AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Most likely, it’s from the night before.
It’s the third week of the school year and Hunter’s football team is playing a team from Arizona. I have no clue exactly who. I never really pay attention to these things. I only go to cheer on Hunter and hangout with Lucas and Seth. Glancing at Lucas, I see that he seems to be doing a bit better. He refuses to talk about work, which only makes me more anxious. I want to help him in some way, but I don’t know how. This is probably something he needs to figure out on his own.
“Rachel,” Seth says in a warning tone, eyeing the phone I’m holding up to my ear.
I’m trying for the hundredth time to call Mom to see if we can let bygones be bygones. The last few weeks she’s been too busy to talk. I have no clue with what. It’s either, “Sorry, honey, I have to go,” or “Now’s not a good time. How about we talk later?” What does a girl have to do to get her Mom to talk to her?
Seth pokes my shoulder. “Don’t tell me you’re obsessing again.”
I roll my eyes.
“She’s obsessing again,” says Lucas, earning a dark scowl from me.
“Hello?” comes Mom’s voice on the other line.
“Hi, Mom!” I say sweetly, earning a groan from both Seth and Lucas. “Is now a good time? Or are you busy again?” I wince. That’s probably not a good way to start. I’m already giving her a way out.
“I’m making breakfast, so make it fast.”
I guess that’s better than nothing. “Well, I was wondering how things are going there?”
“Fine.” I hear sizzling through the receiver. Mom’s probably making her famous omelet. I miss her omelets. Will she still make me delicious, savory omelets now that she knows her little girl has three boyfriends? My bottom lip juts out even further as I hear Mom say, “Things are normal. Like they should be.”
“And,” I begin, wincing and not knowing where to start. “Are we good? Are you still mad at me?”
I hear Mom sigh. “You know I love you, Rachel.”
My eyes prickle with tears. “That’s not what I asked. Are you really going to punish me for this forever? You know it has nothing to do with you.”
Silence greets me, and I wonder if she’s going to hang up or give me some stupid excuse about how she’s too busy to speak with me. “You know what,” Mom begins, “your father wants to talk to you. Here-”
“Wait, Mom-”
“Hey, Rachey!” I hear Dad say excitedly. “How are things in Colorado?”
I stifle a groan and jut out my bottom lip. “Great, Dad,” I say sadly.
“You’ll be coming home for Christmas, right? That’s what your mom said.”
I nod. “Yep. That’s right.” I guess I should be glad Mom didn’t tell Dad. Knowing him, he would probably get so upset he would implode. I can’t really see him getting angry, not like Mom, anyway. Most likely, he would get up and leave or pretend like he didn’t hear anything. Dad is pretty good at pretending like everything is completely fine.
As we approach the tents, I see Charlie in the distance. She’s wearing short shorts exposing her long, tanned legs and a bright yellow crop top. Her hair is French braided into pigtails. Large sunglasses take up most her face and she wears a black baseball cap backwards. I watch her approaching us, holding a beer in each of her hands. My gaze turns to my own attire. I’m wearing one of Hunter’s oversized jerseys. I tied it in the front, exposing a bit of my waistline, but it still bunches around me. How does Charlie always look so amazing? It’s like she has some sort of fashion superpower.
Charlie nods at us while I wave in response. “Well, I have to go, Dad,” I say, my feet picking up in speed. If Mom doesn’t want to talk to me, then there’s no point in obsessing about it today. I’m here to cheer for my man, not worry about whether or not Mom is still mad at me.
She’ll talk to me when she’s ready.
“Oh, really? I never get to talk to you these days.”
I wince. He definitely has a point there. “How about we video chat this week?” I say, stopping in front of Charlie and taking the beer she offers me.
“That sounds great. I’ll let your mom know.”
“Great.” I grimace at the grumpiness in my tone. “Love you, Dad.”
“Love you, Rachey. Stay out of trouble, you hear?”
Easier said than done.
