“She has. She also told me how much she loves teaching. Thank you for thinking of her when you heard about the job opening. I think it’s going to be great for her.”
“I do, too.” Then I share, “She told me more about why her husband left her.”
“She did? I’m surprised.”
“Why? I’m a good guy,” I tell her.
“You are, but Allie is private about all that. She feels like she’s somehow to blame for having miscarriages.”
“Does she even know that the reason she miscarried was her fault?” I ask. It does take two, after all.
“She didn’t have any testing done, but Brett impregnated someone else successfully.”
“It doesn’t seem fair, does it?” I ask. “Allie would be a great mom, and Brett—from his actions alone—doesn’t deserve the honor of being a dad.”
“Life isn’t always fair,” my sister quotes our mother’s favorite saying. “Look at the poor girl who’s living with Allie.”
“That’s a tough one,” I tell her. Then I ask, “How are you doing? How’s Luke?”
“Haven’t you talked to him?”
“It’s kind of hard since I work during the day and he’s on the night shift. We text once in a while though.”
“He’s good. Wonderful actually,” she practically croons. “Sometimes it’s hard to believe we actually wound up together.”
“Your years of pining have finally paid off,” I tease her.
“Speaking of years of pining …” I know where she’s going with this even before she finishes her sentence. “Anything going on with you and Allie?”
Instead of answering, I want to know, “Has she said something?” Because if she has, I’d like to know what it is.
“Hardly,” Lorelai scoffs. “As far as I know she’s still mourning Brett andyou…” The last word is said like an accusation. “You aren’t smart enough to go after someone like Allie.”
I kick my shoes off before putting my feet up on the coffee table. “That’s mean.”
“It’s true, though. Face it, Noah, you’re probably going to be single forever. Your big love is basketball.”
I can see why she thinks that. I don’t have a track record of introducing my family to women I’ve dated but that’s because I’ve never wanted them to get any ideas. But now, well, it seems I’m the one getting ideas. Which is starting to cause me some concern.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
ALLIE
Between school, practice, and spending time with Margie, the week practically flies by. Margie comes with me to Friday’s after-school practice. She claims it’s because she wants to see her siblings, but I know she also wants to see Jordan.
I leave her sitting on the bleachers before calling the girls into a huddle. “How are you ladies feeling today?” I ask.
My point guard, Peyton, announces, “The boys don’t seem to be getting better. I’m pretty sure we’ll beat them again in today’s scrimmage.” She sounds bored like she needs more of a challenge.
“We might not win,” Leah announces. “We need to be tougher on defense.”
“Speak for yourself,” Klea practically growls.
Leah turns toward her teammate so quickly I half expect her to lunge at her. “I am, Klea. But just because I’m the post doesn’t mean I’m on defense alone. You have to help.”
Before full blown hostility breaks out, I tell them, “You’re a team. You all have to do your best at both offense and defense. Leah, you need to jump to get the rebounds before the other teamgets them.” Then I address Klea. “And you need to help keep the path clear so Leah can get the layup without obstacles.”
Shelby, another point guard, adds, “I can’t wait to play a real game against other girls. I’m sick of the boys.”
