Ryland grinned sexily and backed out of the garage, signing to me after he hit the remote overhead to bring the door down.
“Lunch first, then we’re going to do a crash course of the city since we’re limited on time.”
“Do I get a tour of the stadium? I would like to see what six point eight billion ooks like, especially considering your team can’t even make it past the playoffs.”
I figured the mourning period for the abrupt end to his season was done, so I could gut punch and gloat a little. Ryland threw his head back and laughed before cutting me a glare. When we made it to the security gate, there were two other vehicles leaving ahead of us, so he was able to respond.
“You really don’t give a damn about my feelings.”
“I mean… you lost to my team, so I’m not wrong.”
He grinned.“You got that but also we won three Super Bowls back to back. When was the last time Tigers got a ring?”
I frowned because it had been a while.“It’s been a minute but that’s not the point. We kicked your ass.”
“Ten years is more than a minute and the refs won that game for you, not your team. You also only made it in as a wild card. Or did you forget how that went down?”
“Okay, fine. Do I get the tour or not?”
He smirked and nodded.“I can take you to the stadium, but pending who’s onsite, I might not be able to get you inside. The season’s over though, so security isn’t that tight right now.”
The rest of the drive I enjoyed the city view, mentally cataloging what we passed just in case I wanted to get out and explore on my own. The area where Ryland lived was more suburban, making it noticeable when we made it to the city. When we pulled up to a free standing building with Redmond’s on the front, I got giddy as hell.
I had seen a pregame activity with them donating a scholarship to a high school senior during a Sharks game. The contestants had to kick a field goal from the thirty yard line and a girl won. She was a soccer player and sent the ball straight down the center of the goal posts. The funny thing was, she was more excited about the year of free lemonade from Redmond’s than she was about the ten thousand dollar check. So I needed that lemonade.
“Look at you picking the perfect spot,”I signed after I unlatched my seat belt.
“What you know about Redmond’s?”
“Enough.”I smiled and got out, waiting for Ryland to do the same. I explained how I knew about Redmond’s on the way to the door.
The building was crowded with barely any empty tables, which I attributed to the lunch rush. God, the food smelled good. On the way to the counter where we stopped at a short line, a woman walked up to Ryland, smiling big as she greetedhim. Based on the way she hugged him, they were familiar. Considering how he quickly peeled her arms from his body and gently nudged her away, whatever familiarity they had, he no longer wanted.
They knew each other intimately.
She frowned when Ryland grabbed my hand and pulled me to his side, which brought me into her line of sight. The scowl on her face deepened and I caught her words when she glared at him.
“Who is this?”
“Excuse me, we’re trying to order,” he said, ignoring her question. She stepped in front of him, not letting up.
My eyes bounced between them, trying to catch what I could of their conversation because the tension between them was thick.
“Mia, get the fuck away from me.”
“Because of her?”
“Because your husband’s trying to ruin my fucking career.”
“He won’t if you stop avoiding me.”
“Yo, you’re a gotdamn lunatic. Please get the fuck out of my face.”
She smiled and glanced at me before telling him, “She’s cute. Maybe she won’t mind helping you pack.”
Her eyes were on me again before she walked off. Ryland stepped to the counter, grabbing a menu, which he handed to me, then speaking to the woman at the register. She nodded and waited with her eyes on me. I assumed he knew his order and handed it over, waiting for me to decide on mine. Once I had my selection locked down, I signed to him so he could relay the message instead of me pointing to the items on the menu or using my phone to type a message for her.
“Beef tips, yellow rice, greens, and yams.”