Page 17 of Baller's Surprise Baby

I stare at my phone, utterly speechless, and when I finally do find the ability to think, it’s the only appropriate response.

“What the hell?”

13

Ryder

Ihad my media manager get her number. I was too ashamed to ask my sister. Rachel would either think nothing of it or too much of it, and I couldn’t take the chance she’d ask questions.

I check my phone for the billionth time this evening and finally chuck it across the room in frustration. She still hasn’t called back. I can’t blame her, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it. I’ve been such a dick towards her since we started working together, but leaving her in another city? That was some next level shit. I shake my head, still wondering what the hell has me so turned around about this girl. I wasn’t even drinking.

An hour later I hear the sound of my phone ring, but I can’t find it. I’m ready to trash my whole room looking for it until I spot it lodged just behind the leg of a credenza and quickly pick up.

“Hey Everly…” I’m so happy to talk to her that I belatedly realize I’m at a loss for words.

“What do you want, Ryder?” Her voice is strained, and I hate the tiny waver I hear in it. She sounds vulnerable, and something inside of me automatically responds. My spine tenses, and suddenly all I want is to make that waver go away.

“Listen…I fucked up…” I hate admitting what I did, but I hate that I may have lost my chance with her even more. “I had this amazing connection with you, and a night of…unexpectedly mind-blowing sex, and then I freaked out and ruined it…” I collapse on the side of my bed with my confession and lean over, one hand at my brow, the other holding the phone to my ear. The line is silent, but she hasn’t hung up on me so I figure I should keep going.

“Believe it or not, I’ve never left a girl like I left you in Phoenix.”

At this she snorts and responds sarcastically. “Great, so it’s just me then.”

I can practically hear her rolling her eyes at me over the phone.

“Not like that.” I heave a deep breath and decide to just go for it while I stare down at the bedroom carpet and nervously wiggle my toes in random lines. “You’re important to me, Everly. I care about you. I care about us, and I know I blew it when I ran. I…we…There’s something special about you. I’ve never…sex has always been something fun and no strings attached for me, but I woke up the next morning and I felt like maybe this was different, like maybe I wanted strings attached, and it got into my head, and…“ Damn, this is hard. I can’t get the words out, but I’m desperate. “Let me make it up to you.”

She’s silent for a minute before she answers, “Look, you wanted to apologize, so I’ve returned your call, and you’ve done it. There’s really no need to see each other again.”

“No, Everly, I need to see you again. I want to make this right. I should never have left. I should have turned right back around and marched into that room and showed you that morning after sex is even better, and then when I saw you at the Staples Center I should have apologized right away. I really…I was an immature prick. You deserve better. You do, but I’m asking you. Please. Please let me make this up to you. Give me a chance to make this right.“ I hear a heavy sigh from her end, and when she answers it’s still not quite what I was hoping for.

“Ryder…I think that… I don’t know... It’s probably best if we just let this one go....”

And that little ‘I don’t know’ is all it takes. It’s like a tiny green flag and I’m ready to go, so I set all morals aside and push like it’s the last ten seconds of a tied game.

“Everly, you’re my sister’s best friend. Even if we let this go - “ I cringe at the thought. “ – we’re going to see each other again. I’m going to be there at holidays. You’re still working on the documentary, and we’re always going to be a part of each other’s lives. I owe this to you, and you owe it to yourself to hear me out.

“Don’t push it, buddy.”

“No. No, it’s you who needs to not push your luck. How awkward is it going to be when Rachel finds out that we had a one-night stand, and you broke my heart?”

“Wha -!? What the hell, Ryder, so you’re lying and threatening me now?”

“No, no, I’m just trying to help you out. Okay, let’s think about this. So, a man fell for you and was a jackass to you, and it could get really awkward if you had to keep seeing him over and over. I mean, if he were to be at your job, and at your birthday and every holiday and be related to your BFF. I just…well, I just can’t think of anything more complicated, and for old times’ sake I’d really like to make this easier… on you.”

She doesn’t say anything, and I wait with baited breath before tacking on, “Meet me for lunch… I’ll take you to the Marie Gabrielle Restaurant and Gardens. It’s just ten minutes from the American Airlines Center.” She’s still silent but hasn’t hung up.

“You meet me for lunch, and then I don’t have to blow up all of your social media. Think of all the time and energy you’ll save being on good terms with me. You won’t have to block me, no reports to the police. Life will be so good.” Finally, I hear a small chuckle, and it’s amazing.

“You’re a jackass,” she says without heat. “…Well, I can’t say I like all of your reasoning, but when a man is ready to grovel, a girl kind of wants to be there to see it in person, so…I guess it’s a date.” I swear I can hear a smile in her voice, and I feel relief and excitement surging through me in equal measures.

“It’s a date. Tomorrow. I’ll text you.”

“Okay…tomorrow, then.”

We hang up and I message her the time and place. Less than twenty-four hours later I’m waiting with my heart in my throat, surprised at how nervous I still am. This girl’s got me in knots, and as much as I’ve enjoyed and cared about all of my partners in the past, I just can’t seem to be cool where Everly is concerned.

Morning practice is done, and I’ve got meetings a bit later, so lunch was an easier arrangement today than it might have been at other times during the season. I’ve arrived early to the restaurant and when I glance at my phone for the twentieth time a small part of me wonders if she’ll stand me up. It’s not like I don’t deserve it, but I remind myself Everly isn’t like that…I hope.

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