Hadley smiled. “Avery had a connection with this particular investor. He was her client.”
“That’s right. I’m Avery Arrington.” I held out my hand first to the man who’d been speaking, a twinge of pain shooting through me at the mention of Griffin.
“Reid Everson.” His grip was firm but not crushing, which I respected.
After shaking Reid’s hand, I turned to the man next to him. He smiled, a dimple popping on one cheek. “Jonah Templeton.”
He seemed more relaxed and affable compared to Reid.
“Nice to meet you,” I said to Jonah before turning to the last man.
“I’m Chase Crawford.” The erect way he held his shoulders and lifted his chin told me he was someone important on the team. Unfortunately, I knew nothing about football or the players.
“Avery Arrington, nice to meet you. Sorry, I was late.”
Dylan touched my arm. “You weren’t. We were early.” Then she turned her attention to the men. “I’m excited that you’re interested in being involved with Kids Speak. I don’t have to tell you how much it will mean to these kids that you took the time out of your busy schedules to meet with them.”
Chase leaned his elbow on the bar, turning his body to face us. “We enjoy meeting kids in the community as long as it fits our schedules. We’re in season right now.”
“Of course. We’ve thought about how difficult that might be.”
“The team’s involvement comes with one stipulation.” Reid’s voice was soft, yet firm. “You must expand into Baltimore.”
I looked at Hadley to gauge her reaction.
Hadley’s eyes widened. “Are you serious? We hadn’t planned to expand again so quickly. We wanted to solidify our position in Annapolis first.”
“If you expand into Baltimore, the team will back you financially to make it feasible.” Reid said each word carefully as if he’d rehearsed them.
Hadley’s brow furrowed.
“Obviously, you should discuss it with Lena Vickers. She’s the head of marketing,” Chase said.
“She wanted me to let you know the team’s position. You don’t have to make a decision now,” Reid said.
“It will be easier for us to meet in Baltimore in season,” Jonah added.
“It’s an amazing opportunity,” I said, not wanting them to take Hadley’s silence for disinterest. It was a lot to process when it wasn’t what we were expecting or our plan for the program.
“Would you be able to work with the other kids off season? I hate that the kids in Annapolis would miss out.” Hadley’s chin dipped down as she frowned, worry evident on the creases in her forehead, the lines around her mouth.
“I don’t see why not,” Reid said, his words coming out in a rush as if to soothe her fears.
Hadley exchanged a look with me, a mixture of surprise and respect on her face.
Chase rubbed his chin. “I think we can manage that. Other players might be interested as well. Maybe we can have a little clinic for the kids in the spring.”
“That would be amazing. Let me know what you’re thinking, and we can work it out together,” Dylan said to Chase.
“I can take lead on that,” Reid said.
Chase raised his brow at him. “You can?”
Considering Chase’s reaction, I wondered if it was unusual for Reid to take the lead on anything.
“Yeah. I don’t like the idea of the Annapolis kids missing out,” he responded to Chase, but his eyes were on Dylan.
Chase nodded, accepting his answer.
“Thank you, guys, so much for meeting with us. I really appreciate your enthusiasm and your ideas. I think we should discuss it between ourselves and then get in touch with Lena Vickers before we make a final decision,” Hadley said.
“Did you have any more questions for us?” Dylan asked.
Jonah moved closer to us to ask a question.
Chase shifted from his spot at the bar over to Reid. Chase said something I couldn’t hear, Reid shrugged in response, moving his body slightly so his back was to me.
I shifted my attention to Jonah, who was asking about the program in New Orleans, what things Hadley’s brother, Colin’s, college baseball team was doing with the kids and if it had been successful.
I listened in case I was required to respond, but New Orleans was solely Hadley’s responsibility.
Jonah laughed at something Dylan said, resting a hand on her shoulder, bringing my attention back to them.
Reid took a step toward us. “I think it’s time we headed back.”
“Yeah, we have an early morning workout and practice tomorrow,” Chase said.
We said goodbye, shaking their hands again, promising to be in touch soon.
When they were gone, I turned my attention to Dylan. “You never said what your connection with them was.”
“Remember the silent auction bid to go on a date with a Baltimore football player?” Dylan asked.
“Yes.” I was suddenly suspicious she bid on the date solely to talk to the player about Kids Speak.
“I won. I went out with Reid Everson. All three of them are captains this year. Jonah’s a wide receiver, Chase is the quarterback, and Reid is a tight end.”
“Okay.” I wasn’t that familiar with football but why hadn’t she mentioned the date to me?
I glanced at Hadley. She was listening with rapt attention as if it was the first time she was hearing this too.
Dylan smiled wide. “I told Reid about Kids Speak, he spoke to the marketing team. Jonah and Chase expressed interest in coming tonight.”
“That was nice of them to travel to Annapolis during the season to meet with us,” I said, but I wondered if Reid thought the silent auction date was real.
“It was,” Dylan said, picking lint off the skirt of her dress.
“Is there any chance that Reid thought it was a real date?” Hadley asked Dylan, mirroring my concern.
Dylan waved her off. “What? No. Of course not. Everyone knows those silent auctions are for fun. A way for a fan to meet a player.”
I tilted my head. “But you’re not a fan.”
“If we’re going to partner with players on Baltimore’s team, then I guess I’m going to have to start watching football.” Dylan’s tone was dismissive, as if she didn’t want to talk about whether Reid thought it was a real date.
It made me question whether it was just business for her, or she saw something in him she liked.
“He’s not upset that you bid at your own silent auction to meet him?” Frustration with my situation boiled over to hers.
“You make it sound bad. I wanted to meet a player and tell him about Kids Speak. Trust me, I didn’t click with Reid Everson. If anything, I annoy him.”
When we were quiet for too long, she added, “There’s nothing between us.”
Hadley tilted her head. “There seemed like there was something. He was looking at you like—”
“Like how?” Dylan asked and placed her hands on her hips.
“Like how Cade looks at Hadley,” I said softly, wondering if Griffin had looked at me that way and I hadn’t noticed.
“And how Griffin looks at you,” Hadley said to me.