Page 31 of Soulmates and Slapshots
Coach is already there with his clipboard in hand, and a few of my teammates are hanging around looking bored.
I raise my phone and snap a quick photo of the setup to send to Cooper. Whether he admits it or not, I’m sure this scene will bring back a few good memories for him, especially if Maple Fest is as popular as I’ve heard.
I type a quick message and hit send.Don’t you miss it?
“Smith reporting for duty,” I call as I approach the table. “What’s my assignment, Coach?”
He glances up from the clipboard and hands me a schedule. “Photo ops for the first shift. Then you're off the hook for a bit. Just remember, you’re still expected to mingle and take pictures if anyone asks.”
“Got it,” I reply, already scanning the crowd, hoping to spot Fiona.
But no sign of her so far. There’s no way she would skip her first Maple Fest, right?
My phone buzzes as soon as I sit down behind the table. It’s a message from Cooper.
Maple Fest. Good food.
I smirk. Cooper is truly a man of many words.
“Hey, Smith,” my teammate Nate calls out with a smirk. “Who was that woman you left with after the game the other night? She’s kind of hot.”
Hearing him talk about Fiona bothers me. “Are you stalking me now, Simpson? Why so concerned about who I spend time with?”
He snorts. “Ha. You wish. I’m just curious.”
“She’s a new friend,” I say, keeping my tone casual.
“Good for you,” he replies, elbowing me lightly. “Way to get acquainted with the locals.”
“She’s not a local,” I correct him. “She’s here visiting family.”
He winces. “Ah. That’s a bummer.”
“Yeah,” I say softly.Tell me about it.
More teammates arrive, and we begin settling in for a full day of smiling for photos, shaking hands, and signing jerseys for excited fans. I usually enjoy this stuff, but today I’m mostly thinking about seeing Fiona.
Carson, Nate, and I are working the first shift, and it doesn’t take long for a line to form. Before we know it, we’ve been greeting and chatting with residents and guests for over an hour. They just keep coming, each one more complimentary than the last. Everyone is so warm and friendly, it’s easy to forget there’s someone out there threatening to take over the town.
As soon as there’s a break in the line, I lean back in my chair and stretch my arms over my head. I haven’t seen Fiona, and I’m growing anxious wondering if she’s skipping the event.
“Hello, Ice Breakers,” a voice sings. I turn to see Fiona’s aunt dressed in a denim dress with pink cowboy boots and a glittery pink cowboy hat. I have a feeling she never does anything halfway.
“It looks like I missed the rush. Perfect timing,” she says. She starts by getting her picture with Nate and then Carson, by the time she gets to me, I’m ready to talk to her.
“How are you, Denise?” I ask warmly.
“I’m wonderful. It’s the best day of the year in Maple Falls,” she says. “Maple Fest is what we’re known for.”
“I can see that. Is Fiona here with you?” I ask, making every effort to sound nonchalant.
She flashes me a mischievous grin. “Not yet. But she should be here any minute.”
I grin. “Okay.”
“You know, I wish I could somehow convince her to stay in Maple Falls,” she says thoughtfully.
Me too.
