“This is true.”
I think about the sullen football coach who only appears to smile when he’s coaching his team.
Not that I’ve been watching or anything. Okay, there was this one time when I forgot my lucky Sailor Moon keychain in the office, so I had to drive back to the school to get it.
I should have known when some douchewaffle tried to run a red light right in front of me that I was missing my lucky charm. It wasn’t until I reached to touch the keychain out of habit that I realized it was gone.
After running to the office to grab the keychain, I was on my way back to the car when I heard cheering and saw the coach running across the football field with the players. He was wearing these tight shorts that showed off his thick, muscular thighs, and I basically died on the spot.
That Sailor Moon keychain proved once again to be my all-time luckiest possession becausethathad to be one of the best man-drooling moments of my entire life. Considering I spend a lot of my time ogling men, that says a lot about the quality of Coach’s goods.
Justin heads off while I spend some time looking through the footage he sent me. Even though I only work at the school part-time, I still have my own desk, conveniently positioned opposite Coach Dempsey’s.
Okay, so maybe I moved my desk a little. But no one said I couldn’t, so I guess it’s okay.
I contemplate adding another inspirational quote to his collection, but I think he might kill me, so I better wait until Christmas. Who knows, maybe he’s a Christmas person.
Everybody loves Christmas, right?
I reach out to pick up my phone when I hear the Lady Gaga ringtone I picked for my best friend.
“Juju, my beautiful doll, don’t tell me how hot it is out there because I’m close to turning into a human strawberry-flavored popsicle. No one ever told me Connecticut was in the Arctic Circle.”
She laughs, and the sound warms me from the inside out.
“I don’t need to tell you, honey. You grew up here, and you know the way back too.”
“Don’t start…”
“I didn’t. You did. Anyway…I was wondering if you’re coming for Thanksgiving this year since you missed last year.”
I pull the hem of my pink top. It’s fraying a little, and with my picking, it frays a little more. “I can’t, Juju. We have a game.”
The sigh coming from the other side of the line makes me feel super guilty.
“Bubble, last year you’d just taken that job at the coffee shop, Spilled Beans. This year you’re also coaching on top of that. Are you ever going to come home?”
No?
“Of course, silly. I’m just having such a great time here.” I gasp. “I have an excellent, no, scrap that, a superlative idea. Why don’tyoucome over for Thanksgiving? You can watch the game, and then we can spend the weekend eating our weight in cake and watching movies. Yes?”
“I can’t, hunni. We’re training for a competition. I could try to make it for Christmas.”
I try not to show my disappointment through my voice. I miss her so much.
Since my grandmother died, Juju has been my only family. We’re not blood-related, but we may as well be with how close we are.
“I’ll hold you to that. How’s everything else?” I ask, even though I’m not sure I want to know.
“We’re going to nationals, as expected.”
I hear the excitement in her voice and try hard not to feel jealous that I can’t be part of that world anymore.
“Of course, and I bet you’re going to win. Again.”
She giggles but then stops and lets out a long sigh. “You should be here with us, Bubble.”
“Yeah, but I’m not, and there’s no point in crying over spilled glitter because that shit’s a bitch to clean.”
