On my way home, I stopped at the Ridgeview Diner, one of our most popular places and the bar I liked to hang out at. I walked in and headed to the left where the bar was, then sat down at the first empty stool.
“Coach, what can I get for ya?” Lee Waters, the owner, said.
“Working tonight, huh?”
“Yep, short staffed,” he huffed.
“Sorry to hear that. I’ll get the fish and chips dinner and a water.”
“Sounds good.” He walked away, only to return a minute later with a tall glass of ice water.
“Thanks.” I drank most of it down, wishing it were something stronger, but that would have to wait until I was home. When I started teaching, I vowed not to drink in town where my students could see me. A lot of the parents and some of the kids, when they were younger, used to watch me play, and they saw me as a role model. To me, role models didn’t drink and drive, even if it was just one. Sometimes, that was all it took.
My dinner came, and I ate in relative peace. A few people I knew came in, said hi, and congratulated me on the win before moving on to their table.
While I ate, I watched a college game on one of the TVs in the bar and chatted with Lee whenever he refilled my water. I paid my tab and drove home, taking the long way around so I wouldn’t have to drive by the Vaughns’ house. It was petty, but for my own good.
As soon as I got home, I let Scout out in the back. Normally, I’d take him for a walk, but it wasn’t in me tonight. He deserved better from me, and I would have to make it up to him tomorrow. I stayed out with him, mostly out of fear of coyotes or bears. Regardless of my backyard being fenced, hungry wildlife would find a way to a food source.
After changing into some shorts, Scout and I went into the garage. I turned on some music and began working the heavy bag. With each punch, I told myself my feelings for Antonia were ridiculous. I knew love at first sight didn’t exist, and anything I’d imagined was nothing more than seeing a beautiful woman across the court after being alone for so long.
Maybe that was a sign I needed to put myself out there, join a dating app or two, or finally let the ladies in town set me up with someone. The problem there was I knew everyone in town, and none of them ever sparked any type of response from me. Not like Antonia had. That had to be something.
The side door to my garage opened in a burst, startling the shit out of me. I purposely kept it unlocked so my friends could use my gym whenever they wanted. I was startled to find Cutter standing there, his face red and his chest heaving.
I went to the counter and pressed pause on my phone, silencing the music. “You okay?” I asked as I put my T-shirt on.
He shook his head slowly.
“Come on in.” I unwrapped my hands and grabbed two bottles of water, handing him one.
“Wanna talk?”
Cutter didn’t say anything as he held the bottle. I had hoped he’d come to me when it finally hit him that his mom was dying. Since he’d gotten the news, he’d been resigned. I didn’t want to push him intohaving to talk to me or Jerome, but I also didn’t want him to lose his shit in the middle of a game because his emotional cup had tipped over.
“We’re moving,” he said dully.
I sighed and ran my hand over my damp hair. This was something I had expected, and I immediately wished I had gone over there tonight to discuss Cutter’s summer plans. The basketball team could manage without him, but not the baseball team. He was an integral part of the rotation.
“When I spoke to Antonia this morning, she said she hadn’t made a decision on where you’d live.”
Cutter looked at me. “You knew?”
I nodded. “We had breakfast this morning and talked about it.”
“How did she seem?”
I tilted my head and looked at him oddly. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
Cutter huffed and began pacing. “Did she seem like she wants us, or did she act like we’re nothing but a fucking burden to her?”
I held my hand up but then dropped it quickly. Cutter had earned the right to cuss. His life was imploding, and a little colorful language wasn’t going to change that.
How had Antonia seemed?
Resigned?
Accepting?
