He pulled the hair from my face. “Do you know I tried to find you after the last game?”
“You did?”
He nodded. “I ran from one end of that stadium to the other looking for you. I tried every door, every damn tunnel. And I couldn’t find you.”
“You tried to find me even though we agreed? You weren’t supposed to do that.”
“I did it anyway. And then I ran into Floyd and had to get back to the bus. But I was as surprised as you were that we were… who we are,” he finished.
“I’m not a Goddess, really. I mean I am, but it’s not my career and I didn’t want you to know.” I hun
g my head. “It’s not who I am.”
“Who do you want me to know?” His voice was low and deep.
“The ballerina I used to be,” I answered. I almost had tears in my eyes. I was glad it was dark and he couldn’t see me. “The girl who danced on water. The prima ballerina who had confidence and grace.”
“And you don’t think I see all those things?”
“I don’t know what you see. I don’t want you to look at me like I’m one of the Goddess dancers. That I know.”
He lifted my chin with his finger. “I don’t care what you do. It doesn’t matter to me if you dance for the Goddesses or an orchestra. I’m here tonight, you’re here tonight, and I have a room for us.” He held up the key card. “Let’s use it.”
“And get fired?” I tried to wiggle free, but he was strong. “I don’t plan on having this job much longer, but right now, it’s all I have. I can’t get fired, Sam. You are off limits. I can’t be with you.”
“But you just said you don’t want to be a Goddess. I’m fucking confused.”
I sighed. “I’m going back to the ballet. I am. But auditions aren’t until March. I have to stay with the Goddesses until then. And as long as I’m on the Warriors’ dance roster I cannot under any circumstances be seen with a Wrangler. I gave them my word. It breaks the Goddesses’ code.” I folded my arms, thinking I had made my point.
“And I can’t let you out of San Antonio without another night together, so we better figure this out right now.”
He let go of me and pulled out a chair at one of the tables. It was set for an accountants’ meeting in the morning.
“Sit,” he ordered.
I took a seat as he sat across from me.
“This is crazy. I work for the Warriors. You work for the Wranglers.”
“Darlin’, I’m aware of this situation, but I have a bigger problem and you’re the only one who can fix it.”
“What’s that?”
“Look, I don’t date during the season. I don’t go near women.”
I crossed my arms. I wasn’t sure I liked where this was going.
“But, the more I try to forget you, the more you’re in my head. That night is in my head. And I think being with you is the only way to keep my game straight.”
I felt a flare of anger. “You think I’m some kind of good luck charm?” I was louder than I meant to be.
“No. I didn’t say that. I said you’re in my head. I think I see you in the crowd and I drop the ball. I think I hear your voice and I run the wrong route. I remember that night and I block the wrong guy.”
I was quiet for a moment. “What if I told you the same thing? Not routes or blocking guys, but I’ve missed steps and routines. I called the wrong cheer and almost kicked one of the girls in the face because I went the wrong direction.”
“Then I’d say there’s only one way to get out of each other’s head.”
“And my roommate?”