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“That’s for me to know and you to find out when I decide you get to find out.” He loved holding his ideas over me until I begged him.
“Rude,” I said as we waited for the team to come in. A few non-cheer kids were hanging around and bouncing a basketball. Dom and I sat on the bleachers and said hello as the squad trickled in. They definitely looked tired after last night. I should take it easy on them, but I didn't exactly have that luxury. I could spend some time watching and dissecting video, which gave their bodies a break for a little while.
Dom set up the projector and the kids started putting the mats out. The other squad walked in, and their mood was the same as my team’s: deflated. Even Echo looked tired, and I’d had to put extra highlighter under my eyes to draw the attention away from my dark circles. Just one night with not enough sleep and I looked like a zombie. Not cute.
I was giving the squad a night of rest on Friday, which I hoped they used wisely. I didn’t think Echo was giving hers a day off, but I just couldn’t have a miserable squad on my hands. At this point, one night off wasn’t going to make a massive difference. I mean, come on.
Echo exchanged a look and a nod with me as she walked by, but that was it. I shrugged at Dom when he sent me a questioning look.
Time to work.
The next few days were uneventful, for which I was grateful. I didn’t need more injuries or emergencies or strange texts from Echo. Friday night rolled around and I went out with my friends to The Trap, and Lou brought over the drink she’d come up with to celebrate the group going to Nationals. I had no idea what was in the damn thing, but if I didn’t slow down, I was going to drink five of them and end up passed out on the floor.
“To Kiri and Dom and the Tigers!” Heath said, and we all toasted.
“Do you have baby news?” Katie asked, grabbing a wing from the massive basket we’d ordered. Susie made her own sauce, and it was magic.
Heath said, “Not yet. Still waiting. We’ll get the call when she goes into labor and then we’ll be on a red eye. Just please send good vibes because we don’t know if it’s all going to work out. We’ll have to be there for a few weeks to give her time, just in case she changes her mind. We’d be disappointed, but we don’t want a mother to give us her baby and then have regrets. That would be the worst-case scenario.”
Dom and Heath really were the real deal. I just adored them both.
“We’re rooting for both of you,” Penny said, squeezing Dom and Heath’s hands.
“On another note,” Tom said, “are you going to get any down time next week? Any chance to sit in the sun?”
“Uh, not exactly, but we are taking one day for Disney, but I’m going to be wrangling a bunch of hyped up teenagers, so it’s not really going to be a day off for me,” I said. Sure, a lot of their parents would be there as chaperones, but I was still in charge if anything went south.
“K, I will do something for you,” Dom said, putting his hand on his heart. “If you decide you want to go to the spa in the hotel and have a day of self-care, I will take the squad to Disney.”
It was like he had volunteered to throw himself in front of a bus for me.
“You would do that?”
“I would, my dear.” He kissed me on the cheek and I almost started crying.
“Hey, Kiri, there’s someone at the bar you should definitely check out. I know how much you love redheads,” Penny said. The way we were sitting, my back was to the bar, and I hoped beyond hope that she wouldn’t be there when I turned around.
My hopes disintegrated as I stared at Echo, sitting at the bar, drinking a beer, and chatting with Lou.
“Motherfucker,” I said under my breath.
“Oh,” Dom said. “That’s interesting. What is she doing here? Has she moved to Corsica?”
“Wait, I feel like I’m missing something,” Jason said, craning his neck to see around Tom.
“Oh my god, do not all look at her at once,” I said, trying to duck my head so we didn’t draw attention. My friends were anything but subtle.
“Is she looking over here?” I asked in a hushed voice.
“No . . . oh, crap, she saw us,” Heath said, since he had the best view. “And she’s coming over.”
“I swear to god, if you embarrass me, I’m going to poison you all,” I hissed.
“Hey, Kiri,” she said, and I raised my head and hoped the darkness hid the extent of my blush. I could feel it radiating all the way down to my chest.
“Hi,” I said, and it came out as a little squeak.
“Hey, Dom,” she said, nodding at him, and then it was silent as she waited for someone to introduce her. Dom opened and closed his mouth a few times before taking the lead.
