t heard in a while speaks on my behalf.
“Hey, Jim. How are you today? Is there a problem here? I see you met Trixie. She’s coming in with me today if that’s all right.”
My heart skips a beat and I close my eyes because I’m being rescued by my ex-boyfriend’s older brother. If that’s not the cherry on top of everything today, I don’t know what is.
I look up, and Cooper flashes me a bright smile and winks at me, squeezing my shoulders before he looks back up at Mr. Rules, apparently, also known as Jim. Jim snaps to attention, his stiffness melting until it’s all cordiality and friendliness. Lizzy, Cooper’s daughter, is standing next to him, her eyes darting between all three of us as she watches her father charm my nemesis, and she grins with amusement.
“Of course, Mr. Rawlings. I didn’t realize she was with you. I apologize.”
Raucous internal screaming is happening on my part, but I just flash my own smile at Jim while I bite my tongue and follow Cooper into the building. I take a deep breath after I’m past the gauntlet of entry doors and try to recenter my sanity before I have to go in to work with my game face on. But first, I have to thank my ex-boyfriend’s brother for saving me from starting a war I might not have been able to win with Jim.
“Thank you for that. I appreciate it.” I give him my first genuine smile of the day.
“Anytime, Trixie. Sorry he gave you shit. He means well, I think, but he’s a little overprotective of the team.”
“I noticed.”
