Page 43

“That’s because I’m working,” Aspen replied.

“I don’t–”

“Kendra, I’m on. That’s how I view it. When I’m at a tournament, whether I’m on the court, being interviewed by you, or in the tent before my next match, I’m on. I have to be. We’re on the beach – everyone can see inside that tent when that flap is open. So, if I look annoyed, upset, bored, uninterested, or something else, and someone sees that, suddenly, I’m an asshole, arrogant, or just there to play and not socialize because I think I’m better than everyone else. When I have to leave that tent to go to the bathroom or get food, I’m right there in the open with fans and press and other players. If I’m not on, I risk fans being disappointed, players thinking I’m a dick, and the press, aka people like you, reporting that I’ve got an attitude. The male players don’t have the same problem, but the female ones do. We have to be on all the time. The moment I’m in a car alone, though, or with DJ and a driver, or even other players I know who get it, I turn it off. When I get to my hotel room, and it’s either just me or me and DJ, I’m quiet, reserved, scrolling social media, running through our mistakes that day, or listening to music or something. I told you, I don’t go out much these days. But even when I did a few years ago, that wasn’t something I did because it came naturally. I did it because everyone else was, and I thought I had to. Yeah, I had fun sometimes. It’s not that I don’t have fun. It’s just that the world was made for people like DJ, the extraverted folks who love that kind of life. It wasn’t made for the people who enjoy a quiet night in or who don’t want to socialize at work. You know the funny thing?”

“What?” Kendra asked almost gently.

“Everyone always expects of the introverts to be the ones to bend or change. They tell us we’re too quiet or too shy, that we shouldn’t want to spend time alone or at home because we’re missing out on things. We spend years of our lives listening to that stuff and feeling like we’re less than, not right somehow, or that we need to change. But no one has ever asked the more extraverted among us to maybe make the world more comfortable for people like you and me. Imagine if they did, and they just let us be instead of pressuring us to attend things to fit in – we might actually want to go to a party or a restaurant every so often and feel better about staying home when we need to recharge.”

Kendra seemed a little taken aback, but she nodded.

“You said you and me,” she spoke finally.

“Yeah, you and me. You’re like me, aren’t you? You’re on when you need to be, but when you don’t, you’re at home sipping coffee by yourself or putting together a new grill.” Aspen nodded toward the patio. “You’re totally content on your own.”

“That’s true, I guess.”

“So, want to come with me?”

“What?”

“Tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“To the dinner thing. You don’t have to, of course. Up to you. DJ is going, so I do think I should be there for her, even if it’s just for her to talk to if Chase turns her down or goes home with someone else. I have no idea what’s going to happen there, but I am DJ’s closest friend on tour, so if she needs me there, I should be, you know?”

“Spoken like a true introvert who needs to be there for her extraverted friend. What about that empowering speech you just gave?” Kendra asked, teasing Aspen a little.

“It’s still empowering. I just don’t want DJ to be sad, and if she is, I want to be there for her.”

“You are a really good person, Aspen Ashley.” Kendra smiled. “And I’ll go with you, if you want.”

“Yeah?” she asked, smiling back wide.

“Sure. I’m not staying late or anything, though.”

“Me neither. Want to ride together? You can be my excuse.”

“Your what?”

“You have to get up early or something, and I drove us, so I’m your ride back home – my excuse for leaving whenever we want.”

“Oh, sure. Okay.”

“Not that I’m using you for that. That’s not what–”

“It’s okay, Aspen. I actually want to go.”

“You do?”

“Honestly, I liked being on the beach and just playing around with you and DJ. It’s the first time I’ve done that in a very long time. So, I like the idea of hanging out with some players tonight. Do you think it’ll be weird for them, though, with me there?”

“No. Why would it be?”

“I interview them for matches.”

“Kendra, we literally compete with each other in the mornings for money and, sometimes, points to qualify for things like the Olympics that most of us dream about getting to, and then hang out at night like nothing happened that day. No one is going to care about you being there. And I mean that in a good way.”