me for the fourth time. I nodded. “Yep.”
“And then you didn’t tell the team?” Alec’s eyebrow was raised. This was the part of the story he already knew, and it was exactly where things started to diverge into crazy.
“That’s correct.”
“And then at the game yesterday, Zeke approached you because he knew that you applied and told you to withdraw the application.”
“And Lila almost tore his head off. Yes.”
“And then you challenged him to a game next Friday, and you haven’t told the team about that, either?”
“Um, that about sums it up,” I replied.
Alec sat in silence for a moment. We were sitting outside of MontRec, getting ready to report for Saturday practice, and I decided that it was best to fill him in. He’d been called in for a last-minute shift at the bar and couldn’t attend the game, so I wanted him to have an idea of what he was walking into.
Suddenly, he started chuckling. It started muted and very under his breath but got louder. He pulled his keys out of the ignition of his car and shook his head in disbelief. “You’re in so much trouble.”
I started to protest, but Alec climbed out of the car, slamming the door behind him. When he opened the back seat door to grab the supplies he’d brought with him, his laughter filled the car once again.
“Shut up,” I growled, but he shut the door and started off for the field without me.
I took a few minutes to compose myself. I was well aware of how my impulsivity had landed us in a very precarious predicament. I didn’t want to think my team was going to turn on me or be mad at me. Hell, if Lila could support me in Zeke’s face, anything was possible. I’d have a lot of apologizing to do, maybe even some groveling if I wanted them to see things through my perspective. We were a good team, and with more money and state support, we could be even better. We could recruit from out of state, and we could buy pads that fit. It was the final piece to the Black Widow puzzle. If I didn’t go for it, I’d be a sham to my team.
I clapped my hands on either side of my face and let the sting pump me full of confidence. “This is good. That’s what I’ll say.” I could convince them that this was a good move.
I grabbed my backpack and purse and climbed out of the car. Alec headed straight for the field, but I detoured into MontRec to grab our supplies. As expected, Kris was leaning against the front door with her arms crossed. She always waited by the door at Saturday practices to help me grab supplies, but this time, she had a slight grimace on her face.
“Quinn. The woman of many surprises.” She stepped to the side so I could unlock the door. “Wanna explain why Zeke Matheson approached you after our game yesterday?”
I avoided eye contact. Kris had a way of getting inside me that I never quite understood. She was more than a good friend. She was like a soothsayer. She always knew how I was feeling with just a quick glance and could sense when there was unrest anywhere around our team. She was a center for a good reason.
“Um, I’m going to explain it to everyone,” I replied to her. “Just gotta grab this stuff.” I unlocked the employee entrance to MontRec, but when I tried to pull it aside, Kris grabbed it and held it in place, just closed enough that I couldn’t slip through. I faced her. “What?”
“Are you okay?”
I put my arms and face into trying to express my emotions. “Yes! Everything is fine. I made a couple of…maybe impulsive decisions, but I think people are going to be on board.”
Kris looked me over, and the height in one of her eyebrows suggested she didn’t believe me, but she loosened her grip on the door so that I could open it fully. I walked in, and Kris followed. Neither of us said anything as we walked into my office, collected the balls, pads, and jerseys, and left again through the front door. I locked it behind us and led the way around the building and out back to the field. Everyone was there and waiting, and as soon as I was within view, all their eyes shot to me. I pressed on through their scrutiny, setting our materials down and