Noah blows his whistle, signaling the scrimmage is about to start. I point to my first string and watch them run out onto the court before joining my co-captain on the sidelines.
Noah and I have done our best to act like nothing happened between us after we ate dinner together the other night. I’m talking about our kiss. My knees still tremble when I think about it.
While we’re doing an okay job pretending everything is normal, there’s still an underlying current of tension that makes it clear we’re both aware our dynamic has shifted.
“I see Margie’s here,” he says as I reach his side.
“She’s decided to ask Jordan if he wants to come to her first doctor’s appointment.” Then I ask, “Has Jordan talked to you any more?”
Noah shakes his head. “He’s trying very hard to pretend everything is normal.”
“Lucky him,” I say with more than a hint of bitterness. After all, Jordan isn’t the one who had to move out of his house or deal with all the stares. Even though I’m sure people gossip about him, too, Margie is the one taking the brunt of things.
Either Noah doesn’t catch my tone, or he agrees with me. Whichever it is, he doesn’t comment on it. Instead, he asks, “Want to have supper with me tonight?” His hands are in his pants pockets and he’s doing his best to look nonchalant.
“Tonight?” I ask like I have seven other offers on the table that I’m considering.
“We could grab a pizza or something.”
I should say no but I don’t want to. Even though I know nothing can come of it, I like spending time with Noah. I’m just afraid we’ll get into trouble if we go alone. “Maybe we could ask Margie and Jordan to join us.”
“Why?” Noah blows his whistle and calls a foul on one of the guys.
As the girls position themselves around the free throw lane, I answer, “To help them get on the same page.”
“They’ve got to do that on their own, Allie. We’re capped out on our ability to help them in that area.”
“I guess …”
“So, I’ll pick you up at seven?” he asks.
Picking me up instead of going straight from practice makes this feel like more a date than a friendly supper. But I don’t complain. Instead, I tell him, “Sure.”
My eyes are on Noah for the rest of training. He doesn’t seem nervous about the evening ahead, so maybe I’m making too much out of this. Maybe he really is just asking me out as a friend.
After practice ends, Margie approaches Jordan. He’s been side-eying her during the entire scrimmage and it’s obvious he’s not pleased.
Even though I can’t hear what’s being said, their body language speaks volumes. Margie’s posture is squared off like a dock worker heading out to the picket line. Not only does she look determined, she looks dangerous. Meanwhile, Jordan, who stands several inches above his ex, looks sheepish and uncomfortable. More words are exchanged before Margie turns around and marches straight out of the gym.Uh-oh.
Catching up to her, I ask, “Did you tell him about the doctor’s appointment?”
“Oh, I told him.” She starts to pace back and forth aggressively. Three strides in one direction and then three back. I stop her on her fourth loop.
“And?”
“He says he has a test to study for during lunch that day.”
“Can’t he study over the weekend or, say, Monday night?” I want to know. Anger is bubbling up inside of me.
“Apparently he’s going to be too busy. He’s going to look at colleges with his parents this weekend.”
I wonder if that means Jordan’s parents are coming around to the idea of helping the kids out in some way. Putting my arm around Margie, I tell her, “I’m sorry. I really am. I know this doesn’t seem fair.”
“Jordan still waltzes around school like nothing big is happening in his life and I’m … I’m …” she hiccups loudly before saying, “thinking about changing my name to Hester and sewing a scarlet letter on all of my clothes.”
I wrap my arms around Margie and hold onto her for a minute. Then I tell her, “I’m going out for dinner tonight. Why don’t you ask Leah and Decan if they want to have supper with you at my place. I’ll order a pizza for you.”
She sniffles. “I’d really like that, thank you. I miss them so much.”
