“Come in!” Coach shouts angrily from the other side.
Holding the handle, I open the door and enter the office. Ford is right behind me.
“I should’ve known it was the two of you.”
“Is it true?” I don’t waste any time getting to the point, needing to know what’s going to happen.
“It is. There’s no chance of it happening, though. I may have gotten a slap on the wrist for not being a hundred percent honest—”
“What do you mean? We didn’t lie about anything,” Ford blurts.
“Let me finish, and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Technically, we did lie. We didn’t say Murphy is a female.”
“But it’s not against the rules. We checked all the guidelines, Coach. Nowhere did it say a female couldn’t play on the male team,” I add.
“That’s true, and that’s the reason the win is not being overturned. Our championship win will remain intact.”
“So we’re still champions?” I ask, just needing a second confirmation.
“Yes, now get out of here. I have some calls I need to make.” Coach waves his hands, dismissing us as he picks up his phone.
I give him a salute and turn, Ford already opening the door.
Relieved, we head to Ford’s house. We haven’t heard from Dylan since lunch and we’re both getting worried.
I pull out my phone and go to open our group message, but then stop and switch over to our private one. While we’re a throuple and open with most things, we still maintain our private chats with her. Some things just need to remain between the two of us.
Me: Hey Baby. Coach said the win won’t be overturned.
Me: Are you okay?
Me: Can we call?
I see the bubbles appear, then disappear before my phone rings. I answer, putting it on speaker.
“Hey guys. I’m good, just pissed. I’m happy to hear we get to keep our win, though.”
“Has your mom calmed down?” Ford asks, never taking his eyes off the road.
“No, she’s even told me she’s not paying for me to go to CSU if I major in sports medicine or play lacrosse. Without a full-ride scholarship, I can’t attend. I’m either not going to college or I have to do what my mom wants and be miserable.”
“We’ll figure it out. There’s no way in hell you’re not going to play lacrosse. We still have a chance of being offered spots with the Outlaws,” I remind her.
“Fat chance. Matthew is the scout. There’s no way he’s going to give one to me. Especially not if my mother doesn’t like it.He messaged me earlier that we needed to talk. He most likely wants to make sure our parents don't find out about him kissing me or that any chance I had of a scholarship is gone now that they found out I’m a girl.”
I can hear the desperation in her voice. All she’s ever wanted is to play lacrosse and for her mother to accept it. Right now, my girl thinks she’s lost both.
“Are you planning to talk to him?” Ford asks. “It may not be a bad idea to do so. He likes you, Dyl, and I think he’ll do whatever he can to help you achieve your dreams.”
I can hear her sigh through the phone.
“I’m not ready. Until I am, I’m just going to avoid him. I’ve got to go. Mom’s calling me. Must be time for another lecture. See you tomorrow at school.”
“I love you, Pickle,” I tell her.
“Me too,” Ford adds.
She laughs before telling us she loves us, then the line goes dead.
