As I watch Parker drop a ball, Matt barks out his name and Parker’s head falls. I feel my mouth twists into a corkscrew and fold my arms over my waist.
“Is the staff harder on him than the others?” I ask.
Sutton turns toward me, eyes questioning. “You mean his brothers?”
“And Matt.”
“We’re all family. But no, if anything, they give him more room.”
“That’s not what it looks like.”
“That’s because you’re looking for pressure,” she says.
“Because Parker feels the pressure to be as great as his brothers. I’m not making it up.”
Sutton nods like she knows I’m right. “Anna, Parker’s been that way since I’ve known him. And from what Greyson’s family has said, he puts the pressure on himself before anyone else gets the chance.”
At just that moment, Parker’s talking with Greyson and they look over. With his helmet on, I can’t tell if he’s happy I’m here or not.
They line up a dozen times before the ball flies to Parker. He catches it clean.
No hesitation.
Interesting.
Now, can he be consistent and catch it sixty percent of the time, the league average last year?
Sutton is being pulled in a million directions, but she apologizes when the Armadillo communications team seems to have a problem.
As I walk back to the hotel by myself, the fandom is over-the-top in Atlanta. Face paint the day before the game, Atlanta sweatshirts and jerseys are everywhere but once I enter the hotel, it’s all Austin Armadillo fans.
I’m hoping at least one of those fans wasn't able to make the trip.
“I’m waiting for a room that I paid for to open.”
It’s a different person and the man says, “We’re fully booked. I’m so sorry.”
Is he?He’s not the one homeless for the night.
I close my eyes briefly thinking about my options.
“Okay,” I say, frustrated. “Is there another hotel nearby with…”
“Hey.”
I don’t have to turn around to know it’s Parker. He slidesup beside me like he belongs there, like this isn’t the worst possible timing for him to appear.
“What’s going on?” he asks.
“They overbooked,” I say, flat and even. “And I’m the lucky non-recipient of a room.”
He doesn’t hesitate. “Stay with me.”
We step back from the black marble counter. Lowering my voice, I contend, “That’s not appropriate.”
“Neither is sleeping in the lobby.”
“I’ll find another hotel.”