Driven_589066

“Ms. Lambert, you had a wide range of outstanding players to choose from in this draft. Why did you settle on a relative unknown like Catherine Hodges?

Smiling, Dylan folded her hands in front of her. “She’s the best.”

The reporter shuffled the papers in his hands, then waved them. “I have the statistics here, and….”

“Have you ever seen her play, Mark?” she asked in a deceptively mild voice.

“Well, no, but….”

“I’m surprised at you, Mark. You normally do your homework better than this.”

Mark flushed as snickering laughter scattered through the room.

Dylan fixed the man with a pointed stare. “I was instructed to go after the best guard in the draft. Catherine Hodges is the best. It’s really as simple as

that.”

“But…”

“Next question, please. Sandra?”

“This question is for Ms. Hodges. Ms. Hodges, how did it feel when you heard your name announced as the first pick in the draft?”

Hodge grinned. “Amazing,” she said, drawing the word out.

Good natured laughter accompanied her declaration.

“How does it feel to be drafted by a team with a less than sterling record?”

This question came from Mark. Dylan narrowed her eyes at him, then tipped her head in a gracious “touché” gesture. The reporter smirked.

Prick, Hodge said to herself. “Well, the Badgers have shown tremendous improvement since Coach Lambert took over. She’s worked very hard to make the

team a winner and I hope I can help in that process.”

Dylan didn’t bother to hide her own smirk. The reporter flushed again. Dylan’s eyes flashed. She was enjoying herself.

The press conference went on with standard questions of the type asked of many a draftee on many a draft. Then came a question that wasn’t standard.

“Ms. Hodges will you use your new position to advance the cause of gay and lesbian rights?”

For a brief moment, Hodge froze, clearly not expecting the question. Then, beneath the table, she felt a brief touch on her wrist. The touch was warm, and

full of confidence. Hodge immediately calmed. Her thoughts became ordered, and she spoke the words her heart knew were true. “The only thing I am

going to use my new position to advance, Ma’am, is the Birmingham Badgers to a winning season, and hopefully the playoffs.”

The reporter’s lips twisted. “Spouting the company line already, Ms. Hodge? Your sexuality was always openly known in the past….”

“And it’s openly known in the present, Ma’am, as you have so clearly pointed out.”

Dylan bit down hard on the inside of her cheek to keep herself from bursting into laughter at the expression on the reporter’s face.

“Is there anything else, Ma’am?” Catherine asked, the very picture of innocence.

Her sails deflated, the woman sat down in her chair, scowling.

“I think that wraps it up, ladies and gentlemen,” Dylan said, standing. “We’ll see you in the playoffs.”

As soon as the door closed behind them, both Dylan and Catherine broke into laughter. Finally calming, Dylan shook her head. “And they wonder why I

picked you.”

“I’m just glad you did,” Hodge replied honestly.

Dylan looked at her for a long moment, then smiled. “So am I.”

Hodge could only shake her head as she walked down the hall of the hotel. Even from all the way down the hall she could hear her brothers laughing and

hollering, leading her unerringly to her family’s room.

She opened the door and was immediately set upon by the twins who grabbed her around the waist, one up front, one behind, making her the stuffing in a

people sandwich.

“Hey guys!”

“This is great Cat!” Mark shouted at the top of his lungs.

“You’re going to be a big star!” Luke shouted even louder.

“Easy guys, I’ve got a long way to go before I hit big star.”

“If anyone can do it, Cat, you can.” Pulling the boys away from her, Hodge’s mother wrapped her arms around her daughter. “I’m so very proud of you.”

“Thanks Mom. You have no idea how much that means to me.”

They made their way further into the room, where it appeared that her father had ordered at least one of everything from the room service menu. “Dad,

how can you afford all this? The suite, the food…” She plucked a bottle from an ice bucket. “…the champagne.”

“Hey, you let me worry about that. This is your party. Your job is to enjoy it.”

“Dad…”

A knock on the door sent on of the boys scurrying to open it. “Welcome to the room of the great Cat Hodges!” he piped up as he pulled the door open and

came face to belly button with a body much, much taller than he was. His blonde head tipped back, then back further, until the face of Dylan Lambert

came into view. “Um….”

“Hello there, little man,” Dylan rumbled, her face set in its most serious expression. “Is the great Cat Hodges receiving visitors?”

“Um…. She’s….she’s….you’re….um….”

From within the loving grasp of her father’s embrace, Hodge chanced to look toward the door just in time to see Dylan fill it with her unmistakable

presence. Pulling away from her father, she hurried to the entrance just in time to catch her brother as he toppled backwards.

“Sorry about that,” she murmured. “He’s…a little star struck.”