Winning the Player

by Leesa Bow

  After almost thirty minutes on the bike, I looked up at several television screens mounted on the wall. One showed American baseball, one a music channel and another broadcast the six-o’clock news. Hunter’s larger-than-life face flashed across the screen. I increased the volume and secured my headphones so I could hear. The commentators were discussing whether Hunter should move to another city to get the big dollars. I pressed the down arrow on the bike and slowed so I could concentrate.

  Hunter Stone is the glue of the Blackbirds. He motivates his teammates, and then backs them up when they get in trouble. He tackles hard, takes spectacular marks and can kick the big goals. He’s the Blackbirds’ biggest asset. Coach Murphy is going to have to raise his salary if he wants to keep him.

  I gawked at the screen. I didn’t know what to think, but it had definitely ruined my mood so I picked up my bag and headed home.

  ‘Just in time,’ Mum called out when I walked through the front door. ‘I’ve cooked a Thai dish with lots of coriander.’

  I grabbed the plates off the bench and handed them to her to serve up the curry.

  ‘Oh, I almost forgot. A lovely young man called tonight and left a message.’ My breath caught, waiting for her to continue. ‘Connor, I think.’ Her smile lit up her face. ‘He’d like you to call him back. I wrote his number next to the phone.’

  ‘He called on the home phone?’ No one used the home phone. It was almost extinct. Then I remembered what Connor had said about bringing old things back to life.

  ‘I don’t know why you find it so strange?’ She glanced accusingly at me while piling curry on to my plate. I raised my hand for her to stop. If she added any more rice, tonight’s effort at the gym would count for nothing.

  ‘How many people call me on the home phone, Mum?’

  ‘I guess you have a point.’

  I took my plate and sat on the lounge in front of the television, flicking through channels as I ate.

  ‘So, are you going to call this nice man and arrange a date with him?’

  ‘Mum,’ I admonished. ‘He’s just a friend. I only met him last week. He’s Maddy’s cousin.’

  ‘Doesn’t matter who he is. I could tell he was interested just by talking to him for a few minutes.’

  I coughed just as I swallowed a piece of chicken. ‘A few minutes. What the hell did you talk about?’

  ‘Nothing in particular. Call him.’ She smiled reassuringly.

  After dinner I found Connor’s name and number scribbled across a pad. I tore out the page and typed his contact details into my iPhone. I flopped on my bed and closed my eyes as I listened to the ring tone buzz through my ear. Uncertainty washed over me about whether I wanted him to pick up or whether to disconnect before he answered. It seemed wrong calling Connor.

  Because he was Hunter’s brother.

  Hunter and I were not together, so it seemed silly to think I was crossing a line.

  The ringing stopped. ‘Connor Stone.’

  My eyes opened. ‘Hey, Connor. It’s Aubree.’

  I stood near a post, almost hiding, waiting for Connor to arrive. The cinema attracted couples on a Friday night and since Connor and I weren’t a couple I’d declined his offer to pick me up from my house. I’d prefer to drive my old purple Barina and risk the motor not starting than lead Connor on.

  ‘Friends,’ I had emphasised to him over the phone.

  ‘Hiding from someone?’ A husky voice asked. I spun around. Connor had walked up behind me and was grinning like he’d just caught onto a punch line.

  ‘No.’ I sighed. ‘I didn’t want to look like a loser at the cinema standing alone.’

  He laughed. ‘Consider yourself rescued. Anyway, I saved time and bought the tickets online.’

  ‘Oh, I didn’t expect you to pay,’ I said quickly. Especially since it wasn’t a date.

  He chuckled. ‘I’m old-fashioned, Aubree. I’m not about to ask you out and then expect you to pay.’

  ‘Even as friends?’

  ‘Even as friends,’ he repeated in a low voice. He placed his hand on my lower back and guided me towards the food stalls. ‘Popcorn?’

  ‘Sure, why not?’ I convinced myself that the extra workouts had allowed for some fun food. We paid for our snacks, headed to the cinema and found our allocated seats.

  He whispered explanations throughout the movie and chuckled when I jumped in fright. ‘Surely you saw that coming,’ he mocked. ‘Here, eat.’ He pushed the box of popcorn onto my lap. ‘It’ll take your mind off it.’

  I finished the box.

  At the end of the movie, Connor walked me to my car on the bottom level of the car park. When I tried to argue that I didn’t need a chaperone, he shrugged me off. ‘You never know what creep could be hiding out late at night.’

  The comment reminded me of Hunter and how he’d saved my arse the night I collapsed in the alley.

  We stopped beside my car and I turned to face him. ‘Thank you for a lovely evening. It cheered me up. Since Maddy is still sick I thought I’d be home watching the Discovery Channel with Mum.’

  He took a step closer and reached for my hand. ‘I’m happy to help out. Thank you for coming with me.’ The hair on the back of my neck rose as he lifted my hand to his lips and softly kissed my knuckles.

  ‘Perhaps we could do this again next week?’

  I only needed a second to think about my social calendar. ‘Sure. Call me.’ I stepped into my car and quietly thanked God she started the first time.

  I could do friends.

  The following day, BJ called and asked me to go watch him play again.

  ‘You know I leave soon, so I thought you might want to come and hang out with my team tonight.’

  My first impulse was to decline but I got a rush of guilt. ‘Sure. What time will you get here?’

  ‘Be there in ten.’ I had just enough time to change into jeans and apply some makeup.

  The car ride was not as tense as the last time, and BJ appeared more relaxed chatting about the upcoming game and his opponents. On this occasion I didn’t feel as nervous walking into the basketball stadium. Not long after parking my rear on a seat, Rachel Bond appeared next to me.

  ‘I’m guessing you came back because you forgave the gods that took the game from you.’

  ‘What?’ My eyes widened.

  ‘You look great. There’s no mistaking that you’ve been working out, and you’ve come back to this dungeon. So have you made peace with the universe?’

  I grinned at her. ‘You have such a way with words, Rachel.’

  She cocked her chin in the air. ‘Never been known to hold back. What’s your decision? Are you going to be my partner?’

  ‘Well actually . . . I am.’

  ‘Yes.’ She clenched her fist and gave a little air punch. She put out her hand for me to shake. ‘Partners.’

  I shook Rachel’s hand and cringed as my fingers were crunched beneath hers. ‘Call me in September,’ she said. ‘We can discuss trainings.’

  Goosebumps pricked my arms as I watched her walk back to her friends. It seemed not that long ago she was my enemy on the court, yet now people I once considered friends sat on the opposite side of the court showing no interest in me, not bothering to ask how I was coping. I sighed. If only there was a crystal ball.

  The men ran onto the court to warm up. I headed to the empty bar for a drink, a potential safe zone. After exchanging smiles with the bar attendant I wandered around, looking at photos on the wall, and reading names on trophies. My chest tightened when I came across my first photo. At only fifteen I made the Australian team. I took one step, then another, taking in photo after photo. My eyes burned, reminiscing. I raised the glass to my lips and closed my eyes as cold bubbles soothed my throat.

  In my head I could see myself playing, dominating. Crashing the boards, driving to the basket, pushing through opponents with sheer, unstoppable force; a world where I reigned. At the very least, a place where I fitted in. Now I was an insignif
icant spectator and in the last place I wanted to be. My walls climbed like ice creeping over my heart, blocking out the pain, blocking out the world.

  ‘Excuse me. Are you Aubree Taylor?’

  I turned quickly to a grey-haired man staring at me. I blinked to refocus. ‘Yes.’

  ‘My daughter is a huge fan of yours. We used to watch you play. I just wanted to say thank you for being such an inspiration to her.’

  A lump formed in my throat. ‘How old is she?’ I managed.

  ‘Fourteen. Started watching you play when she was nine.’ He put out his hand. ‘I’m Jack Norris.’

  I shook Jack’s hand. ‘Well, Jack, I’m going to start coaching next season with Rachel Bond. Put your daughter’s name down and I’ll make sure she’s in my group.’

  ‘Her name is Grace.’

  ‘Tell Grace I look forward to coaching her.’

  BJ’s team scored another victory, and with finals starting in a few weeks he was excited that the win secured a spot in the top four. His team headed to the city to celebrate and I had no chance of escaping the revelries. It was strange being the only female, but at least I knew there were ten guys looking out for me, and after the last party, I was determined not to drink.

  Dressed in jeans and a striped top I hardly appeared trendy, but I didn’t care, I wasn’t out to impress anyone. I volunteered to be the allocated driver; I just wanted to be with BJ, considering he was leaving soon.

  Since Josh knew the bouncer, we gained entry to the Towers nightclub without having to line up. I shuddered in memory of the last time I was here. With no alcohol in my system and surrounded by basketball giants, it almost guaranteed my arse wouldn’t need saving by a certain someone tonight. In saying that, I didn’t expect him to be here. I assumed he was playing interstate since no one had mentioned the footy scores all day.

  BJ’s team loved to dance. As a group we headed to the dance floor, demanding space as big bodies and long arms moved about. At six foot I was tall, yet I was small compared to BJ’s teammates. Josh picked me up with minimal effort and bounced me around the dance floor. I had a bird’s-eye view of the club and crowd numbers made it a full house. The pink haze blurred faces in the distance, but I could tell most of the people had gathered at the back near the bar. Josh lunged and threw me in the air like a rag doll towards BJ, who caught me and lowered me to the ground. He chuckled and patted my back. ‘Your face was priceless.’

  ‘That does it. I’m getting a water,’ I yelled.

  BJ circled his finger in the air to round up his friends. When the group left the dance floor it seemed bare. Josh picked me up again and threw me over his shoulder, and I was thankful not to be wearing a minuscule dress.

  ‘Put me down, Josh,’ I demanded. ‘You guys are embarrassing me.’ More so considering my sober state.

  Josh lowered me to the ground and BJ casually dropped his arm across my shoulders. ‘Now you’ve done it. I won’t be responsible for my friend’s actions.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ I yelled over the music.

  BJ shrugged his shoulders.

  I took a few steps towards the bar and froze, held prisoner by Hunter’s scowl. Hunter looked away and grabbed a tiny blonde standing next to him, pulling her close to his side. It was the same girl as the last time.

  Liar.

  A song about not getting back together pumped through the speakers and my jaw dropped with the relevance. Then Josh and his teammates surrounded me, mouthing the words.

  What the hell?

  I looked at BJ casually leaning on the bar and grinning from ear to ear. He raised his hands, palms up, and shrugged his shoulders.

  ‘Oh,’ I said, realising it was a payback and Josh planned to really embarrass me. Oh boy.

  Nine guys circled me, miming the words to the song, singing to me, and to each other. I couldn’t help but laugh; they looked hilarious, and by the end of the song had attracted an audience. The circle broke away and Josh patted my back for being a good sport. My jaw burned from laughing and when the crowd parted I turned and snuck a peek at Hunter, hoping for some stupid reason that he’d witnessed the performance. My stomach nose-dived. No such luck. He was kissing, no mauling, the blonde in a gross PDA. His arms snaked around her back holding her close. I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to see them like this, although I couldn’t close my heart from the pain. I was stupid to think he’d changed.

  BJ called out my name and waved me over to the bar, then held out his arm like a wing for me to slip under. When his arm fell over my shoulders I looked up at him. ‘Hey, you don’t mind if I head home, do you?’

  ‘Nah. Me and the guys will catch a cab later. Does it have anything to do with Hunter, though?’

  I screwed up my face. ‘No. Why?’ My stomach churned at seeing him with the blonde, even though it confirmed my impression of him using his football status to pick up chicks. Hunter had no morals when it came to getting laid.

  ‘‘Cause he’s been giving us daggers all night. What’s his problem?’

  Satisfaction washed over me at hearing Hunter had secretly been watching me. I shrugged. ‘No idea. I think he’s bipolar.’

  CHAPTER SIX

  The following morning Maddy stood in my doorway with her hands on her hips. ‘There’s a Blackbirds’ family day at the Botanic Gardens, and you have to come. I’m not going alone, so get dressed.’

  I groaned, realising she had made the effort to drive to my house so I couldn’t refuse. ‘How many people will be there?’

  ‘Thousands. It’s for the fans. But there’re stalls and music and it’s in the gardens. Come on, I need to get some sunshine.’

  Oddly enough, the sun shined brightly despite the crisp morning air, and since Maddy had been cooped up with a cold I felt obliged to go. Thinking of all the people attending the picnic, I presumed there was little chance I’d run into Hunter.

  I pulled on jeans and a green top that Maddy said highlighted my eyes, and took extra time with my makeup and hair . . . just in case. Thirty minutes later we were in her car heading towards the city.

  ‘It’s because of Hunter you’re hesitant, isn’t it?’

  I nodded. ‘I saw him last night with that blonde. He didn’t even say hello.’

  She turned to me and crinkled her brow.

  ‘Watch the road,’ I demanded.

  ‘What’s really going on between you two?’ she asked without looking at me.

  My mouth went into overdrive explaining what had happened with Hunter and everything he had said to me on the night I slept at his place.

  ‘Holy fuck, he really likes you.’

  I screwed up my face. ‘Likes me? He practically shagged some girl in front of me.’

  Maddy exhaled loudly. ‘The girl, was she my size and blonde?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Sabrina Jones. He’s been sleeping with her on and off for a year. She means nothing to him. She’s —’

  ‘His sex on tap,’ I finished.

  Maddy nodded.

  My iPhone vibrated with a text from Hunter.

  Your friends are fucking hilarious.

  We stopped at a traffic light, so I turned the phone for Maddy to read the screen. ‘What do you make of that?’

  Maddy stared at the message. She blinked twice as though digesting it. ‘Jealous as a jilted skunk. But it’s him that stinks.’

  ‘Where do you pull these sayings from? You really think he likes me?’

  ‘Likes you, yes. But he’s mad as hell. You must’ve done something else to upset him.’

  I shrugged. ‘I told him I wasn’t interested.’

  Maddy rubbed her cheek. ‘Seems like my cousin is used to getting what he wants.’ She narrowed her eyes at me. ‘Do you actually like him, like really like him?’

  ‘I’m not sure.’

  She laughed under her breath. ‘Must be a first for him. What are you not sure about?’

  I groaned. ‘It’s Hunter . . . you know . . . I guess I’m scared.’
r />   ‘Of?’ As long as we’d been friends I couldn’t recall Maddy being afraid of anything. She was popular at school, tiny and cute, and hometown famous because of Hunter. Guys came easy and so did the sex, so needless to say one-night stands were not a problem for her. Maddy had full control over her heart and, if anything, she used the guys and not the other way around. Maddy was studying to be a health education teacher at university. If she could talk to kids about the facts of life then I could not imagine anything bothering her.

  ‘Everything,’ I said, feeling foolish.

  The lights changed to green and Maddy planted her foot on the accelerator. ‘If you’re worried about running into him then we’ll keep our distance. I’ll say a quick hello and then we can enjoy the entertainment.’

  Maddy just supported me over her cousin, and that’s how it had always been between us. Maddy looked out for me and although she was almost half my size, I followed her around school like royalty. When my father had died, Maddy was there for me. She remembered the cruel fights between her parents and the heartbreak of her father walking out. The pain of loss lingered in her heart and she knew all the right things to say to make me feel better. Yet my memories of my father were good ones. Although an alcoholic, he was a happy drunk. He never verbally abused us, and by the time I got home from training he was usually in bed asleep. There were no arguments between my parents. One day he just didn’t wake up. Mum never discussed details. But I heard snippets of conversation between Mum and Gran about how mixing medication with alcohol had caused his death.

  I looked at Maddy. ‘Thank you.’

  After the Blackbirds players were announced to the stage, their fans demonstrated undying support in a loud roar and applause. The celebrations continued with a band playing favourite rock’n’roll music of the eighties—I imagined for the dads—and games were set up so the players could mingle with the children.

  Maddy slipped away to find Hunter, while I waited by a pond sprinkled with pink lily pads, and watched a clown paint children’s faces. When I checked my phone for the zillionth time and still had no word from Maddy, I wandered the gardens, taking in the surrounding beauty while ignoring the overexcited chatter of fans. It wasn’t like I could just go up to anyone and strike up a conversation about the players. I didn’t know a thing about football.