Rigsy
Dude. I got a keg! Be home by seven.
I read it twice, but I don’t remember making any plans with him.
Beck
What? Did you meant to text me?
Rigsy
OF COURSE I DID YOU DUMBASS. We’re going to celebrate your rise to power!
Rigsy isn’t the smartest tool in the shed. Maybe he thinks I got called up for real.
Beck
Um it was one practice? I’m still your roommate. Don’t rent out my room.
Rigsy
Duuuuuude. And I thought I was the dense one. One practice in the big league is still one more than the rest of us got. You’re living my dream right now. So we’re doing this. Be home at seven for beer and gaming. Invite Forest over. He’ll want to celebrate too.
Will he, though?
I hold my phone against my chest and try to take all this in. Rigsy wants to celebrate with me? And he thinks Forest should join us.
Honestly, I can’t picture it.
But I text him anyways. Because hope is a megabitch.
Thirty-Two
Maybe Don’t Be That Guy
Forest
My phone lights up while I’m sitting outside Charlie’s school, waiting for him to come out so I can take him to the dentist. I grab it and read:
Beck
Hey. You won’t believe this, but I got a shutout at the scrimmage.
I take a deep breath and read it again. It still says what I thought it said, and suddenly my eyes feel weird and prickly.
Holy shit. A fucking shutout. This is going to change everything.
For once in my sorry life, I’m able to text him back immediately.
Forest
THAT IS GODDAMN LEGENDARY! You absolute beast. A shutout?
Beck
Straight-up facts.
Holy… I mean, I’m not *that* surprised. I knew you had the goods. Just as hot in the net as you are in my bed. JFC, Beck.