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“It’s a little strange sometimes. I walk into the drug store and it gets quiet, and I look around wondering what’s happening before I realize that it’s because of me. It would be different in a bigger city with more professional sports teams so the athletes aren’t so rare. You know that there are social media accounts that track every move we make?”
I did know that. “For some of the Wonderwomen, too. My sister had a huge fanbase.”
“Oh, she was a cheerleader like you?”
I stared at him, shocked. “You didn’t know that? You don’t remember seeing Aubin dance? She was still on the squad when you got drafted by the Woodsmen.”
“I guess I never noticed her,” he said, shrugging. “I have my mind on other things during the games.”
But he’d mentioned that he’d seen me doing tumbling. Maybe he’d only said that to be nice.
Bowie announced that he was hungry and went to the kitchen to reheat something, which he offered to me as well. I joined him at the table and we kept talking as he ate. Again, it wasn’t us having a meal together, it was only me sitting and nibbling on a few things to keep him company. We discussed Fan Day and how that was going to go since it looked like it would be stormy.
“The Wonderwomen usually perform outside anyway, but the players are always in the building,” I commented. “I wonder how they’re going to keep you guys out of the weather.”
“I’m not that concerned about some water on me. Are you going to get rained on?”
“Well, usually it’s so sunny and hot that we’re roasting, so maybe the rain will feel good,” I said. “But it might be slippery.”
“You be careful, then.”
I would have to be. I was already worried about the tumbling passes, too, since the stage would be smaller and because of my injury. “It will be fine. Once the performance is over, we get to go on the backstage tours and I love doing that.”
“Aren’t you already backstage enough?”
“I mean, we get to go into your locker room and to look at the Hall of Fame displays, and there are always retired players there and I get their autographs, and cheerleaders from other seasons come, and the Woodsmen coaches talk to us, and everything.”
He was grinning at me. “You’re a huge fan.”
“I always have been. I used to watch every game and I follow college football, too, so I know about the players who might get drafted for us.”
“All right, I’ll give you a test. Which Woodmen wide receiver holds the record—”
“Williams, Nico Williams. He holds all the records, but I bet that Kellen Karma is going to get close or pass him. He’s excellent.”
“You are correct. Your second question is about the defensive line, which is the most important part of the team.”
“Of course,” I agreed.
“Which Woodsmen player has the most career sacks?”
Well, that was easy: Knox Lynch, who had just been hired by the team to coach. Bowie had a lot more trivia questions and they got increasingly technical and minute, but I really did know a lot.
“I’m not going to stump you, am I?” he finally asked.
“You can test me on the cheerleaders, too. I know them all. I wish there was a section in the Hall of Fame room in the stadium for them, and for the mascots. Did you know that my coach used to be in the Hank the Hunter costume and perform at games? Do you remember when he and the Nutty the Chipmunk character would do their shows on the field? I used to love them but Coach Sam won’t talk about it. He only says that the big Hank head was hot and to get my butt moving when I ask him questions.”
“I remember those mascots,” Bowie said, nodding. “I used to watch them, too. Did you go to the games back then?”
“No,” I said. “I didn’t go until I was older and I could take myself. My dad hates the team.”
“Not a sports guy?”
“No, he isn’t, but it’s really about the Woodsmen. My mom was a Dame, which is what they used to call our squad, and he was kind of jealous. He didn’t like that she was a cheerleader and she got so much attention from other men. I guess he thinks that it took away from their relationship.” I shrugged, recalling that a lot of men seemed to feel that way. “He doesn’t talk too much about my mom.”
“That was what your boyfriend said about you too. When we were out on the loading dock at your sister’s wedding, he called you an awful name and said you were trying to get attention from the players.”
“I don’t think so,” I answered. “But whatever Ward said, it was because he was drinking from that stupid open bar.” The cost of it had just about killed us. “Anyway, me being on the squad isn’t a problem. I wouldn’t let anything take away from our relationship.” I shifted uncomfortably. Really? Was that the truth? I was sitting in another man’s apartment, and Ward would have been furious to know it. My actions certainly would have taken away from our relationship because they would have caused a huge fight.
