Page 20 of Offensive Plays
She just had to emphasize that?
"Number twenty-three, Michael Ferguson."
The crowd erupts into unexpected cheers. I didn't know I had such a boisterous fan club.
I take a deep breath and tug at my lapels to make sure I don't look ridiculous. But when I look up, my feet don't want to move.
"Come on up, Fergie," Rina waves me over with her mic.
I don't move. But it's not from nerves. It's that at this exact moment in the back of the room, I see the girl that causes me to lose my focus anytime I see her occupying a seat at a table with my teammates.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Of course, Libby O'Connor would be here tonight. She's the Heatwave's biggest supporter. She never misses a home game. Is the loudest to cheer from the crowd. And tonight, she's looking especially exquisite in an Emerald green and black gown that seems to make her red locks pop.
My stomach twists knowing tonight I plan to forget all about this stupid crush by finally hooking up with someone else.
"Number Twenty-three has chosen to take his date to an intimate ice skating lesson in our very own Space City Arena followed by a very special dinner at his favorite local restaurant. One lucky lady will get an exclusive tour of the new arena updates and get to skate with Ferguson himself."
Oohs and aahs erupt in the crowd. And I think I underestimated the amount of older women that would love the opportunity to skate with an NHL player. Or maybe it's the chance to get to see what's been happening behind the tarps that have been keeping the remodel taking place over the last few months under wraps?
"Bidding will start at two thousand dollars."
Immediately the paddles go up. Yeah, I severely underestimated it.
"Two thousand. Do I have three thousand? Three thousand in the front. Four thousand. Do I have four thousand?" Rina is surprisingly good as an auctioneer. I wonder if in another life she was selling livestock at the Fort Worth Stockyards.
"I'll double it," a woman in a red dress and feathered boa calls from the back.
"Oh, that puts us at eight thousand. Do I have nine?"
"Nine!" Another woman calls from the middle. The woman in red shoots daggers at her. And raises her paddle again. I feel myself starting to sweat through my suit.
"Fifteen thousand," boa lady says, rising from her seat.
Hicks’ mouth drops open next to his date at the same table.
I see Keelan in my peripheral, pumping his fist behind the curtain.
"Wow, ok. Do I have sixteen thousand?" Rina asks the excited crowd. A third woman rises but another voice calls out from the back.
"Twenty-five thousand," it rings out.
My eyes land on the mass of red hair in the emerald dress casually waving her paddle.
"Twenty-five thousand going once," Rina waits. The woman in red and the church hat lady both purse their lips and shake their heads. "Going twice." Nobody moves. "Sold to..." Rina puts her hands over her eyes to see who made the bid.
"Liberty O'Connor," my bidder calls out.
My eyes rake across the room and land on my brother, who stares at her in disbelief.
"Oh! Libby," Rina says, surprised. “Come on up and claim your prize," Rina motions to me like I'm the new car she just won on a game show.
I am dumbfounded.
Why the hell would Zane's sister bid twenty-five G's to go on a date with me? She doesn't even like me? Every time I’ve attempted to make a move she’s without fail put me in the friend-zone.
Libby rises from her seat. The room full of disappointed bidders hesitates but ultimately claps as she makes her way to the stage. My eyes flash to Keelan, who's shrugging at me.
"Just take the win," he whispers.