Page 41 of Totally Played
I jog out onto the field, and my attention moves immediately to where Ash is standing and cheering next to Rachel, and he’s wearing my jacket. Tony wore it on their date, and I didn’t even clock that he came home without it. I guess Ash and he had a pretty good time after all, if he’s wearing the jacket to the game.He waves, and I wave back, but then check over my shoulder, and Tony is waving his way behind me. The whole stadium feels like it’s a billion times smaller, and I jog over to Duckie to try to distract myself from the embarrassment.
“You okay?” Duckie asks, jumping and waving to the crowd as the music starts to grow louder.
“Fine, just ready to win this.”
“Me, too. Benny G and I have a bet going tonight. The loser buys drinks for the whole other team, and I don’t really feel like explaining a thousand-dollar bar tab to Ian. So get your head in the game.”
“My head is in it,” I say, and he glances over to the family and friends section of the stands.
“So, Calvin, I see Ash is here again.”
“Yeah, he came to watch Tony,” I say, which is technically true, even though it stings more than I like.
“I’m sure he’s not just watching Tony,” Duckie says, and I can’t help but smile. “You know I was straight before I met Ian, right?”
“I didn’t, but cool, I guess,” I say, stretching my arms over my head to loosen up.
“I’m just saying, if you ever need to talk, I’m here.”
“I don’t know… I’m…”
My face is getting warm again, but I don’t have time to respond because the GM is on the mic a second later, welcoming the crowd, and we move into our opening number positions.
I dance the routine and stuff up so many times that Dennis is going to rip me a new one later, for sure. I don’t know what happened, but every time I caught sight of Duckie or Ash or Tony, my brain short-circuited and I’d miss a step or turn the wrong way.
“You better play better than you dance,” someone yells my way when we jog up the stairs through the crowd to meet andgreet with fans. I have to go see Mom and Dad, but Tony is already headed that way, and I really don’t want to see him flirting with Ash. Duckie wraps his arm over my shoulder.
“Come on, B-one, let’s go throw B-two off his game,” Duckie says, and we shake hands and take a few selfies with fans on our way over to the family and friends section.
“Honey, are you feeling okay?” Mom asks me the second we get there, resting the back of her hand against my forehead.
“I’m fine,” I tell her, and Tony laughs.
“You sure, brother?”
“I’m fine, I swear, just leave it.”
“The dance was good,” Ash lies, giving me a small smile.
“Thanks, but I know it was a mess. I’ll be hearing it from Dennis later, I bet.”
Ash shakes his head. “No, seriously, it ended up looking like it was part of the skit. Don’t worry about it.”
Duckie laughs. “Yeah, you watch. Dennis will have you doing it at every game, maybe he’ll even have us all clowning around out there. So, Ash, are you ready to watch B-two lose?”
Tony shoves his arm.
“You’re the one losing, Duck man.”
“You might be right. You were on fire last game. I wouldn’t be surprised if you play even better tonight, with your mom and your dad and your sister here watching, oh, and Ashley. So many people here with their eyes on you, I’m sure you’ll give them the best game of your life,” Duckie says, and I can see the cogs turning in Tony’s mind.
“Both my boys will play great, I’m sure,” Mom says, but it’s too late. Duckie is in Tony’s head.
“So, Ashley, you up for another game night? It’s Pictionary and giant Jenga tonight. You and Calvin made a great team. I’d love the chance at a rematch.”
“Sure, anytime. It was fun.”
“Awesome. I’ll message you when we set it up. I’ll need your number, though, and my phone is in the locker room.”
