She’s right. That sounds ridiculous.
“I know. I know.”
She cocks her head. “Is that how you feel about Rawley? That you genuinely want to be with him?”
I bring my hands up to my face and sigh. “I think so. But it’s over now.”
“So change that.”
I drag my hands down my face. “Okay, but how?”
She shakes her head. “Talk to the man. Come on, Parker. Do you want a pep talk?”
“I’m pretty sure you just gave me the one I needed.”
Shortly after, she kicks me out to go deal with this. Once back into my room, I pull out my phone and stare at our last messages.
What will I say if I call him?
What willhesay?
Either way, this conversation feels like it needs to be in person. Having it over the phone doesn’t seem right.
So instead I call Mom.
“Hey, honey, I’m so glad you called. I have dates for you on Jamie’s recruiting visit at Tolliver.”
“Awesome.”
“He’d be there during your last set of home games in August, I think it’ll be the twenty-fifth to the twenty-seventh. You’d be in Orlando, obviously.”
“Sounds great.”
“He’s excited to hang with his big sister.” I hear Jamie shout something in the background. “He asked if he can meet Rawley.”
Oh.
“Which brings me to a second topic. Taylor called me an hour ago and said she was about to greenlight a story about how you and Rawley are considering a pause in your relationship? Because of your schedules?”
What?
“I told her I didn’t know that was happening yet.” Me either—I knew it was coming but I thought we’d talk again first. “Is that what you want? I wasn’t sure since you two had kind of gotten involved. But anyway, she said it was part of this phase of the plan.”
No, notwhat I want.
Shoot, I hope Taylor hasn’t approved that article with whatever outlet is posting it.
“Mom, let me get off and call her right away.”
“Of course?—”
Panicking a little now, I end the call and ring Taylor instead.
“Hey, Avery. How’s Seattle?”
“Fine.” I cut to the chase, no time to waste. “Did you give a thumbs-up to that gossip article yet? The one you told my mom about?”
She gives a short gasp of breath. “I was just about to. Why, are we holding off?”
