Which would have been a skill in itself, as the stage terrified me. However, singing was all I wanted to do. I didn’t want the limelight; a good backup singer was hard to find. I just needed to be ready for when I was found.
“I can’t believe she’s telling you to get a job. What are you going to do?” Ava asked me.
“Well, I’m not completely useless, Icanwork. I’ve done it before.”
“I didn’t mean that you couldn’t — we’ve both worked before — I just thought we wouldn’tneedto. That I was covered with my scholarship, and your mom had you covered.”
“Well, Gloria is Gloria.” My tone was as dry as the leaves on the ground, which my boot was currently kicking at. “I’m sure next week she’ll have received something for something, and this will be another conversation she thinks I exaggerated when I next talk to her.”
Ava chuckled as we both knew my erratic mother well. “You could sing.”
“Say what now?” I asked her in disbelief.
“Wade’s begged you a million times to sing with Atticus Dawn. He gets paid well for the shows they do. You could totally sing with them.”
“I love you, Ava, but sometimes I do wonder what planet you came from,” I scoffed as we saw Quinn approaching us. “Why do we all need to be at the football house?” I changed the subject.
Ava shot me an exasperated look as she waved at Quinn. “You know why, stop being a whiny little bitch,” she scolded.
I didn’t take offense. Ava meant no harm by it, and Iwasbeing whiny. Ash’s ex glided toward us. She didn’t shuffle forward like the rest of us mere mortals; she practically floated, she was so graceful. The worst part was, she genuinely seemed like a nice person. With her picture-perfect hair, skin, clothes, and walk . . . I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t feel self-conscious beside her.
“Hi,” Quinn greeted us with a wide smile. “Gray just called, Ash is already asleep, and Jett has the offense cornered with nowhere to hide as he talks routes. Gray’s not even stopping him, he’s such a hard ass.” Her smile was full of love, and I felt a twinge of anger, but I wasn’t sure why.
Ava grinned at us both. “They are so ready to win tomorrow they won’t even notice Gray isn’t playing.”
They both shared a look, and then Ava crossed herself. “Dear Holy Mother, don’t let them get beat.”
“You’re not Catholic,” I reminded her. “You got the cross wrong, pretty sure you just summoned the Antichrist.”
Quinn snorted out a laugh as Ava slowly went through the sign of the cross again. “Oh yeah, it’s a man’s watch arm, not mine.”
“Wow. Every Christian person, everywhere, is ashamed of you right now,” I mocked her as the three of us started walking to the football house. I saw Quinn frowning and explained. “It’s a film from the nineties,Nuns on the Run,” I told her. “‘Spectacles, testicles, wallet, and watch.’”
“Oh right, never heard of it. Sorry.”
“We should watch it tonight,” Ava suggested eagerly.
“No,” I said firmly.
“Okay then,” Ava said as she nudged me. “Quinn, do you still have the swim team’s karaoke machine?”
My eyes widened in horror at my best friend. “Ava!”
“No, but the guys have one built into their TV sound system, something to do with one of the game consoles and a guitar. Those kinds of games aren’t my thing. I prefer to kill things.” She shrugged. “We can use it though.” Quinn looked over at me and smiled in encouragement. “No one else but us will hear you. We can totally break your fear.”
Ava linked her arm through mine and then Quinn’s. “I’ll make snacks, and Quinn can make cocktails.”
“And if I don’t want to sing?”
Ava’s laugh was unrestrained and loud. “Then I’m a crook in a nun’s outfit. Youalwayswant to sing.”
“You’re the worst best friend ever,” I mumbled as she squeezed my arm.
“Bullshit, you love me.”
“Doesn’t mean I have tolikeyou,” I grumbled as she started to list what snacks she was planning to make, and Quinn suggested appropriate cocktails.
It had only been four days, and I was actually missing my new roommate. He would be so against this and would have found a party instead. Maybe Ihadsummoned the Antichrist, or a demon at least, if I thought I was missinghiminstead of actually spending time with my best friend and Quinn.
