Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I didn’t even know there was a meet next weekend. Still, I will for sure be there. “Definitely.”
“Awesome, me and a few of the other moms bring snacks and drinks to the meets. Would you want in on that?”
“Sure, is there a sign up or something?” I ask, wondering if I will be stepping on Lidia’s toes. I’m sure Gareth’s mom is the one who normally does this stuff.
“No, we’re not that organized. It’s just kind of a free for all. Bring whatever you want,” she replies, and then she grabs my hand, startling me. “Except things with nuts, gluten, dairy, or sugar.” I blink at her and she laughs. “I’m just kidding. Bring whatever you want. We also won’t judge you if you bring wine.”
“Got it.” I smile, and she lets my hand go. Then for the next hour, we chat and watch the kids practice, and when it’s time to leave, I get her number and tell her I’ll see her at the meet before heading down to the track to meet Mitchell.
“I want to hug you, but I don’t think that’s cool. So can I get a high-five?” I ask, and he laughs then holds his hand so high above his head that I have to jump to reach it. “You’re seriously fast. Do you want to run track in college?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” He shrugs. “I used to want to play baseball, but last year the track coach asked me to try out for the team after he saw me doing some drills and I told him I would. I didn’t think I would like it as much as I do. I just don’t know if I like it more than baseball,” he says as we leave the field and head for my car. “This summer, I’m going to join one of the summer baseball teams and then decide what I want to do next year.”
“I bet you’re just as great at baseball.”
“I don’t know. There are lots of great players on the high school team. But I like the game.”
“I’d like to see you play sometime,” I say as we get into my car. “And I hope you don’t mind, but I kind of told one of the moms that I’d be at your meet next weekend.”
“That’s cool,” he replies as I pull out of the parking lot and head for the house. “Are we going home?”
I glance over at him when I hear the anxiousness in his tone. “Yeah, I figured it’d be easier, since you need to shower and I need to get ready so we can leave in time for the reservation your dad made at Flame.” I chew the inside of my cheek. “I’m sorry. If I had my stuff at my place, we could go there. It’s just… I’ve been staying at your house, so everything is there.”
“It’s okay. I just....” His words trail off as he shifts in his seat. “Hopefully she’ll just leave when we get there. If not, I’ll stay in my room until it’s time to go to dinner.”
“Your dad said he’d be home early today. When he gets there—”
“She won’t leave just because dad comes home,” he cuts me off. “And dad won’t tell her to leave. He doesn’t want Max to get upset.”
He’s right about that. Gareth puts up with a lot of crap from her because he doesn’t want Max upset, and although I understand him wanting his boys to have their mom, I also see that she takes advantage of that knowledge. I just don’t think she understands that every time she does something to push the limits of his kindness, she’s pushing him closer to his breaking point. And one day, that thread is going to snap, and I personally do not want to be around when that happens.
“What is your mom like?”
I come out of my thoughts at his question and glance at him. “My mom?”
“I just mean, is she like you?”
“No. Well… I don’t know. Maybe. She’s sweet, funny, and sometimes annoying and overbearing. She was always the parent cheering the loudest when I had a game or something in high school, and she’s still one of the first people I call when I have something happen in my life.”
“So… like you.”
“I guess,” I concede, understanding just then that I’m like my mom. “When you meet her, she’s probably going to fawn all over you like you’re five and not fifteen.” I smile when he laughs. “She’s going to love you and your brother. Both my parents will.”
I turn onto the block and when I reach the house, I see Gareth’s mom’s car parked on the street, but Beth’s car isn’t in the driveway, so I pull in, park, and shut down the engine. Mitchell gets out as I turn to grab my bag, and then I open my door, hearing my name called. I look around and smile when I see my cousin Harmony coming across the street wearing a pair of gray scrubs.