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"Good." She reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze. "Sometimes you have to close your eyes and jump."
I nodded and followed her out of the box. If I jumped, where would I land? I had no idea, and that scared me most of all.
CHAPTER 24
CHASE
I ducked my head to avoid making eye contact with anyone I passed. No one tried to stop me. They were all heading to the press conference, vying for a good place to stand. None paid much attention to anyone leaving the area.
I almost bumped into Bec as I hurried through a doorway.
"Sorry," I said in the direction of my feet and kept going.
She said something, but I didn't hear it. Any other time, I'd stop and ask. This time, I just kept on going.
I slipped into the elevator which took me up to the private boxes. That ride took about three days. Okay, three minutes, but it seemed like much longer.
The doors weren't even fully open when I pushed past them and trotted to the team box.
Apart from cleaners removing empty plates, wiping tables and stacking chairs, it was empty. No sign of Ashley.
Idiot, I said to myself.She's probably long gone. If she was here at all.
I turned away in frustration and leaned against the wall to think. If she wasn't here, then I should let it go. Lethergo, once and for all.
What if she was though? What if I missed her in the crowds? I remembered Bec and swore under my breath. Could that be what she tried to tell me? I could be clutching at straws here. She might have just said hello, and I was too dense to pay attention.
I thought about calling Ashley, but then I stepped into the elevator and the signal died.
You'd think, in this day and age, they could make a phone signal work anywhere, even in an elevator car in a big building.
I tucked my phone back into the pocket of my jeans and waited for the doors to slide open again.
I stepped out and scanned the faces heading for the doors, or those who bustled around doing whatever they did, post game.
I didn't want to go near the press conference. I wouldn't get away if I did.
"It's Chase!" an excited young voice whispered.
I glanced down to see a wide-eyed boy of about eight, wearing a Rapids shirt and looking at me in surprise. Tomato sauce and mustard was smeared on the sides of his mouth.
I guessed he'd had a hotdog during the game. He still held a cup of cola in his hand that probably cost half a day's wages for his parents. Game food was part of the fun, but it wasn't cheap.
"Hey," I greeted. "Did you enjoy the game?"
The kid stared at me.
"He asked a question, Bobby," the man beside him said. They didn't look alike, but the man gave Bobby a fond smile.
Bobby nodded. "Yeah, it was sick! We smashed the Kookaburras right back up their gumtree."
I chuckled. "We sure did."
"Yeah, Dan said they'll be hanging on to their nuts for a while after that." Bobby nodded to the man beside him.
Dan groaned. "You're not really supposed to repeat stuff like that."
"Don't worry, I won't tell Mum," Bobby said. "She'll get cranky if I do."
