Dream Me(21)

“I know. She told me.” He looked everywhere but at me—the wall, the floor, James, the cookies . . . everywhere.

“I just wanted to introduce myself and let you know if you need anything, any of you, please don’t hesitate to ask me.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” James said. Ma’am? Did I look that old? I was probably only two or three years older than these guys.

“Thanks,” the smiling boy said as he nudged Alonso again.

“Yeah, thanks,” Alonso said to the sandwiches.

“Can I have everyone’s attention please,” Mattie Lynn rapped the side of a glass with a metal spoon. I wondered where she picked up that move. “I think we’re all here now and I’d like to welcome our friends from across the bay.” She seemed genuinely happy. The others applauded enthusiastically as though Mattie Lynn had just announced the nominees for Miss Teen USA.

“I’ll be calling out your names so please listen to hear who you’ll be partnered with. Mentors, please introduce yourself to your friend when you hear your name called.”

Bing was watching from the sidelines. He looked on approvingly but nervously, ready to get involved if anything went wrong but relaxed enough to know he probably wouldn’t be needed. After all, this was supposed to be a “youth-directed” community outreach program.

Mattie Lynn went down the list saying things like, “Leanne, please welcome Emma. Emma is fourteen and likes to dance. Her favorite color is red.” I swear Mattie Lynn was a natural for something, I’m just not sure what that something was.

The little Asian kid who stole my heart was one of the last to be called. He was already wringing his hands when Mattie Lynn finally called his name.

“Kiet is twelve and is a fan of NASCAR. His favorite color is blue, and he hopes to be an astronaut when he grows up.” All the girls cooed over him like a flock of pigeons.

“He’s super cute,” I heard one member of Mattie Lynn’s posse whisper to another, as if they were twenty years older than him. But I must admit, he was pretty adorable.

“Kiet will be with me,” Mattie Lynn announced proudly. I wasn’t sure if I was horrified or thrilled for him. He would be well cared for under her protective umbrella.

Only Alonso remained and there was an uncomfortable pause in the welcoming ceremony as Mattie Lynn nervously scanned the room. All of a sudden her face lit up and she resumed speaking. I followed her gaze to the doorway, the place where her expression had transformed from worry to delight.

A slender, tallish guy about my age leaned against the wall, his front leg resting at an angle. Arms crossed across his chest and a bemused expression on his face, his dark blond hair was sort of wind-swept and shaggy in a very chic way. He had steely blue eyes with perpetually half-closed lids that said, I’d rather be somewhere else but you’ve got my attention for now. The corners of his lips were barely turned up in a half-smirk like he’d just heard a joke no one else would ever get. There was nothing second rate about him, in physical appearance at least. LeGrand Buell had finally made his appearance.

“And last but not least is Alonso, who loves computers and fixing things. He’s fourteen years old, and his favorite food is Italian. Alonso will be paired with LeGrand, who has just joined us.”

At that announcement, all the female heads in the room swiveled around every which way looking for the star of the show. Soft murmurs of delight could be heard once their target was spotted. LeGrand ambled up to the place where Alonso stood and performed one of those left hand on the shoulder, right hand in a handshake moves guys pull off so well. LeGrand was talking and Alonso appeared to be listening, even making eye contact every once in a while.

After the welcoming ceremony everyone went out to the courts and I was left alone with Bing for the next few hours. I cleaned up the luncheon table. Barely any of the food had been touched so Bing told me to take home whatever I wanted. I packed away enough sandwiches and cookies for my family’s dinner that night, even though I’d be eating out with Mai. No sense in letting expensive club food go to waste.

After a few hours, cars started pulling up in the tennis club parking lot which I figured must be the parents of Friends Across the Bay participants. I even saw the white pick-up truck with “Cummings Emergency AC Repair” on its side. Some of the kids came through the club on their way to meet parents, helping themselves to the icy cold water bottles I’d laid out on the luncheon table. Others skipped the clubhouse and walked all the way around the building to get to their parents’ cars. It was hard to tell what they were thinking after this first day of tennis camp because everyone wore the same exhausted and heat-swamped expression on their faces. I wondered how many of the twelve would be back the next day.

Mattie Lynn and a few of her maidens-in-waiting lingered, talking about their “friends,” plotting the next day’s strategy, and obviously just waiting to see what LeGrand was going to do next.

LeGrand was floating around, checking out a new tennis racket, sipping from a water bottle. He seemed to be oblivious to the sensation he created around him. He was like a magnet, pulling people toward him, but when they got too close, they bumped up against the force field keeping them at a safe distance. LeGrand had the power of confidence, but more than that, confidence combined with indifference. A deadly combination when it came to adoring female fans. I wasn’t completely immune.