She frowns at me. “I don’t understand why I need to go.”
“Because this is a family activity,” Mom says.
I smile at Mom. She actually took the day off work to attend Gage’s game with us. It’s only a training game or joint practice or whatever it is, but it’s the first time I’m watching him play. It’s a big deal to me. She recognizes this and is coming.
I motion to Penelope’s book. “You can bring your book.”
“Book? Penelope is such a nerd.” Mila whirls around in a circle with her arms thrown wide. Otis catches her before she crashes into the television. It wouldn’t be the first time she broke the TV. There’s a reason I’m convinced she’s going to destroy the world after all.
“You guys are going to embarrass me,” Otis whines.
Mila jumps up and down in front of him. “I don’t embarrass anyone.”
He sighs. “Mom.”
Mom wraps an arm around his shoulders. “It’s a family activity, dear.”
“Fine.” He grunts. “I’ll wait in the car.”
I check the time. “Load up! We need to leave. I don’t want to be late.”
“You can’t wait to see your boyfriend. Addy and Gage sitting in a tree.” Mila hurries out of the house while continuing to sing.
Penelope slams her book shut and stands. “I don’t want to sit next to her.”
“Are you certain they’re your kids?” I ask Mom as we lock up and walk to our car. We share one since there isn’t much reason to own a car on a small island; you can bike from one end to the other in thirty minutes.
“Sorry, kid. You’re the one I think could have been switched at birth.”
“Except we could be twins.” We have the same red hair and light brown eyes.
She smirks. “On the outside. The inside? No idea where all your talent and level-headedness comes from.”
Maybe from my dad? I think but don’t say. We never discuss him. He’s been a forbidden topic since I was old enough to ask why other kids have dads and I don’t.
We settle in the car for the drive across the bridge to the Mainland. The training camp for the Steel City Seals is at Coastal State University. Today, there’s a joint practice training game against the Tigers.
We reach the parking lot for the stadium at the university. “I didn’t expect this many people.”
“Two NFL teams are playing each other. Of course, it’s packed.” I don’t need to glance at the backseat to know Otis is rolling his eyes at me.
Mom finds a parking spot and we begin the trek to the stadium. There’s a long line of people waiting to buy tickets. I bypass it for the rollcall window.
“Hi.” I greet the attendant.
Mila grasps the ledge and jumps up. “We’re here to see Gage!”
The attendant sighs. “You can buy tickets at the other window.”
“There should be a set of tickets for songbird.”
“Oh, sorry.” She rifles through a drawer. “Five tickets?”
“Yes.”
She points to the VIP entrance. “You can enter there.”
“Thank you.”
