Play Maker(42)

But when we got to the VIP area there was an enormous table piled high with every treat imaginable. Popcorn, candy, pretzels, everything. There was even an indoor grill with hot dogs and burgers. I was a bit overwhelmed by it all, so I was relieved when I spotted a familiar face at the other side of the room.

Ethan waved and came over, a smile on his face. But that smile froze when he saw Maya. I glanced back at my friend and saw that she was wearing an identical look. What was going on? Did they know each other? I tried to remember if I had ever introduced them.

“Hi.” Ethan leaned over and gave me a hug. “Glad you could make it.”

“How could I say no?” I gestured to the room. “This is amazing.”

“Oh. Yeah.” He looked around as if he hadn’t even noticed. But then again, I guess this was pretty standard for him. And for James as well. Something I had to keep reminding myself. Different worlds, remember?

“This is my mom, and my brother, Mikey.” I brought them around and both shook Ethan’s hand.

“You’re the Doctor Who fan, right?” Ethan asked, smiling at Mikey.

But Mikey was so overwhelmed by everything that he could only nod. I felt his hand in mine and I gave him a firm squeeze.

“And this is my friend, Maya. From the bar.” I said, even though it was pretty clear that they knew each other.

“Oh yes, you look familiar.” Maya said, a smile playing on her lips. “Didn’t I recommend the waffles to you the other night?”

Oh. Maya owed me a story and the look I gave her made that clear.

“Uh. Yes?” Ethan looked a bit flustered.

“How were they?”

“Best waffles I’ve ever had,” Ethan said immediately.

“Damn right,” Maya responded. There was a moment of silence. I couldn’t tell if my best friend was upset or amused. Sometimes her face was impossible to read. I could tell that Ethan was having a hard time figuring it out as well. I decided to help him out.

“James sent over an extra ticket for her,” I told them both.

Now Maya was the one who looked confused and Ethan’s face was the one that was unreadable.

“That limey bastard,” he muttered, sounding so totally British it was adorable. Even Maya couldn’t help but giggle. Her face relaxed into a smile.

“Come on,” she said, slipping her arm through his, “you can show us to our seats.”

He let out a breath of relief and offered his other arm to me. “My pleasure.”

We followed him out of the indoor VIP area to the seats reserved for us in James’ section. The view was amazing. We looked out onto the field, close enough to read the nametags on the umpires. Were they called umpires in soccer? I asked Ethan, who shook his head.

“Referees,” he corrected.

When we got to our seats, there were brand new jerseys lying across the backs of the plush chairs. One for each of us, with James’ number on the back.

“He doesn’t know I got them,” Ethan confessed with a grin. “He’ll be very embarrassed if you wear them.”

“Well, then.” I immediately pulled mine over my shirt. Of course, the minute I did that, I noticed a group of women sitting together in another player’s section. All of them were dressed to the nines, their fingers and earlobes decked out in diamonds and jewels. A few of them glanced my way and gave me a look I knew far too well. The look that said I was not one of them and I never would be.

I tugged at the jersey, feeling self-conscious. It was a little big, but Ethan gave me a thumbs up and I felt a little better. I turned to find Mikey struggling with his. I helped him pull it down over his shirt, revealing an enormous grin on his face. He looked so happy. My stomach sank a little. Mikey rarely wore anything that didn’t have Doctor Who on it. This evening was going to mean something to him. Something that we might have to deal with in the long run. But I told myself to relax. To focus on the moment. Where Mikey was having fun. Where my mom was having fun. Where Maya was—

Where was Maya? I glanced around and noticed that Ethan had disappeared as well. Obviously something was going on – I would just have to drag it out of my best friend later.

I settled into my seat, tearing off a piece of the giant pretzel that my mom had gotten Mikey when we were inside. It was a beautiful day, not too hot, not too windy. I stretched out my legs and peered out onto the field wondering where the players would be coming from.

“They never start on time,” a friendly voice said to my left.

I turned and found a pretty young woman with a baby on her lap sitting in the section next to ours. She was dressed similarly to me, in jeans and a t-shirt with a cardigan. The baby had on a onesie version of the team’s jersey but with #43 on the front, unlike our #65s.

“I’m Sheryl,” she said with a faint British accent, reaching a hand over. “And this is Eddie.” She gave the baby a bounce in her lap. It was a really cute kid. I hadn’t given much thought to babies – not with the life I had – but I couldn’t deny that the cozy pair that Sheryl and Eddie made had my heart twisting a little with longing. Would I ever have that?

But now wasn’t the time to get caught up in the what-ifs.

“Nicole,” I said and gestured behind me to where my mom and Mikey were looking at the program. “My mom and brother.”