Page 73 of Lucky Mother Pucker

I head to the showers to get cleaned up and change back into my street clothes. The whole time, I wonder if my teammates are right. Could Lucy like me too?

* * *

When we walk into the diner, Briar, Poppy, and Anna are already at our usual table.

The second I sit down, Lucy walks up to our table.

“You made it,” Anna says.

Lucy sits down in the chair next to me. Everyone greets her.

“Thanks for inviting me,” she says, then glances around the restaurant. “It’s kind of weird being here as a customer.”

I give her a soft bump with my shoulder. “Welcome to the other side.”

She laughs. We order our meals when the server stops by, then talk about tonight’s game.

My phone buzzes with a text. When I see it’s my dad, my mood instantly nose-dives.

Let's talk about the way you played tonight.

My jaw is tight as I ignore his text. I’m not dealing with his shit right now.

I take a quiet breath and try to push him out of my head. I focus on some joke Nick is telling. Then my phone buzzes again.

Don’t ignore me, Leo.

I exhale sharply,

Me: I’m busy right now.

Dad: No, you’re not. You’re at that diner stuffing your face, aren’t you?

The anger inside of me simmers.

Dad: I’m coming there.

Me: Don’t.

Dad: We’re having this conversation one way or another.

Frustration boils over inside of me. I hate this. I hate that my dad always goes out of his way to remind me that I’m not good enough. I hate how one text conversation with him is all it takes to ruin the good mood I had.

The server drops off our food, but I don’t have time to eat because a second later, my dad texts that he’s in the parking lot.

“I’ll just be a sec,” I say before pushing back from the table and walking off.

He steps out of his black Mercedes. I walk over to him.

“What do you want, Dad?”

He folds his arms over his chest, that disappointed scowl on his face. “You said you don’t want to meet with me the morning after games anymore. So I’m doing this instead.”

My muscles tense instantly. “I didn’t say that. I said it’s pointless for us to meet at all if you’re just going to insult me.”

“I’m not insulting you, Leo. I’m trying to help you play better. And the way you played tonight was abysmal.”

I tug a hand through my hair and let out a bitter laugh. “Of course you think that.”