“Not their day,” I answered with a huge smile.
“Rest up, you two. Jett, we’ll see how we go, but I’m putting Kowoski in.”
Jett nodded as he sat beside us. Halfway through the fourth quarter, the Saints were winning, but the three main offensive players were on the bench. It was the first time in my ball game, in any of our games, where we were being purposefully rested for the next game.
When the final whistle blew, Coach turned to us, and I’d never seen him looking more triumphant.
“Joint leaders of the conference.” He laughed. “’Bama lost. We’re tied, with two losses each.”
“Conference championship?” Jett said as he jumped up off the seat.
“Conference championships!”
What a great fucking day to be alive.
Chapter 33: Mia
Watching them win was exciting. He looked happy.Theylooked happy. I knew that Ava and Quinn were in the crowd somewhere — the entire college was in the crowd. It was packed. Ava had pleaded with me to join them, but it wouldn’t have been right. Ava and I had an awkward Wednesday night where we said little, which had never been us, and I resented the Devils more. But when Jill arrived, it was as if we had hit pause, and we were back to us again. After dinner, when I was sitting in front of the TV listening to Ava and her mom critique every football game played on Thanksgiving, it had almost been like the universe had pressed the “reset” button for us.
Now here I was, sitting in front of the TV, watching a football game. I had never sat at home before and watched a football game willingly. Ava had dragged me to home games in school and in college. I didn’t follow the sport, but that’s what we did. I went with her to games where she screamed and hollered all day, and then I dragged her to the parties afterward.
The reporter was on the TV, saying that the Cardinal Saints were in the conference championships. I knew that was a good thing, and I was pleased for them. When Gray came on to play, I had considered all of their mental health. His hand was still injured, but it seemed quite obvious that his feet were not.
If all the games were as exciting as this one, I could understand why Ava loved it so much.
My phone rang, and seeing it was my mom, I braced myself. She had, as always, found an excuse not to visit, and she had jumped at the chance for me to spend the holiday with Ava and Jill here at school. Gloria did her own thing as usual.
“Hi, Mama,” I greeted as I sank back onto the sofa. I may have hated it at first, but it sure was comfortable.
“My check cleared.”
“I’m doing okay, thanks for asking,” I said as I inspected my toenails. Hot pink maybe wasn’t my color when my skin was so pasty white. “Thanksgiving was nice.”
“Why are you being dramatic?”
Said the actress. “How are you?” I asked instead.
“I’m going to LA.”
The perusal of my feet stopped. “What?”
“I got a job offer.”
“You haven’t auditioned in years.”
“Yes, well, some people recognize raw talent.”
Was she joking? Was I being Punk’d? “Mama?” I asked uncertainly. “Are you okay?”
“Oh, Mia, you’re such a negative girl.” I heard the disappointed sigh. “I have an amazing opportunity, and no doubt you want to complain about being abandoned or something equally pointless.”
Gloria Davis, everyone, aka Mom.
“I’m excited for you, but you just never said anything about working again.”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, it worked.” I laughed nervously. “So, tell me everything.”
