“Have a daughter, they said. Girl talk will rock, they said. What they didn’t say is daughters hand you your ass and tell you to enjoy it.”
My lips quirk into a weak grin. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Yes. But that doesn’t mean I can’t see I was an idiot. This isn’t about me though. None of this is. What’s going on with Zach? I can’t imagine he took it well.”
“The guy who did it… he was playing in tonight’s game.”
“That was someone’s moronic decision.”
“Yup. They lost.”
“I just bet they did.” Glee creeps into her voice. “I knew I liked that boy.”
“Oh, hush. You love him as much as you love Pecan.”
“As true as that may be, you know precisely what I’m talking about.”
Still anxious, I pluck at the hem of his jersey. “I do.”
“Where are you? Waiting at the rink for him?”
“No. I got a ride home. There were puck bunnies hovering. If I heard one more oink tonight, I’d lose my shit.”
“Who could blame you?” she expresses. “Sweetie, I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I warble, wishing I were home so she could hug me.
“I love you, baby. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, I do. I love you too.”
“I-I have a plan, Denny.”
I snag an abandoned glass of water from the coffee table. “For what?”
“It doesn’t matter now. But… and I know this is terrible timing, I wanted you to be the first to hear the news. Franklin proposed and I said yes.”
It’s not my fault I chose that moment to have a drink. When it sprays the coffee table, I can’t even chide myself for a shitty Pecan impression.
Instead, I croak out, “You’re marrying him?!”
“He has connections in New York, sweetie. Maybe we can sue these dumb kids for… I don’t know. Something.”
“You’re not marrying him for free legal advice, are you?”
“He’s a good man and we’ll be safe.”
“Safe from? What were we in danger from?!”
“Life.” The answer’s flat. But all the more powerful for it.
“Mom, you do want to marry this guy, right? I mean, I haven’t even met him!”
“The boys told me you didn’t go tohishouse for Thanksgiving.”
“No. I didn’t want to see Francesca or him.”
She chuckles. “Good girl.”
