“You know, I’d love to. But I don’t think you’d want the autograph of a shitty player,” I say with mock sympathy and a shrug of my shoulders.
“Sir, the stadium is closed. You’ll need to leave now.” A stadium security steward finally comes over and ushers him away.
I feel the smug smile overtake my features as Isa whirls on me, her face red and eyes like molten lava.
Oh, fuck.
“What the fuck was that?” she shouts, arms flung out wide to her sides.
“I-I was trying to help,” I stutter out.Guess it’s my time to be scolded.
“How was any of that helping me?” she asks, eyes wild.
“He was saying rude things and harassing you?—”
“I had it handled, Ryan!” she cuts me off. “Do you really think this is the first time anyone has ever said anything like that to me? It’s not. And it definitely won’t be the last!” She runs her hands through her hair in exasperation, sending her bangs pointing in every direction. She left it down today, despite the heat, and it’s contributed to my distracted thoughts of her. “I don’t need you to act like some white knight, swooping in to save me. I’m not a damsel in distress. I can save my damn self!”
“I know you can,” I say softly.
“Then why? Don’t you understand how much it undermines my authority and capabilities when I need amanto step in and fight my battles for me?” She scoffs. “Guys like him”—she thrusts her arm out in the direction the asshole went—“don’t respect women in roles of authority. He doesn’t like women in spaces that are traditionally male, and he feels the need to wave his dick around to make his point. I don’t need you coming over and joining him in his pissing contest.” She drops her face into her hands. “I need to be able to hold my own and deal with guys like him in my own way. Was I expecting him to make things so vulgar? No, but that doesn’t change the fact that I can handle it on my own. That Iwashandling it on my own. How else is a woman supposed to make it in this job if a man has to come to her rescue every time she runs into some misogynistic asshole? Throw into the mix that I currently work in the sports industry. Yetanotherarea dominated by men.” She blows out a resigned breath. “I know you mean well, but I need you to let me handle it next time,” she says with a frown. “I’ve gotta go. See you at thenext game.” With that, she stalks away to the production crew that I hadn’t even noticed had already packed up their things and were clearing off the field.
“Fuuuuuuuuck,” I groan, knowing I royally screwed this up.
As she disappears back into the clubhouse, I break toward the dugout. Throwing shit into my duffle bag at record speeds and digging out my phone.
Ryan
Have you left yet?
Firecracker
About to climb into my car
Ryan
Come to mine?
Firecracker
Ryan, I just want to go home
Ryan
Please?
Let’s watch a movie
We can skip the burgers tonight
I watch the dots dance on my screen. Appearing and disappearing for several moments before a message finally comes through.
Firecracker
Fine
One movie
I send a silent thanks to the universe as I send her my address and run out the door to my car.
