Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
When I first started playing for Coach Schmidt, I sort of hoped he would fall for my mom. Coach had always treated me well and was a great role model, but my mom had never seemed interested. Neither had Coach.
I climbed in the back and let Eleni sit in front. This wasn’t ideal because I couldn’t shut the door for her. Maybe I was wrong and should’ve let her sit in the back? I guess I truly didn’t know what to do. My mom had taught me to open the door for people, reminding me it didn’t cost me anything to be kind to them. Still, I wasn’t sure if I should be in the back or not.
Being back here, though, gave me a chance to touch her hip. I slid my hand under her shirt and touched her skin. She shivered slightly and then turned enough for me to see her smile.
On the way to her house, she spoke to Coach. I listened, but they talked about cheer season and the competitions her team wanted to do over the summer. I wondered how much we’d be able to see each other once school was out. Between my summer league schedule and hers, we might not see each other much.
“This summer, you’ll have to come to Boston with us,” I said when there was a break in the conversation.
“Do you think your aunt will let me?”
I shrugged. I didn’t see why Toni wouldn’t let Eleni come with us one weekend. She could stay in the spare bedroom with Nova, and I could sleep on the couch. Although I’d like to crash out on the balcony under the harbor lights and sounds. No one would be able to get to me, that’s for sure.
We arrived at Eleni’s faster than I wanted. I couldn’t wait to drive her home, which wouldn’t be until late summer or the start of the school year. Either way, I was looking forward to it.
After she got out, I moved to the front. I couldn’t kiss her goodbye, not with her dad standing on the front porch. I watched her house as we pulled away and hoped she wouldn’t be in trouble for accepting a ride from Coach.
“Her parents are strict.”
“Sometimes that’s a good thing, but also a hindrance.”
Eleni stretched the rules as far as she could. I was usually the voice of reason because I was pretty miserable when she was grounded from her phone or from me.
I didn’t say anything the rest of the way home. Coach pulled into the driveway but didn’t shut his truck off. “You’re not coming in?”
He shook his head. “Scout’s at home.”
“Oh, right. Thanks for the ride.”
“Maybe I’ll see you later.”
I got out, gave him a wave, and made my way inside. “I’m home,” I yelled as I put my stuff down in the entryway. My mom called it a mudroom. It was far from muddy, especially since Toni made us keep our dirty shoes outside.
“Hello?”
Toni came out of the guest room, which was where she’d slept since my mom died. Before, she would sleep in my mom’s room, but no one had really gone in there since.
“Hi, how was practice?” she asked as she rubbed my pitching arm. “All good?”
I nodded and handed her a slip.
“What’s this?”
“Prom stuff,” I told her. We went into the kitchen. “Where’s Nova?”
“Girl Scouts with Mara,” she said without looking up from the slip. “So I sign this to give you permission?”
“It’s a code of conduct agreement,” I told her. “We both sign, and if I break any of the rules, the consequences are there.”
Her head moved up and down slowly. “Well, let’s talk prom. What color will Eleni wear? We’ll get your bow tie to match.”
I grimaced and ran my hand through my hair. “I didn’t ask her yet.”
Toni looked at me confusedly and held the paper up. “What gives?”
I shrugged slightly. “Can we do a promposal thing?”
“What’s that?”
I explained what they were, and, to my surprise, Toni seemed on board. “I was wondering if we could take her to Boston for the day and I can do it there. She really likes the penguins.”
“And you’re going to what, ask the aquarium if the penguins can hold a sign for you?”
Okay, so I hadn’t thought it out clearly. I shrugged. She sighed. We both stared awkwardly.
Toni signed the sheet, and then I did. “Put this in your bag so you don’t lose it. I’ll look some things up and we’ll figure out how to do something fun.”
“Thanks.”
She nodded and sat down at the table with her phone and a pad of paper. I sat across from her and started my homework.
Chapter 33
Antonia
Spring was bananas. Between baseball, Girl Scouts, and having to travel for work, I was exhausted. It’d been two months since Miri passed, and I’d like to say the kids and I were in a decent routine. There were days when I wanted to give up, say fuck it, and haul them back to Boston, where things could be easier.