Page 152 of Made Better Together

GRACE: One can hope. So Christmas Eve, we’ll host a team party?

JOHNSON: We’ll have a family dinner on Christmas night too. I’ll tell Mom and Lainie.

LANDON: Cool. We can do the family gathering for New Year’s Eve at our place. Done.

CONNOR: Sounds good.

AVERY: I’m in. It’s off-season, so whatever you guys decide.

RORI: My best friend Maggie may be visiting from Tampa for Christmas, if it’s cool for her to come.

GRACE: Bring her along, of course.

RORI: She went through a bad breakup with her doubles partner, so if anyone has any single friends…

RAWLEY: We might know one…is she too old for Connor?

CONNOR: Stop.

GRACE: Leave Con alone, Rawls.

CONNOR: Thanks, Gracie :)

GRACE: Unless you think they’d get along, Rori …then we can talk about it more on Thursday at Thanksgiving.

CONNOR: I’m disowning you all.

Yeah, not interested in Maggie. Can’t tell them why, but it’s definitely not her age.

Speaking of the real reason, she’s on my TV right now, and with only a few minutes to go, about to launch Tolliver past the second round of the NCAAs.

“Tolliver is playing a smart bout of keepaway right now,” says one of the announcers. “Just three more minutes and they’ll have secured their spot with a 2–1 win over Virginia here.”

Those minutes pass, and then I see my girl jumping with joy, honey ponytail bouncing with her, as she, Bree, and the rest of her team celebrate.

A thought from a few weeks ago repeats in my head. If they make it to the finals, I’ve got to be there.

THREE DAYS LATER

SoccerQueens Instagram

It’s time to get plugged into the NCAA championship fight! The third round games finished up yesterday, and we know our quarterfinalists.

One team to watch is Tolliver, whose captain Eden Larsson sat down for an interview with us earlier in the season. They’re playing impeccably as a group, and seem to be on a mission.

Another top contender is…

THANKSGIVING NIGHT, TWO DAYS LATER

EDEN: You’ll have to roll me out for our quarterfinal next week. I ate so much today, I’m gonna be the ball.

CONNOR:

EDEN: Are you guys still eating?

CONNOR: Only Rawley. Although he was the chef, so I guess he’s entitled.

EDEN: How was it?