“Okay,ouch,” he groaned. “How much time left?”
“Fifteen seconds,” Neil replied. “You got this.”
The ball went into full earthquake mode beneath Ben’s foot. I wasn’t sure if the muscle fatigue or diminishing balance would get him first. His face was red from the strain.
“Yeah, uh... I’m not sure...” Ben grimaced and started to straighten up.
“Eleven, ten, nine,” Neil counted down. “Don’t move, brother!”
Ben let out a pained sigh and dipped back into position, the ball tipping back and forth like a rowboat in choppy water.
I knewexactlywhat was going through his mind. Forget about the pain, focus on the goal. People are counting on you. Only losers quit. Pain is weakness leaving the body. Get it done by any means necessary.
“Four, three...” Neil counted down.
“Fuck,” Ben exclaimed as the wobbling finally pitched him off the ball and onto the ground.
“Aw man, you were right there,” Neil scolded.
“Don’t get old,” Ben replied, and even though he said it in a jokey way I could tell he was actually pissed at himself for failing so close to the finish line. It was drive that united us;everycompetition needed to be won, even if it was a round of pool at a bar or a three-legged race at a family reunion.
“A little help, please?” Ben reached up to me.
As much as I wanted to make a crack about him being a senior citizen I refrained. I offered him my hand and pulled him to his feet. He held on for a few seconds longer than necessary before letting go, and gave me a final squeeze that felt like a thank you.
Which left me feeling like I was trying to find my own balance even though I was on solid ground. Was the blush that fired up my cheeks visible to everyone?
“Respect,” Ben bobbed his head at me. “All I used to have to do was skate fast and turn left. You’re a friggin’ acrobat.”
“Hey, you came close,” I admitted.
I was happy he didn’t make it. The guy already had three gold medals, let me have the Bosu ball moment.
“Horseshoes and hand grenades,” he shot back.
I flinched. Carol used to fling the saying at me when I’d try a move and almost nail it. It took a real effort for me to stop uttering “Ugh, so close” whenever I fell, because I didn’t want to hear her scolding me with the phrase.
I spotted Zoey, dressed for practice and hovering outside the door. I waved her in.
“Hi, guys,” she whispered as she tiptoed in. “Am I interrupting?”
“I’m basically done,” I answered.
“Yeah, she just humbled me on that thing.” Ben pointed at the ball. “I need to leave and lick my wounds. But before we go I was hoping to ask a couple of questions, Quinn.”
He gave me a hopeful look and I nodded.
“You two still good for dinner tonight?” Zoey asked, glancing between us. “Ben, my dad is super excited to meet you. He has a list of topics he wants to discuss with you. A literal list on an index card.”
“Dinner?” I frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“I texted you but you didn’t respond,” Zoey replied. “And when Ben and I were working out the details he said he was pretty sure that your schedule was open for tonight, so... yay! It’s a party!”
“I didn’t see that text. And Ben doesn’t keep my calendar,Ido,” I insisted.
I might’ve been a little too insistent, because everyone turned to look at me.
“Oh,” Zoey pouted. “So you can’t make it?”
