“I thought about playing football when I was a kid,”I tell them. There’s something about Lacey or her dad or maybe just their whole friendly, welcoming environment that has me offering up more personal information than I would typically.
Harry’s brows lift and a wide smile spreads across his face. Yep, they definitely have the same mannerisms. Lacey said her dad was the quiet, introverted one, but he’s as warm and smiley as his daughter.
“You? Jude Collins’s son? That would have been a real travesty.” Harry shakes his head.
He asks me more questions about our game this weekend as Lacey pulls out plates and silverware. When she sets one in front of him, he inhales. “This smells good.”
“Vaughn helped me make it.”
When Harry looks to me, I shake my head.
“Don’t worry. You’re safe. I didn’t do that much.”
The three of us dig into the food. It’s really good. I tell her so while trying not to let my amazement at a simple home-cooked meal show too much.
After dinner, he and Lacey clean up, shooing me away anytime I try to help. It’s getting late, but I don’t want to leave. I like the homey, slightly chaotic feel of their house. I know Lacey has her own issues with her dad, but watching them interact it’s easy to see how good their relationship is with each other. I don’t remember my house ever feeling like this, even before my mom split.
“It was nice to see you. Good luck this weekend,” Harry says to me before he heads off to his study.
I can’t help but track the time, noting he’s only been home for thirty minutes—just long enough to eat and chat a bit—before going back to work. Lacey doesn’t look upset or comment on it, so I assume it’s a normal occurrence.
“Did you finish your homework?” she asks me.
“No.”
She places both hands on her hips.
“Don’t look at me like that. You distracted me.”
“I have to study for the SATs if you want to stay and finish.”
It’s a tempting offer, but I have a feeling it’s not the most productive one. “I should probably get home. Otherwise, I’m going to find a way to distract us both.”
She walks me out where we kiss long enough I’m damn near shivering by the time I get in my Rover.
The drive home is short, but I’m already dreading pulling out my algebra instead of showering and going to bed.
Dad is in the kitchen when I walk in. He glances up from his laptop. “I was starting to wonder about you.”
“I was at Lacey’s house, studying.”
He nods slowly, giving me a look that maybe calls bullshit on the studying part.
“I got video of Mountainview’s game against Pacific earlier this season.”
I tip my head toward my room. “I still need to finish some more homework.”
“I thought you were just doing that.” His tone is dry. Yep, definitely calling bullshit on studying.
“I didn’t finish, but I’ll watch the game later,” I say, starting for my room.
“Yeah, sure,” he mutters.
I double back as his tone strikes a nerve. Ever since I failed algebra and couldn’t play, I feel like I can’t do anything without his disappointed stare following me. I get it. I let the team down, but I improved my grade and led the teamto a huge win, and it’s still not enough for him. “Is there something you want to say?”
I rarely talk back to him, so my question catches him off guard. He stands tall and stares at me like he’s carefully considering his words.
“I got my grade up, and I’m keeping it there. I made a mistake, but it won’t happen again.”
