Part 6 (1/2)
Mia had been silently observing this entire dialogue, but she finally got up and took Jordan's hand. ”Excuse us, Ryan, but I promised Jordan lunch, and we've only got an hour to spare.”
As they left the kitchen and started for the stairs, Ryan pointed out. ”Food's in the kitchen, girls.”
”That's not what Jordan has a craving for,” Mia said lightly as she tossed her curly brown hair and shot Ryan a wink.
After practice, Ryan decided that Jordan and Jamie were right - she had to get some indication from Coach Hayes as to her plans for the season, as well as take care of some special arrangements she needed to make. ”Hey, Coach?” she called as she started to walk back to her office.
”Yes?”
”Do you have a few minutes to discuss a couple of things?”
She looked at her watch and warned, ”My family is waiting for me for dinner, Ryan. Is it quick?”
”Uhm, probably not,” she said honestly. ”I'll make an appointment.”
Coach Hayes looked at the concerned face for a moment and relented. ”Come on, if it's important enough to make that face, I guess I can spare a few minutes.”
”I'm not very good at hiding my feelings,” she admitted as she tagged along beside her coach. When they reached the office, Ryan asked, ”Do you mind if I get out of my wet jersey?”
”Go ahead. I'll call home while you change.”
A few minutes later, Ryan walked back into the office in a dry T-s.h.i.+rt and her warm up jacket. She sat down in the chair facing the desk, and waited for the coach to hang up the phone. When she did, she gazed at the younger woman and said, ”You're right when you say you don't hide your feelings well, Ryan. It's obvious you're unhappy with your playing time, but I need you to know that I don't explain my decisions to every unhappy player.”
Ryan was a bit taken aback by her comments, but she immediately regained her poise and said, ”I do want to ask what your plans for me are, but not for the reason you suspect. I've been asked to try out for the volleyball national team, but I have no intention of doing so if it would let the basketball team down. So my real question is, do you think you need me enough to give up this opportunity?”
Coach Hayes leaned back in her chair and stared at Ryan for a moment. ”I didn't realize you were that talented at volleyball,” she said slowly.
”I'm not sure I am, but it's nice to be asked to try out. And just for the record, Coach, I never would question your judgment about playing time. I admit I'm disappointed that I haven't been allowed to contribute more, but I trust you to make the correct decisions for the benefit of the entire team.”
”Good,” the older woman said briskly. ”Now, how can I help you?”
”Well, as I said, I like to play basketball, Coach. I made a commitment to play for this team, and I intend to honor that commitment if you're relying on me.”
”I don't understand how my input affects your commitment, Ryan. A commitment is just that. If you want to break your promise to the team, that's your decision. I'm not going to make it easy for you by telling you it doesn't matter.”
The player blew out a frustrated breath and lowered her head, staring at the floor for a moment. ”Look, Ryan,” the older woman said., ”I appreciate the spot you're in, but I don't want to be the one to make this decision for you. I can't promise you that you'll play much - if at all. There's a good chance that you'll end up being the best player on the team, but things could just as easily go the other way. You have to do what you think is right.”
Ryan forced her mouth into a smile. ”Thanks for being honest with me, Coach. I need to decide within the next day or two, so I'll let you know.”
”Good,” the older woman said as she stood.
”One more thing,” Ryan spoke up. ”I'm scheduled to take a math test on the day of our game down at FresnoState. It's a national thing, and it's scheduled for that morning. I can get the okay for a delayed start, but I have to take it that day - and that day only.”
”And?” the coach asked, arching an eyebrow.
”And... I wanted to know if I could fly home, rather than take the bus. There's a five o'clock flight that would allow me to get to school by around six-thirty, if it's on time.”
Narrowing her gaze, the coach asked, ”What makes you so sure that the game will be over in time for you to make the flight?”
”Well,” she said, flus.h.i.+ng a little under the gray-eyed scrutiny, ”I don't really play that many minutes, Coach. I thought I could leave at four, whether or not the game's over.”
The older woman drew in a breath and said, ”Ryan, if that's your att.i.tude, you may as well quit. Either you're a member of the team, or you're not. Making your own schedules and traveling separately indicate a real inability to understand what a team is all about.” She stood to go, arching her eyebrow again as she c.o.c.ked her head. ”Is there anything else?”
Ryan stood, shaking her head the entire time. ”I'll stay for the game and ride home with the team,” she said quietly. ”I have to be accompanied by a faculty member for the entire time period of the test. Are you willing to keep an eye on me from nine to noon, and one to three on that day?”
”That's my job, Ryan,” she said, giving her a small, insincere smile. ”I keep my eye on everyone.”
Being in a bit of a fog when she left the office, Ryan's distraction caused her to slam into Lynette, who was trying to enter. ”Oh, s.h.i.+t!” she cried as she immediately reached out and grabbed the a.s.sistant coach's shoulders to steady her.
”Jesus! No wonder you play such good defense! If I ran into you on a pick, I wouldn't be in a hurry to repeat the experience!”
”I'm really sorry, Lynette,” Ryan said as she looked at the a.s.sistant carefully to a.s.sess the damage. ”I just wasn't paying attention.”
Lynette returned her look of concern, and nodded her head in the direction of the office. ”Were you speaking to the coach?”
”Yeah.”
”Is anything wrong? You didn't quit did you?”
”Ah, no, why a.s.sume something is wrong?”
”Well, she doesn't spend much time talking to players. That's our job,” she explained, meaning she and the other a.s.sistant coaches.
”I got that impression,” Ryan conceded. ”Do you have time to talk to me for a few minutes, Lynette?”
Lynette gave her a genuine smile and said, ”I always have time, Ryan. That's my job.”
”Is it against your policy to fraternize with players?”
”No,” she said with a gentle laugh. ”I don't know of any other way to get to know people.”
”How about dinner at my house?”
”Tonight?”
”Yeah. Let me just call Jamie and see if she minds,” she said as she pulled her phone out of her gym bag.
Lynette waited patiently as a grin spread across Ryan's face. ”I still don't know how you always know it's me,” she chuckled.
After a pause she smirked and said, ”Jamie, I do not believe that the phone rings differently when I call, but it's sweet that you think so.” Her smile grew bigger as she said, ”I will tell you. Would you mind if I brought Lynette Dix home for dinner?” She looked at Lynette and nodded as she said, ”I knew you wouldn't mind, but I think it's polite to check. We'll be there in ten minutes, honey. I love you.”
As she hung up she smiled and said, ”I came on Rollerblades. Do you want to run alongside or drive me home?”
Ten minutes later they were sitting in the cozy kitchen, preparing to eat the delightful coq au vin that Jamie had prepared. Ryan had filled Lynette in on her conversation with Coach Hayes on the way to the house, but she took a minute to bring Jamie up to speed.
”So what are you really looking for Ryan?” Lynette asked as she took a sip of the wine Ryan had just poured for her. ”Do you want advice on whether to accept the offer from the volleyball program, or do you want my opinion on whether we'll use you more this season?”
Ryan leaned back in her chair and took a sip from her gla.s.s as she gazed at the coach thoughtfully. ”Neither, actually,” she said. ”I want your opinion on whether I'm an addition to the team, or a distraction.”
”That's it?” she asked in surprise.