A few laughs sound behind us, and I look back to see Gordon Voss laughing with Ronnie. “You’d better believe that’s going in the caption,” Ronnie says.
“No, leave that out,” Gordon tells her. “No need to humiliate an owner.”
Ronnie drops her voice so low, I can barely hear it. A glance at Aldridge tells me he’s straining to hear as much as I am. “I thought we were trying to play it up for the press?”
But Gordon doesn’t respond. I don’t know if he pulls her away or shakes his head, or what, but the conversation ends there.
Sean’s eyes tense, like he’s picked up on the same thing I have. This whole weekend was supposed to be about our rivalry.
Wasn’t it?
Aldridge alone looks satisfied after their exchange.
And that makes my back itch, right between my shoulder blades.
The Mudflaps win.
Aldridge shakes our hands like we’re all friends here.
“I’ll get with your assistant about getting one of your jerseys,” he says.
Sean’s hand tightens around my back, but I shake my head. “Nice try. You can donate to the Carolina Fosters Foundation.” I look at Ronnie and Gordon. “Let’s make sure we add that to the coverage of this weekend, okay? The donation?”
Gordon’s nod isn’t as bright as Ronnie’s, but he agrees.
“Good meeting y’all,” Sean says, shaking hands with everyone.
“Thanks for coming,” Aldridge says to me. “I know this was a sacrifice. It means a lot that we got to catch up, Kayla.”
“I’m glad we could get it done,” I say, even if I meanI’m glad it’s over.
But Aldridge isn’t done withme.“Meryl’s furious with me, you know,” he says, making me swallow hard. “She can’t believe I lost the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“You didn’t lose me,” I say. “We didn’t work anymore.”
“I blame myself for that,” he says. Like he means it. “Though maybe not as much as she does.”
I can’t help but laugh. “I believe it. Give her a hug for me when you see her next. And Phineas and Louisa.” My stomach feels like it’s boiling just mentioning their names. “I miss them.”
“They miss Auntie Kay, too.”
When it’s time to leave, I give Aldridge a sad smile that I’m glad Sean doesn’t see.
I wouldn’t want him to get the wrong idea.
“I’ll see you Monday,” Scottie says. “Have a good honeymoon, lovebirds.”
Sean takes my hand as we walk out of the box and head toward VIP parking.
“What should we do now, Cap?” I ask.
“Whatever you want, Boss.”
“In that case, I could really go for some more barbecue.”
“If you think I’m letting Big Hank steal you away, you’ve got another thing coming.”
“Oh yeah?”
