“Oh, guys, no worries.We don’t need to come up with a date right now.How about we work something out after the games next week?”Lorelai said.“That way, we will know where we stand for the next set of games as well.”
“Sounds like a plan.Besides, we should go get our seats.Sponsors are arriving, as is the rest of the team,” Dylan said, taking her hand.
“Yeah, let’s go,” Knox added, taking hold of Lorelai’s hand and leading her away from us as well.
The moment they were all gone, I turned to Colton.“What was that?”I quietly asked.
“What was what?”
“That comment?”
“Oh, you know, just playing it up,” he said, winking at me.“Let’s go find our seats.”
Once we found our table,I took a seat while Colton made his way over to the bar to get us a couple of drinks.While he was gone, I opened up my notes to see that he was the only player seated at this table of sponsors and other media journalists.
I was so nervous that, before I read the speech I’d written for Colton, I checked to see if Chantal had responded, but there was nothing there but a few messages from Mark, which I ignored.
I’d shut the screen of my phone off just as Colton placed a glass down in front of me and slid in beside me.
“What’s that?”I questioned, nodding toward the glass.
“Gin and soda.”
“Is that what you have?”I questioned, praying that it wasn’t as I nodded toward the glass of clear fluid with a lemon.
“I have water,” he said, meeting my eyes.
“Um, I’m not sure why you chose this as a drink for me.”
“Because you look like you could use at least one to take the edge off.So, drink up,” he said, placing his hand on my upper thigh before standing to greet some of his sponsors, who were taking their seats at our table.
I thought about what he said for a moment.Did I look nervous, I wondered, or that haggard?What would one drink hurt?I picked up the glass and took a sip as I felt my phone vibrate on the table.A quick look at my phone showed me another set of messages from Mark, which, while Colton continued to greet people, I quickly skimmed the previous messages along with the current one and responded.Then I drank down my glass and stood while Colton introduced me.
“I’ll be back in a moment,” I said, whispering in his ear.
“Where are you going?”he questioned.
“To the bar.”I smiled.“Do you mind watching my phone?”
“Not at all, but do you need another one already?”
I nodded.After seeing the messages Mark had left about dropping in to the condo and his need or want to meet up with me soon, I definitely needed another.
“No need.”
He lifted his hand in the air and in a moment a server appeared.I ordered another drink and then asked to be excused.
“Where are you going?”
“To the ladies room.Please watch my phone,” I whispered.
“Sure thing, sweetie.”
As I walked away, I glanced behind me to see that he had turned his attention back to the table.
As the night went on, things seemed to go great.So far, Colton was perfect in every sense, which I was thankful for as it made my job so much easier, especially after my third drink.
Every once in a while, Larson or Pamela would glance over in my direction, and all I’d do was smile and nod, letting them know things were going fine, when in reality I’d been so buried in my phone or my glass that I really didn’t have a clue if things were going well or not.
