“Who am I leaving you for?”
June drums her pearlescent painted fingernails over the red checkered tablecloth. “Izzy Sinclair, dear.”
“Oh, she’s nice,” my grandmother adds.
I’m sure it’s true, but I don’t really know her. I don’t know if Izzy wants me to know her, and we’re gonna have to get to the bottom of that if this crazy plan is going to work. So tonight,after I get my ass handed to me in bingo with the rest of the senior citizens of Merritt Point, we’re hitting the reset button.
“You were my first love, June.”
“You say that to all the girls, I bet.” She winks at me, then turns her attention back to surveying her cards when the next number is called.
“Hpmh.” Nana frowns. “She always brought you Munchkins when she came over. Sugary bribes.”
I gently knock my shoulder against hers, and she giggles. “The way to a man’s heart is donuts.”
“G-44. The next number is G-44. Don’t forget, we’re playing four corners right now,” Mr. Leechman calls. “Next game will be our big prize pot of two hundred dollars with a cover all.”
I grip my bright-blue dauber tighter, the numbers swimming in front of me. Five days out from a concussion, and everything aches. But mainly, I’m stuck on what June just said.
Next month, I’ll be turning thirty. I’ve never earnestly told any girl I’ve been with that I love her. I’ve said it, sure, but they were empty words.
“Izzy’s a hard worker,” Nana says. “Might wear off on you a bit.”
I draw back. “You don’t think I work hard?”
She shrugs, then springs to action as B-8 is called. Nana moves over her cards with laser focus.Boom, boom, boom.She whacks the dauber over the cards with what could only be considered lethal force.
Holy shit.
“I saw Mr. Kelly at the grocery store yesterday. Told me you were at the rink a few weeks back.”
What is it with small towns? “It’s really run-down. Hadn’t noticed when I was in town this summer.”
Finally, I spot one B-8 on a card of mine and mark it. The ink bleeds out in a sharp circle.
“Well, after Jimmy Arden passed, the money dried up. It’s an expensive sport to play, always was. But there isn’t help now, so the high school voted to cut the team this year for budget reasons. It’s too bad.” She adjusts her lucky “I Love Bingo” visor. “Now there’s talk of condos. A whole complex of them, with a greenway and some big discount store. It’d be sad to see.”
“G-14,” Mr. Leechman calls out. “G-14.”
I mask my surprise about that last bit. Condos are one thing, but a massive redevelopment not only changes the rink, but also what I know of Merritt Point. Won’t be much of a small town then. “That’d be too bad.”
Nana shrugs and pushes my water bottle toward me. “But perfect for you…”
My stomach sinks. Mr. Kelly shouldn’t know about my talks with Mr. Foley. My investment firm was handling it. The tips of my ears turn red.
“Drink,” she insists. I’m mid-sip when she continues. “Anyway, I think you need someone to challenge you.”
I sputter, almost choking. “I’m trying to win the cup this year. I’d say I’m plenty challenged, Nana.”
She pats my arm with a sweet smile. “You’re used to having your way. You’re used to being the life of the party. That’s fun for a while, but it’ll feel lonely eventually.”
“O-69,” Mr. Leechman announces.
“My favorite number!” June marks her board, then waves her hand in the air. “Bingo!”
Carol, one of the volunteers, walks over with her microphone and examines June’s cards. “We have a bingo, Mr. Leechman.”
“Congratulations, June. And now, it’s time for cover all.”
