Fallen Elements (13 page)

Ryan was partnered with Kim Reynolds, Henry
Lancaster, and Pam. Kim was a mousy woman in her early twenties.
She had joined BSSC the season before last with her older, and much
more gregarious, brother Nathan. What she lacked in personality,
she made up for in her ability to chug an ice cold beer in record
time. Ryan remembered thinking when she first witnessed Kim’s flip
cup prowess that it was always the quiet ones.

“What’s our team name?” Kim asked.

Pam looked perplexed. “We have to come up
with a name?”

Ryan feigned indignation. “Of course we have
to come up with a name, Pam. Do you know any other way to flip
cup?”

“You’re clever, Ryan.” Pam teased. “So
what’ll it be?”

Kim raised her hand, and Henry promptly
pushed it down. “Good lord, Reynolds, this isn’t third grade. Just
chime in.”

Kim nodded. “Canton Crab Cakes.”

Ryan, Henry and Pam looked at each other for
several seconds. “I don’t hate it.” Pam finally said.

“Done.” Ryan spun around, the four each took
a team mate’s hand, and then raised them up. “Behold, the Canton
Crab Cakes.” Ryan’s voice boomed.

“You’ve got crabs, Myers?” Nathan shouted
from the other side of the room.

“Yeah. Your team had already taken Charm City
Syphilis.” The room erupted in laughter.

“Whoa, now. Let’s keep it clean here,
fellas.” Greg chimed in as he winked at Ryan.

With that, the games were underway as Greg
and Nicole’s teams stood across the table from one another. Nicole
glared at Greg. “You ready?”

With an equally steely gaze, Greg nodded.
“Born that way.”

A sudden smile spread across Nicole’s lips
before she had time to stop it. A second later, the intense glare
returned. She and Greg began chanting as they raised their cups in
repeated toasts.

“Boat races, boat races, let’s drink a cup.
Boat races, boat races, let’s get fucked up!”

Ryan watched as her two best friends threw
their heads back, and emptied their cups. Nicole was the first to
place her cup upside down on the edge of the table. Greg, beer
dripping off his chin, quickly followed suit, and in unison they
both flipped the cups over.

The teams were neck-and-neck until the very
end when it came down to Tiffany Crews and Craig Brinkman. Tiffany
was a slight woman in her late twenties, and the newest member of
the BSSC. She hadn’t said much about herself except that she worked
in Washington, D.C. This had triggered a tremendous amount of wild
speculation that she worked for the NSA or the CIA.

Craig nearly retched as he choked on his
beer. Tiffany effortlessly emptied her cup, and with a single flick
of her index finger set it upside down.

Greg and team jumped up and down. “That’s how
we do it!” A slightly inebriated Greg yelled.

Ryan stepped up to the table while Corey
quickly filled six new cups. This was not a graceful game, but Ryan
did have something of a competitive nature; so not giving a hundred
percent just wasn’t in the cards.

She couldn’t help but smile, though, as Leah
stepped up opposite her. The beautiful blonde was leading off for
the Rip Roaring Ravens, with Nathan anchoring the team.

“Nervous?” Leah goaded.

“Steady as a rock. You?” Ryan narrowed her
eyes in an effort to be intimidating.

Leah chuckled. “All business.”

Ryan smiled as the two women reached for
their cups. Nicole counted them down, and Ryan struggled to keep a
straight face as she and Leah raised their cups and began chanting
the alcohol laden mantra.

It was over in a matter of seconds as Leah
effortlessly emptied the plastic cup, and on her first try flipped
it upside down as Ryan was finishing her beer.

“Damn, Myers! She kicked your ass.” Nathan
bellowed from the opposite end of the table.

Ryan felt a skitter of embarrassment rush
through her, but managed to pull herself together, and on her
second attempt successfully flip her cup. Kim was next in the
order, and managed to make up for Ryan’s fumbling by emptying her
cup and flipping it over in less than five seconds.

The two teams were tied as Pam reached for
her cup and Nathan his. Ryan glanced at Leah to see if she was
enjoying herself, and was surprised to see the blonde looking
intently at her with a faint smile. Ryan felt a rush of heat to her
neck and face, and quickly turned her attention back to the game to
see Pam raising her arms victoriously as Nathan failed for the
second time to get his cup over.

The room erupted in cheers and high fives.
Greg flung his arm over Ryan’s shoulder. “She saved your butt.”

Ryan nodded. “Yes. I suck. I get it.” She
playfully punched Greg in the side, and stepped away from him.

“The finals will begin momentarily.” Nicole
announced as the table was cleared of cups.

Ryan walked over to the circle of people
congratulating Pam, and patted the woman on the back. “Well done.
Can you come back next weekend?”

Pam laughed. “Don’t let my speed and ninja
like skills fool you. I’ve got maybe one more drink in me before
I’m napping in the corner.”

Ryan laughed and turned to find Leah standing
directly behind her. “Your girl’s got game.” Ryan joked.

Leah looked over at Pam. “She hates to lose.”
The blonde’s eyes narrowed warily. “And she may be a functioning
alcoholic.”

Ryan laughed at Leah’s dry sense of humor.
“Both are assets in this situation.”

Leah nervously rubbed the back of her neck.
“So, this is a little awkward.”

Ryan’s stomach did a quick tumble at Leah’s
serious tone. “What’s that?”

Leah frowned. “You’re really bad at
this.”

Relief washed over Ryan. “Really? Because
this is my fallback plan if the whole social policy thing doesn’t
work out.”

“Then I hope for everyone’s sake it
does.”

Ryan puffed up her chest, and presented Leah
with as broad a smile as her swollen lip would allow. “You’ll be
happy to know then that I got the job.”

Leah’s eyes widened and she pulled Ryan to
her. “That’s wonderful!” Holding Ryan by the upper arms, she leaned
back. “Why didn’t you say anything earlier? That’s the biggest
news.”

Ryan stammered, the nearness of Leah making
her thoughts swirl nonsensically in her brain. “I - I was busy with
that whole concussion followed by heavy drinking thing.” Ryan was
both relieved and impressed that she managed to not only put a
coherent sentence together, but one that verged on funny.

The two women’s eyes locked, and a flash of
desire crossed Leah’s. For a split second Ryan thought she was
going to kiss her. Instead, Leah patted a confused Ryan’s shoulder.
“Congratulations. We’ll have to go out and celebrate.”

Ryan smirked. “Are you asking me out?”

Before Leah could answer, Greg stood next to
them. “You got another round in you?” Greg teased as he handed Ryan
a pint of beer.

Leah smiled, her excitement from earlier more
guarded. “Good luck.” She excused herself and joined Pam and
several others in their revelry.

Ryan loved Greg dearly, but at that moment
she wanted to punch him in the throat for interrupting her and
Leah’s conversation. Looking down at the pint, Ryan handed it back
to Greg. “You’re so transparent.”

“What?” Greg feigned ignorance.

“Getting me full up and drunk on beer before
my team kicks your team’s ass in the finals is low even for
you.”

“I’ve got to take my opportunities where I
get them.” He looked over at Pam. “She’s a professional at this
shit.”

Ryan grinned. “They both should start their
own league.”

Greg nodded. “Alright. It’s go time.” He put
the full pint glass down on the table, and cracked his knuckles.
“Gonna own you, Myers.”

Ryan shook her head. “This is going to be so
uncomfortable for you shortly.”

The teams lined up at the table. Ryan scanned
the room. She was trying not to be too obvious about seeing where
Leah was. The blonde was standing near the far end of the table,
and Nathan was leaning in whispering something to her. By the
amused expression on her face, Leah was clearly enjoying the
exchange.

Wondering what Nathan could be saying that
was remotely coherent, much less amusing, Ryan fouled up the timing
on the toast, and nearly aspirated on her beer. On the fourth try,
she managed to flip her cup, and was relieved when once again Kim
was through her beer and had flipped her cup in record time.

Henry did his part by finishing his beer in
three large swigs, and flipping his cup on the second attempt. It
then came down to Pam. Like clockwork, the woman finished her beer
in four long gulps and successfully flipped her cup just in time to
take the title for the Crab Cakes.

The room erupted in applause and cheers as
Pam was inundated with congratulations, hugs, and slaps on the
back. Ryan joined in the celebration as everyone poured themselves
a cup of beer, and raised them up.

“Boom!” Greg shouted, and everyone drank.

Ryan felt a warm hand on her back, and turned
to see a smiling Leah. “This was fun. Your friends are great.
Thanks for including us.”

“Absolutely. It was great getting to hang out
with you. Pam is awesome.” Ryan wanted to be cooler than this, but
she felt a little off center around Leah. It wasn’t unpleasant, but
it was a feeling Ryan wasn’t familiar with.

“Would you like to have a drink with me
sometime?” Leah chewed on the inside of her lower lip, and Ryan
wondered why the woman seemed nervous.

“Now who’s the functioning alcoholic?” Both
women laughed. “A drink sounds great, just text me when and
where.”

Leah nodded. “Great.”

“Great.” Ryan was mortified the awkward
ending to their lunch outing was about to repeat itself. Forcing
her feet to move, Ryan took a step forward, tentatively wrapping
her arms around Leah’s shoulders.

Leah hesitated, and Ryan thought she might
stroke out from embarrassment. Then Leah pulled Ryan to her, and as
the entire length of their bodies came into contact, Ryan felt as
if she had been enveloped in a warm blanket. Independent of any
thought, Ryan turned her head and buried her face in the crook of
Leah’s neck.

Vanilla and the scent of fabric softener
wafted over Ryan, inundating her entire body. The patter of the
room faded into the background, and all Ryan could hear was Leah’s
slow and even breathing against her ear.

Then Leah’s hands were on Ryan’s waist,
gently moving her away. “I’ll see you soon.” The blonde’s green
eyes were wide as she stepped away from a still dazed Ryan.

Managing a slow nod, Ryan smiled. “Sure.”

Ryan watched as Leah crossed the room and
took Pam by the hand. She said something to the woman that caused
Pam to quickly look up at Ryan, and then back at Leah. Moments
later, the two women were saying their goodbyes and were gone.

“Want to order some wings?” Nicole was
standing next to her, having upgraded her Natty Boh to a Jameson
sour.

“What?” Ryan felt like she was waking up from
a too long nap. Her eyes felt heavy and her body disconnected from
her brain.

“What’s wrong with you?” Nicole stepped in
front of Ryan, and took her chin in her hand. Tilting her head back
and forth, she looked at Ryan’s blue eyes. “Are you drunk, or did
that elbow to the mouth knock something loose?”

Ryan brushed Nicole’s hand away. “Neither.
Wings are fine.” The last thing she wanted was spicy buffalo sauce
in the cut on her lip. What she
did
want was to run after
Leah and ask her what the hell was going on between them, but since
that seemed impossible, she opted for the quicker and less painful
burn.

Chapter 7

“To summarize, the overall value this new
vendor relationship will bring to the existing Healthy Kids,
Healthy Schools initiative will ensure the program’s vitality in
all Howard County schools. This will be achieved as a result of the
existing relationship U.S. Food Services has with the public
schools, and the additional grant money the Healthy Kids program
will now be eligible for, since U.S. is on the government’s
approved contractors’ list.”

Ryan pressed the button on the wireless
presenter’s remote, bringing her hour long slide presentation to an
end. Scanning the room she placed the remote on the table in front
of her. “What questions do you have for me?”

Linda Temper spoke first. She was an
attractive woman in her mid-thirties, and in spite of the office’s
business casual attire policy, she always looked immaculate in
tailored business suits. In the two weeks Ryan had been working for
the county, she had come to like Linda. She was intelligent and
friendly.

“Ryan, with the initial outlay for contract
approval, including our own legal costs, what is the difference
between implementation and ongoing operational expenditures?” Linda
was originally from South Carolina, and her cadences when she spoke
were slower and more relaxed than her northern counterparts.

“Good question.” Ryan hit several keys on her
laptop, and brought the profit and loss statement projections up on
the overhead.

After several minutes of back and forth on
cost, and several follow-up questions regarding the program itself,
Ryan ended the meeting feeling her colleagues would accept her
proposal. “Please stop by my office if you have any questions;
otherwise, I need everyone’s decisions by close of business
Friday.”

“Great plan and presentation, Ryan.” Donnie
Hammond approached Ryan, a smile on his face. “If your numbers play
out, it will save the county a little over three hundred thousand
dollars a year.”

Ryan took the cap off of the bottled water
she had sitting next to her laptop, and nodded as she took a drink.
Her throat was dry from talking for over an hour. “I’m glad you’re
pleased.”