“I’m glad you’re okay,” I ventured, racking my brain for something sensitive or friendly to say. “I…” God, I was so bad at these types of interactions. “I don’t date in the MLS, either?” I offered, causing Josie’s brows arch. “Most players are more work than they’re worth and, well, last time I got involved with someone remotely related to the world, he— This is TMI. I—”
A blue-and-white ice pack was thrust in front of me, saving me from babbling something I’d regret.
I looked down at the small hands offering it. “Thanks,” I said, snatching the pad from the kid’s grasp and placing it against my forehead. It immediately stung.
“You’re welcome,” a brown-eyed kid said with a toothy smile. “I’m María Vasquez. When is your birthday? I need date, time, and exact place.”
I heard Josie’s snicker. “María, what have we talked about going around asking people’s ages?” She patted the kid on the shoulder. “This is Adalyn, she’s coming from… Miami, right?” I gave her a nod. “And she will be helping with the team.”
“Helping is a simplification,” I countered. “I will—”
“Are you the one who booted Mr. Cam’s ass?”
“María,” Josie warned again.
She rolled her eyes. “Sorry, I meant Mr. Cam’s butt. He called it a bum the other day. He doesn’t speak much but he uses funny words sometimes. I think he’s a Taurus. And I don’t trust Taurus men. What zodiac sign are you, Miss Adalyn?”
“Hmm, Virgo? But—”
“Exciting! Are you our new coach?” She shot a look at me, giving me a once-over. Her eyes found my feet. “Are you going to coach us in those?”
I glanced down at my heels. “I’m not—”
“Oh my God!” she squealed, the ponytails atop her head moving with the three words. “You look like Vanessa Hudgens inThe Princess Switch. Are you doing a makeover of the team?” She turned around. “Guys, come here! We have a new coach!”
“I…” My lips bobbed. “What?”
The rest of the kids looked over at us, but none of them seemed anywhere near as excited as María. In fact, even in the distance, a couple of them looked… a little scared of me. One of them even grumbled, “She doesn’t look like a princess.”
“Can’t Coach Cam continue to coach us?” someone else said.
“I’d rather have Grandpa Moe, honestly. He lets us play games most of practice.”
“I also want Coach Cam. Why did she scare him away?”
My jaw fell to the floor at that last comment.
Josie linked her arm with mine.
“Welcome to the Green Warriors, Adalyn,” she said in a cheery voice that didn’t match the tone of the girls’ debate. “I’ll show you around town when we wrap up practice. There’s not much to see besides a few shops on Main Street and the Vasquez farm, which is a few miles south, but you’ve made an important acquaintance: me.” She grinned. “And that piece of red velvet is up for grabs if you want it.”
The confirmation that Green Oak was that small of a town wasn’t exactly uplifting, but Josie was nice. And I wasn’t used to people welcoming me with open arms. As much as I’d led a privileged life with hundreds of opportunities that had allowed me to peek into all kinds of social circles, I’d always kept to myself. It wasn’t easy for me to click with people, or perhaps it was me making it hard. Either way, the truth was that, besides Matthew, I didn’t have many people I considered friends.
So I wouldn’t turn away her offer. Or the cake. Being friends with the mayor would come in handy—and I definitely had more curves than Vanessa Hudgens, which had a lot to do with my sweet tooth.
Unfortunately, before I could even open my mouth to accept, one of the kids playing with her phone gasped loudly, drawing our attention.
“Isn’t this Miss Adalyn!?” she all but yelled, pointing at the device. All the girls drew closer. My heart tripped and my eyes widened in alarm. Josie frowned in confusion. “Holy cow.” The kid’s jaw dropped in shock. “Why is she beating the crap out of a giant bird?”
Well, so much for that respite.
I was on my way to bed when my phone pinged with Matthew’s message ringtone.
Before the silly five-second tune he’d set for himself last time we’d seen each other was up, my phone was in my hand.
MATTHEW: Have you checked socials since we talked? Or at all?
I sat on the edge of the horrendous, and I feared infested, mattress, staring at the screen for a few seconds. We’d talked on the phone a couple of hours earlier, while I was driving back to Lazy Elk from Josie’s Joint. It’d been a short call where I’d brought Matthew up to date—I had cake, possibly made a friend, Grandpa Moe is a charming old man, Green Oak is unbelievably small, there’re lots of outdoorsy things, my philanthropic venture is a children’s team, they already know about Sparkles, one of them wears a tutu. And to that Matthew had said, I told you so. Or an extended version of those four words that encouraged me to pack my things and go back to Miami. I’d hung up on him.
ADALYN: I haven’t been online since the airport. Much to do and reception is spotty.
The three dots jumped on the screen for the longest of moments, making me shift in place and rubbing the worn fabric of the comforter against my bare legs. Unfortunately, I’d only packed a matching set of silk sleeping shorts and a tank top—which was what I always slept in and yet another way in which I’d been uncharacteristically careless. Had I done the proper research and known my rental was going to be covered in things like antlers, dust, and coarse flannel comforters, I would have ordered the thickest, longest pajamas I could find.
MATTHEW: Just keep in mind that I am sending you this because I know you would hate not knowing about it.
That made my stomach drop. He was a shoot-first-and-think-later texter.
ADALYN: Why are you warning me? Just send me the link.
MATTHEW: Before I send it to you I want you to promise me that you will call me the moment you start spiraling.
ADALYN: I don’t spiral.
MATTHEW: Call it what you want.
ADALYN: LINK.
A strange, scratchy noise made me look up from my phone. I inspected the barely lit cabin, wondering if on top of everything else, I also had to deal with some… wild animal sneaking in.