I only had one thought as I played the rest of the game. I wasn’t about to let TC win anything on the field or off it. I was going to drop off Dahlia so early that I’d be in the restaurant parking lot waiting for TC to pull in with Madeline. And then I was going to suggest, in front of him, that Madeline and I have a dramatic kiss goodnight on her doorstep.
Despite TC’s taking every legal opportunity to hurt me, and some that weren’t legal, we won the game. The crowd erupted in applause. The band delivered a triumph song. My teammates hooted and patted my back in celebration.
I was just glad the game was over. I’d made too many mistakes and was sore from the constant tackles. Half of my body ached. As I trudged to the locker room, I wondered if Madelineknew players from the other teams we played. Maybe she would date more of them. Maybe this was going to be a recurring theme at the games.
In the locker room, the coach spent way too much time pointing out the ways we could’ve done better. Specifically, the ways I could’ve done better. When he was done with his lecture, I got changed and tromped outside to find my mother and Claire.
Mr. Seibold and Madeline were also there. Surprising. I’d half expected her to make an excuse to skip this meet and greet and be off consoling TC. She was dressed up for it, wearing some tweed coat like she was on her way to a fox hunt instead of watching a football game. Her hair spilled around her shoulders in blonde waves, and she’d done something to her lashes so that her blue eyes looked huge.
They all gave me the usual congratulations. My mom and Claire told me I’d played well, but I wasn’t in the mood for false praise. “I sucked.”
“Don’t be hard on yourself,” Mr. Seibold said. “Everyone has an off night. A win is still a win.”
My mom gave my arm a consoling squeeze. “I know playing against your old friends is difficult.”
“Especially,” Claire added, “when they have it out for you. What did you do to tick off TC?”
I shot Madeline a dark look and didn’t answer. Really, what had she told TC about the two of us?
Madeline bit her lip and didn’t say anything. I hadn’t bothered to tell Claire that TC was Madeline’s homecoming date. Tomorrow night, Claire planned on hanging out with friends instead of going to the dance. She didn’t have to know what went on there.
By way of explanation to Madeline’s father, my mom said, “Some of Cooper’s old friends are still angry that he chose to go to Silver Creek High instead of Riggs. You’d think their coach would bench any players who were roughing the passer.” Her eyes ran over Cooper. “How are you doing? Any injuries?”
“Just bruises,” I said. “And an assortment of related pain.”
“Sorry,” Madeline said.
“Are you?” I asked.
Our parents exchanged a look. They could tell there was subtext in the conversation.
“Of course, I’m sorry,” Madeline said. “I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”
I grunted. “Yeah, you wouldn’t want to miss the dance.”
My mom’s gaze bounced between us and landed on Madeline. “Do you have anything planned before dinner?”
She probably meant as a couple, but Madeline said, “I’m getting a manicure, then going to a salon to have my hair and makeup done.”
“Oh,” Mom said. “That’s nice. You’re really going all out for the dance, aren’t you?”
Madeline shrugged and smiled. “I want to look good for Cooper.”
She meant she wanted to look good for TC. I smiled at her but could tell it was tight and unhappy. “Always thinking of me.”
“You have no idea,” she said, with a sigh.
I wondered what she meant by that for the rest of the night.
21
Madeline
Selena went with me to get manicures and our hair done. I chose a waterfall braid with pearl hairpins on top and long curls around my shoulders. Princess hair. Pretend everything is fine hair.
Selena looked stunning with her hair up and smoky eyeshadow emphasizing her dark eyes.
“Boden will be blown away,” I told her. “He’ll be too tongue-tied to say anything all night.”
