He says, “I have you in the system at a B-minus.”
I’m surprised but not really, so I nod. “Yes, sir.”
“Up from that D-minus.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Your last quiz, you got a ninety-one.”
I stare at him. “I did?”
“You don’t know your own quiz score.”
“I haven’t checked the portal.”
“Reeve, the quiz was a week ago.”
“I know, sir. I’ve been busy.”
“Mhm.” He looks at me over the top of the glasses. “Your tutor is doing a good job with you.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Keep her.”
I swallow, wishing I could just put her in my backpack and haul her around with me. I think I’d need a bigger bag, but it’d make me happy as hell to have her around all the time. “Yes, sir. I definitely will.”
“Your midterm is in two weeks. If you keep this trajectory, you finish the semester with a B. Coach has told me that a B is the threshold. If you finish at a B, you stay eligible for postseason. If you finish at a C-plus, you don’t.”
Damn.“I understand.”
“Don’t blow it.”
“No, sir.”
He leans back in his chair.
“One more thing, sir.”
“Yes.”
“Anyway I could bring it up to an A?”
He lightly smiles but it quickly disappears. “I’ll tell you what.” He looks around his desk as if he’s thinking. “I will find something for you.” He nods, looking straight at me now. “I know it’ll be challenging for Lucy, but that’ll be the point.”
My heart drops like a pin at the sound of her name.
“I’m a team player, sir.”
He nods. “I know you are, but we’ll see what happens when she doesn’t know the material.”
I look down at my hands. “I wouldn’t underestimate her, sir. She’s a smart girl.” I don’t give him time to respond as I stand up and say, “Thank you, sir.”
“Don’t thank me, thank your tutor.”
Right.I walk out of his office with my chest doing a thing I was not expecting. I’ve been thinking about Lucy this whole time as a girl I kissed, but she is the only person who is keeping me eligible. Without her, I wouldn’t pass Markham’s class. Without passing Markham’s class, I don’t play the home opener. Without playing the home opener in front of the Vancouver scout, the draft trajectory shifts. Lucy is the engine of my eligibility. Lucy is, in every way that counts, the person currently keeping my career alive.
I have not said thank you to her in any way that counts. I’ve only brought her confusion and drama with Gianna. I even threw punches over her. But I haven’t ever saidthank you for what you are doing for me. It’s saving my ass.Whatever else happens in 3B tomorrow, I am going to find a way to thank her.
