Page 45 of Totally Opposed

“It’s fine. Why? Who said it wasn’t?”

“No one, I was just watching today and…”

“I just had an off day. It was nothing.”

It sounds like it was not nothing. Gordon is one of the oldest players on the team. It has to be rougher on his body than it is on, say, a guy like Tim who’s still in his twenties.

“It happens. Was just checking in. So your business is still going well?”

His expression immediately shifts from apprehension to pure excitement. His eyes widen and he smiles ear to ear.

“Amazing. Oh, man. It’s so much fun, too. This next gig we’re doing is for Hail Fenton’s twenty-fifth birthday and every celebrity you can think of will be there. It’s the biggest event yet. I’ve been on the phone with my vendors all week, making sure everything is on track.”

I’ve seen Hail Fenton’s latest blockbuster, Tides. It was good. He’s Aussie like Tim but does the American accent so well that most people didn’t even know he was Aussie until he did the press tour.

“How did you score that?”

“His girlfriend is a model who was at the last event, and she’s planning the party for him. But it’s fucking hard to stay on top of it all with the tour as well. I got three more emails enquiring about events, too, just yesterday. Who knew, celebrities partied so hard?”

“Yeah, ‘cause they are totally known for staying out of the spotlight,” I laugh. “At least you have something lined up for when this all ends.”

“That’s the plan. Not that I want to stop playing anytime soon, but I see all the young guys coming up, and pretty soon I won’t have a choice, I guess. What will you do when it’s all over?”

“Fuck, I have no clue. I guess maybe go work on the ranch with my brothers.”

“How are Dean and Nial?”

“Good. They want Gramps to sell it to them, but the old guy already added all our names to the deed, and he doesn’t want any of their money. So I guess I own a ranch now, too.”

“Well, with him refusing to leave the house, he doesn’t exactly need it. Still can’t get him to a game?”

“Nope. I might be able to get him to agree to a visit to the ranch, though. Maybe when the season is over, I can head up there in break. See what my brothers have done with the place for myself. We should all go. If we keep losing, we might get axed and it could be the last time we get to all hang out together.”

“Way to make it sound super appealing.”

“You know what I mean. It would be great to have you all come see it.”

“I’ve never been to a ranch,” Gordon says, and Harrison points my way from across the table.

“Yes,” he declares. “We needed to find something amazing to do on break. The ranch would be perfect. Arlo can come, too, right?”

“I guess. I mean, I’ll have to check if they don’t already have it booked out, but sure.

Harrison pulls out his phone, and a second later several chimes sound as the guys all check their phones. I grab mine, too.

HARRISON: Thinking of a week at Alan’s ranch to unwind at the end of the season this year? You know, in case it’s our last. Looking for numbers before we lock it in. Who’s up for it?

At least I am not the only one who was thinking this could be our final hurrah. I text my brother Nial.

ALAN: How are the bookings for the first week of October? I’d love to bring the guys to the ranch. Not sure of the exact numbers, but if they are all in, we might need all the cabins.

The three dots appear right away, and his message comes through a few seconds later.

NIAL: We’re free that whole week. We have the pool going in the week before and weren’t sure if it was going to be done on schedule, so had it already blocked out. Let us know the numbers when you know. BTW an awesome game last week. Dean and I will make the next one at Savannah, promise.

ALAN: I think the guys are more interested in pretending to be cowboys than swimming, anyway. No worries if you don’t get there, you have a lot going on.

They came to only a couple of games last year with all the renovations and upkeep at the ranch keeping them busy. Kelly was at every Savannah game and always is. She bought tickets the second they went live online to be sure she wouldn’t miss out. I told her I could probably get her tickets, but she said she wanted to support me in every way, and that included paying for her ticket. She’s the best big sister in the world.

---