Chapter Seven
“Allright, squish, what are we going to watch?”
“We should start withPride and Prejudice and Zombies.” Norah squeezed against me on the couch, eating her pizza.
“Fine, but you can’t tell your friends at school. You got me in trouble last time when I let you watchSigns.”
“I promise I won’t tell anyone. Besides, I know it’s fake, Aunt Kenna. It’s okay.”
“You’re growing up on me, squish. It makes me sad.”
“Then let’s not think about it and just watch the movie.”
“Sounds good. Now go get your blanket and I’ll clean up our food.”
I was putting the last of the food away and grabbing a bottle of water out of the fridge when the doorbell rang.
“Who’s there?” Norah asked, dragging her blanket out of her room and arranging it on the couch.
“I don’t know. My X-ray vision stopped working today,” I teased her as I went to look out the peephole.
“It’s Grandma and Pops.” I opened the door and my parents rushed in.
“What are you two doing here?” I asked after they hugged Norah and my dad tickled her until she squealed.
“Well, Mom wanted to come and yell at you in person and I wanted to see my little girl,” my dad answered.
“Why does Grandma want to yell at Aunt Kenna?” Norah asked the same question I was wondering.
“Because you didn’t tell me you were going to play today. I wouldn’t have known if I didn’t have the game playing in the background as I cleaned.” My mom crossed her arms and glared at me before she cracked and laughed.
“Was Claire hurt?” my dad questioned, plopping down on the couch as Norah climbed on his lap.
“No, she just wasn’t doing as well as Trip wanted her to, and being our first scrimmage he wanted to win.”
“Trip?” My mom’s eyebrows rose and I realized too late I had fallen into her trap.
“Coach Butler,” I tried to amend.
“Oh, baby girl, you better just answer her. You know she isn’t going anywhere until you let her know what she wants.” My dad started to braid Norah’s hair.
I watched them for a second, remembering how he used to do the same thing to me when I was a little girl.
“Yes, as you remember Coach Mae used to be Trip’s old coach. When he hurt himself Coach Mae asked if he’d come help out with us while he healed.”
“If we remember.” My mom snorted. “That’s one of the reasons you went to play with Coach Mae,” my mom teased, going over and sitting next to my dad.
I ignored my mom’s remark and continued my explanation. “His PR person thought it would be a great idea. He saw me pitch during practice and has been riding me hard. He wanted to see if I could do better than what Claire was doing.”
“Are you okay with that?” She studied my face.
“I am, Mom. I promise.”
“She even took down all of his posters. Aunt Kenna’s going to find another uncle for me.”
“Oh, baby. Was he an asshole?” My mom’s voice changed no longer teasing. She got up and put her arm around my waist.
“At first I thought he might be an ass, but he redeemed himself. We’re friends and nothing more,” I said quickly when my dad’s eyebrow cocked up.
