Page 24 of Base Block

“What?”

“He brought up that he’s been hearing scuttlebutt about a new man on the offensive line, Callum Frazier,” Victoria explained.

“I don’t know what scuttle…did you say scuttlebutt? I don’t know what that is.”

“They talk kind of weird,” she agreed. “He just meant that there’s hype surrounding Callum, that he’s good. It’s big news when Herb and Buzz are talking about a player on their podcast. I don’t think I can put into words how respected they are.”

“Wow,” I said, smiling. “That is big news. I’ll start listening to all their back episodes.”

She nodded. “There are still a few influential fan websites, and there are several social media people that we all follow. You probably already found them.”

I nodded back. I had been researching and tagging other accounts, trying to get more views.

“And the Woodsmen PR people will also repost your stuff once Callum makes the team,” she continued.

“Have you heard any scuttlebutt about his chances?”

“Me?” She laughed a little. “In terms of the team, I’m very low in the pecking order. I hear stuff thrown around the employee lunchroom but it’s mostly people trying to sound more important than they actually are.”

I understood that. The same thing had gone on when groups of “insiders” had gossiped at LA clubs and parties, trying to one-up each other with their private knowledge about the music and film industries. It was all bull because they didn’t really know anything at all.

“Not even the returning players have seen the list,” she continued. “They might have ideas, but they’re not sure, either.”

Despite her inability to help with Callum’s roster status, I was happy to hear what she’d said about the podcast and to learn more about how their fan culture worked. It was fun to hang out with her, in general.

When we got to Roy’s, we took a table and I asked for a White Russian with non-fat milk. Victoria looked a little disgusted when she heard my order. “You don’t want real cream in that?”

I thought of Millie and the calorie app on her phone. “It’s just a habit,” I explained. “I got used to people monitoring my diet.”

“Callum?” Now she looked horrified and I immediately jumped to his defense.

“No! He’s not interested in looks.”

“I don’t know,” she said, suddenly grinning. “I bet he likes how you look.”

“No, you don’t get it,” I told her. “He’s not a person who gets caught up in that. Like, with my hair? He keeps telling me to put it in a bun because then it won’t blow in my eyes. He doesn’t care that it looks dumb or that it’s sexier when it’s down. He never tells me to exercise more and he never watches me weigh myself to make sure that I haven’t gained. Even putting on part of a pound would make some people absolutely nutso, but I haven’t been on a scale in so long and he hasn’t even mentioned it.”

“Why would anyone do that?” She shook her head. “Did you used to go out with a real dick?”

“Yes,” I admitted. “My old boyfriend was really a dick. He didn’t let me eat.”

“What?” Her mouth dropped open in shock. “What do you mean?”

“Just, like, desserts,” I said quickly. “That’s all. Are you seeing anyone?”

She’d been dating a little, but her son was taking up her attention. “Finley’s dad met a woman. Beau and I weren’t ever in a relationship, we just got together sometimes,” she explained. “One of those times resulted in a baby.” She finished her drink. “His girlfriend is great and she loves Fin, but I haven’t found a person like that for myself. I’m not sure if I really want anyone.”

“I know what you mean,” I agreed. It was often better to be single.

Victoria stared at me. “You do?” she asked. “You have a boyfriend.” She sounded confused and that immediately got me backtracking.

“I know that there are a lot of assholes out there, that’s what I mean,” I said quickly. “So many. Maybe I’ll meet some nice football players and I could introduce you.”

“My good friend is married to a guy on the defense and she already tried that, but thanks anyway. I think I just need to give myself some time and hopefully, I’ll come across a guy who’s good enough for Finley.”

I thought that was kind of a crazy idea: she was putting her kid’s needs before her own. I nodded, impressed.

We finished our drinks and she was probably right that I should have gotten a real White Russian, because the non-fat milk had curdled. We talked more about the team, about the town, and about her son. She had lots of pictures of him and I loved to see those. She also had questions about clothes and fashion, like what I wore, how I styled it, and if I’d done any work in that arena in the past. I managed not to say that I’d never had a real job, and instead I talked about picking outfits for Millie and Sage, shopping for Damian, and remaking my thrift store finds (I still needed to get a sewing machine).