CHAPTER TWELVE
“She’s in my head, Nat.” Wyatt lay on the creaky hotel bed and tossed the football straight into the air, then caught it with one hand. His other loosely held the telephone to one ear. “Asking for her help with the commercial was a very bad idea.”
“Why?” Natalie asked. “You suck at acting. Without her help, you’ll probably hurt the team more than you help it. People will be like, ‘Wow, that Wyatt James is a total drag. No way I’m going to see him play.’”
“Thanks,” Wyatt said dryly. “What would I do without your undying support?”
“You know I’m right. You’re a train wreck on camera. Makes me seriously question if Luke Ryder really is as business savvy as everyone claims. Maybe the conspiracy theorists are right—his father really was crygenically preserved and is leading the company from the grave.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Wyatt.” Natalie was using her mother hen tone now—the one that had always driven Wyatt insane, especially since she was the younger sister. “There is no denying that Becky was a completely selfish harpy. But that doesn’t mean all women are like her. If you like Tamera, ask her out. Maybe, after a few dates, you’ll decide she’s not someone you want a relationship with. But maybe you’ll finally discover everything you’ve always wanted.”
“Wow. That was cheesy, even for you.”
“Maybe it’s cheesy, but it’s also the truth. What is it about Tamera that has you running away with your tail between your legs?”
There was a pull between the two of them that Wyatt couldn’t describe, and it was that something he couldn’t put into words that freaked him out more than anything. “She’s an actress, for starters.”
“Yeah, I watched Eye in the Sky.”
“Actresses are shallow and vain.”
“So are football players, and yet somehow you’re still a pretty decent guy.”
Wyatt tossed the football into the air again and let out a frustrated sigh. “She’s friends with Drew. And if she thinks he’s a good guy, that pretty much tells me all I need to know.”
“You’re being an idiot.”
Wyatt flinched. “Ouch.”
“Well, it’s true. Sometimes people are poor judges of character. Look at you and Becky. She turned out to be a total Medusa, but that doesn’t make you a bad person for dating her.”
It didn’t make him a good person, either. He ran his finger along the stitching of the football, feeling like such a girl for talking to his sister about his relationship problems. “Tamera can help me with my acting, we’ll close on the house, and then I never have to see her again.”
“Yeah, that sounds like an incredibly mature way to deal with this whole thing. Just shove your feelings down and pretend they don’t exist. That’ll show Becky.”
“Low blow,” Wyatt grumbled.
“I call it like I see it.”
Wyatt knew she was right, which bothered him more than anything else. He’d been unfair to Tamera since the very beginning, judging her based on a criteria she’d had no part in creating.
“Nothing stings as bad as regret,” Natalie said.
“You sound like Dad.”
“He’s a smart guy.”
Wyatt said nothing.
Natalie sighed dramatically. “Sheesh, Wyatt. This isn’t rocket science. Just ask Tamera out. No matter how the date ends, at least you won’t wonder what could’ve happened if you’d stopped being a pansy and actually tried.”
“I’m not being a pansy.” But the protest sounded half-hearted, even to him. Wyatt glanced at his watch, then sat up. “I’ve got to go, Nat. Don’t want to be late for practice.”
“Man up and take her out, okay? For me, if for no one else. I can’t listen to you whine about this for too much longer before I lose my mind.”
“Thanks for the support.”
She laughed. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Wyatt couldn’t stop thinking about his conversation with Natalie as he drove to the stadium. Maybe she was right, and he should ask Tamera out. They’d never really spent time together outside of house hunting and that one awkward first meeting at the gym. Maybe if they hung out more outside of work, he’d discover she wasn’t all that interesting after all.
Yeah. Maybe he’d be traded back to the Vigilantes next season, too.
In the locker room, Wyatt chatted with Tyrone while they got ready for practice. When they headed onto the field, they were surprised to see Luke waiting with McKinley for them.
“Think this is good?” Tyrone muttered out of the corner of his mouth.
Wyatt stared at Luke. The man’s posture was relaxed, his hands in his pockets and a lazy smile on his lips. “Doesn’t look bad at least.”
A few minutes later, the rest of the team was on the field and McKinley raised his hand. The players quickly quieted down and gave the couch their full attention.
“Our owner, Mr. Ryder, has asked to speak with us all for a few minutes before practice,” McKinley said. “Whenever you’re ready, Mr. Ryder.”
Luke stepped forward. “I’ll just take a minute of your time,” he said. “Ryder Communications, in partnership with Footsteps for Change, a community outreach program we frequently work with, is doing a special one-day event at Universal Studios a week from Saturday. We’re giving free tickets to at risk youth and their families so they can enjoy a day bonding with each other, away from their problems. McKinley and I discussed it, and we think this is a great opportunity for the team to give back. We’d like to invite all players and their families to join us for the event. Footsteps for Change will organize meet and greets around the park where the kids can get autographs and photos with the players. We’ll get the specifics out to you soon, but I’d like to personally encourage all of you to attend this event with your families. We can do some good for the community and wrack up some positive press for the team in the process.”
“Everyone will be there,” McKinley said, clapping Luke on the back. “We really appreciate the opportunity.”
“It’ll be a fun day, I think,” Luke said. “My wife is also organizing a gender reveal party for the press. It’ll be another good PR opportunity for the team.”
Gender reveal? Wyatt scratched the back of his neck. Like a floofy party to say whether the baby was a boy or girl?
Luke raised a hand in farewell. “I’m heading back to the office. Any questions can be directed to the team press liaison. She knows where to find me.”
McKinley folded his arms across his massive chest and watched Mr. Ryder leave the stadium. The team stayed quiet, watching the coach watch Luke leave.
“Right,” McKinley said once Luke had disappeared around the corner. “I know Mr. Ryder said this was an invitation, but I’m making it mandatory for all players to attend. Anyone who doesn’t show up will be doing sprints up the bleachers during every practice for a solid week. Understood?”
A rumble of assent echoed back. It wasn’t like this event would cut into Wyatt’s social schedule any. It sounded fun. He’d never been to Universal Studios, and he’d always enjoyed meet and greets with younger fans the best.
Maybe he’d invite Tamera to join him for the day. With her interest in acting, she probably enjoyed Universal Studios. Maybe, like him, she’d never been there before.
He’d ask her when they met tonight.