Page 46
“Whatever, man.”
He smirks and strolls off to talk to someone else, leaving me wondering who the hell Byron is and whether or not Reid likes him. Whether or not Maya actually likes him.
Fuck.
I try to act casual as I approach Reid, who’s taping one of his sticks. He’s one of those players who prefers to do it himself, exactly the way he likes, instead of letting one of the equipment managers do it.
“What’s up, man?” I sink down next to him.
He glances at me curiously. We don’t talk much since he didn’t play on the team last season. “Yo.” He nods and goes back to taping his stick.
“You ready for camp?”
“Pretty much. You know how it is. I don’t really start chomping at the bit until the first pre-season game.”
“Same.”
“Hey, do you have a car service you use out here?”
“Car service?”
“You know, like sending a car to pick someone up at the airport.”
“Oh. Yeah, but I don’t remember the name. I had someone up in PR do it when my mom came out for the championship. Who needs to be picked up?”
“Maya’s getting in tomorrow afternoon and I was going to get her but Coach asked West and me to take a couple of the rookies out to lunch. I could bow out but I hate to do that when I’m the new guy.”
“I can pick her up,” I say automatically.
What the hell am I doing?
“You sure?” He frowns. “I’m happy to pay a service.”
I should let him, but I won’t.
“It’s no bother. Really.”
It’s a huge fucking bother but I have no one to blame but myself.
He nods. “Thanks. I’ll text you her flight info.”
“Cool.”
He gets up and walks away leaving me wondering what’s wrong with me.
Seeing her again is just going to make it harder.
But there’s no backing out now.
Instead, I google her name and look for whatever it is Ashton saw online.
Oh, here it is.
She’s laughing up into the face of a really good-looking Black man. He has long dreads, a bright smile, and two pierced ears. Probably more her type than a grumpy athlete like me.
I had her first, but apparently I’ve let her slip through my fingers.
I really am a dumbass sometimes.
