Ever since, we’d been waiting for more alone time so we could go further.
We stopped kissing when a car honked. Someone was always ruining our fun. I set Eleni down and picked up my bag.
“What are you doing here?”
“We had a cheer meeting, so I thought I’d wait until you were done with practice and walk home with you.”
“Oh. Coach is giving me a ride.”
Her face fell. I hated disappointing her.
“He can give you one too.”
Coach would insist whether she wanted one or not. He wouldn’t leave her at school or let her fend for herself.
“Did you hear about Malik and Janelle?” she asked as I sat down on the concrete bench to wait for Coach.
“Yeah, it’s pretty messed up.”
“I guess her parents are pretty pissed off at Malik,” Eleni said.
“It’s not just Malik’s fault,” I pointed out.
“No, but . . .”
“There are no buts, Eleni. They decided together to have sex. They’re both responsible.” Malik had already gotten a job to start saving money for the baby.
“I don’t want to fight,” she said as she leaned into me. “I’m not even friends with Janelle.”
That made two of us.
“Promise me when we do it, we’ll use condoms.”
“Of course we will,” I said. I had already bought a box when I was walking home from school a week or so ago. I wanted to be prepared the first chance we were alone, even if we didn’t go all the way. As long as I kept them in a cool, dry place, they’d be fine until the expiration date. The last thing I wanted was to be in Malik’s shoes. He’d confided in me about everything. He was scared and also not ready to be a dad.
Coach walked toward us, and we both stood. “Can we give Eleni a ride home?”
“Sure we can.”
We held hands and followed Coach to his truck. If I had to guess, I suspected he’d be over for dinner or he’d come by after Nova had gone to bed. I thought he and Toni were dating, but I couldn’t be sure. Asmany times as I had snuck around the house while Coach was there, I hadn’t caught them in any awkward embraces.
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 aswe pulled away and hoped she wouldn’t be in trouble for accepting a ride from Coach.
