Tears sting my eyes, and emotion clogs my throat. I blink and jingle my car keys in my hand. “It’s not a bad idea. Pre-game dinners were always fun.”
It was a way for us to unwind and have some fun the night before a game when we were driving ourselves crazy with nerves.
“Does six o’clock work for you?”
I nod and let out a defeated sigh. “Ask your mom what I should bring.”
I’d rather not spend more time with Landon, but I won’t spite the team because of it.
“Look at you,breaking bread with the enemy.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m only doing it for the team.”
And because Landon’s mom asked. She might have spawned the devil, but I can’t be rude to her.
“Pre-game dinners were the best.” Ivori leans back against my porch swing, staring out at the night sky. “High school was the best. No responsibilities. No back pain. Not a care in the world.”
I chuckle as I mimic her position and gaze out at the moon peeking through the leaves on the tall oak tree in the yard. It remained tall and strong throughout the years, weathering every snow storm and hurricane that came its way. Branches have broken off; its leaves have died, season after season. But it withstands each of its changes.
I feel a lot like the oak tree.
“I look at these kids and wonder if they know it. People say it all the time, but you don’t really understand until you’re an adult, reminiscing about the glory days.”
“I don’t think you can know it while you’re in it.” Ivori lifts her wine glass to her lips. “Hindsight is always twenty-twenty.”
My foot pushes off the porch to rock the swing. “I don’t even know what they’re talking about half the time. They say these...these weird things, and I haven’t a single clue what they’re talking about. It’s like they’re speaking in tongues.”
Ivori squeezes her eyes shut as she laughs. “Our parents felt like this when we were younger, I’m sure.”
“I don’t know, dude. Did we say such weird shit?”
“What I do know is that these kids are brazen as fuck.”
I sit up straight, my wine almost sloshing over the side of my glass. “Thank you! Right? Like who would ever speak to their teachers like that? My dad would’ve beat my ass.”
“Same.” She twists her body to face me. “I couldn’t even tell my sister to shut up, let alone my teacher.”
I drain the rest of my wine and set the empty glass on the wicker table. “I wonder how the boys today would react if a girl joined the lacrosse team. Do you think they’d treat her differently than they treated me?”
“Probably. Boys are more feminist now than they were back in our day.”
A laugh bubbles out of my throat. “Back in our day. God, we sound like we’re ancient.”
“We’re officially in our late thirties.” Ivori shivers. “Evan is pushing forty.”
I lift my phone off the couch and type out a quick text to him.
Me
You’re old
Evan
Go fuck yourself
My head falls back as I cackle, and turn the phone so Ivori can read his text.
She grins as she reaches forward and pours herself another glass. “Want another?”
