Trip looked at me, his face shadowed by his hat.
“Later,” he growled as he pivoted on his heels and followed Coach Mae.
The breath I was holding came out in a wheeze. I ran to my locker, not bothering to change out of my uniform.
Only thinking of escape.
“Aunt Kenna.” Norah raced toward me and I caught her in a big hug.
She was the best Band-Aid for a broken heart.
“Grandma and Grandpa are taking us out to dinner. Go home and get dressed.”
My parents, Renee, and Brian followed behind Norah at a normal speed. They all smiled and hugged me as they murmured over the loss.
“Don’t say no. You’re going to dinner with us. Go take a shower and meet us at Gaston’s,” my mom said, cutting off the refusal she saw I was about to give her.
“Hurry, Aunt Kenna. Grandpa said we’re going to get a surprise.”
“Well, how can I say no to a surprise?” I kissed her on the nose and handed her over to Brian.
After I showered and dressed I refused to look at my phone. It was a weak move, but I was owning my cowardice status.
When I was turning out of the parking lot, I spotted Trip’s red Explorer headed toward my apartment complex. I zipped down a back street and fixed my gaze on my rearview mirror. When Diego didn’t appear behind me I figured I was safe. I drove the back ways to the restaurant as I pulled my cowardice around me like a tight jacket.
“What the hell happened at the game tonight?” Renee asked when I sat next to her.
Norah was on her other side in between her and Brian. They made an adorable family.
“My head wasn’t in the game,” I gave her a weak excuse as everyone at the table except Norah listened.
“It didn’t happen to have anything to do with a certain coach and a certain Olympic softball player, would it?” Renee asked.
I stabbed a tomato in my salad and chewed on it like it killed my family.
“Have you talked to him, McKenna? Trip hasn’t once mentioned Robin to me. I have a feeling there’s more there than what the tabloids are reporting. Believe me, the tabloids blow things out of proportion. I figured that’s why Trip has been so cautious with your friendship. They can be brutal,” Brian said.
“That’s what his parents said,” I admitted, pushing a piece of lettuce around.
“When did you talk to his parents?” my mom latched onto that tidbit, putting down her fork, giving me her undivided attention.
I summarized my lunch with Trip’s parents, leaving out some stuff they didn’t need to know.
“Honey, I’m sorry they treated you like they did in the beginning. I’m glad they invited you to lunch so they could apologize,” my mom said, resuming her dinner as if all was right in the world.
“I have to agree with them. I think you need to talk to Trip, Kenna,” my dad added, looking concerned.
“I will. Enough about me. Wasn’t there a surprise I was promised?”
“Yes, what’s the surprise, Grandpa?” Norah asked sweetly, coming to my aide.
“It’s not my surprise to give,” my dad answered cryptically.
“That would belong to me,” Brian chimed in.
We turned to him as he scooted his chair back and kneeled down on one knee.
Renee reached back and squeezed my hand while her other hand held on to Norah.
