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"Good to see you’ve been listening." Coach nodded. "Go get some lunch, we have a long afternoon ahead of us."
"Yes, Coach," Pinky said.
Coach Quinn gave us both a long look, then nodded and walked away.
"Looks like your fancy new nickname might stick." Pinky grinned.
"Good," I said.
He looked at me like he wasn't sure if I serious or not.
Just to help him out, I said, "It's better than God's Gift. And a lot more accurate. I know Rubie would agree." I grinned.
Obviously aware his attempt to goad me had fallen flat, Pinky scowled and stalked away.
Bam, who probably heard the whole thing, started to clap slowly. "That told the prick."
I shrugged. "For now. I'm sure he's thinking up new insults already."
"If it helps, he doesn't seem to like anyone. Including himself." Bam frowned. "It's a bit sad when you think about it. Whatever, we have bigger things to focus on right now."
"Yeah, one or two," I agreed.
I reflected on the fact Pinky had a point. My relationship with Rubie was going to change the way the guys looked at me. There was no getting around that. As long as we were together, and I was part of the team, guys would comment on it. If she took over as owner, they'd leer at her and think guy things about her.
I wanted to punch the shit out of them all. She was mine. They could keep their thoughts to themselves.
Yeah, Rubie could handle them if she had to. When she had to. That was as inevitable as the sun rising tomorrow morning. Guys would be guys no matter what either of us did or said.
Still, if they looked at her the wrong way or said anything to her that pissed her off, I was ready to beat the snot out of them for her.
I rubbed a hand over my forehead and contained the violent thoughts in a box in the back of my mind.
"He might have a point about something," I said, my voice low. "What if I'm not good enough? What if I screw up like last week and we lose?"
Bam looked concerned. "You plannin' on doing that?"
"No," I said immediately. "I'm not planning on it, but shit happens."
"Like the week I couldn't catch for nuts?" he asked. "Yeah, shit does happen. And if it does, we'll deal with it. You know why?"
I knew the answer, but I asked anyway, "Why?"
"Because we are the big, bad, motherfucking Rapids," he said. "That's why. Is that not reason enough?"
"It's good enough for me," I agreed. "Thanks."
Bam slapped me on the back so hard it hurt. "Any time, dude. What are friends for anyway?"
Once I managed to catch my breath, I said, "I have no idea. To share pizza and burgers?"
"Yeah, that too. Don't forget the beers." He grinned.
"I'd never forget those." I was drinking less since I met Rubie. Since she didn't drink, it seemed less appealing.
Unless we won the Down Under Bowl. Or lost it. We'd be drowning our sorrows if that happened.
Either way the morning after would be hangover central.
