Page 37 of The One I Left Behind

“Actually, you’re wrong. The majority do pass the first time.” Over seventy percent, to be exact. Now that she’s insulted me in front of everyone, the side of me that I’m not too proud of comes out. “And I can take on the football fundraiser. No problem.”

“Oh, well…” She looks at Ben with a cringe. Does she think he’ll have a problem with it? “With your history, I’m not sure…”

“I’m sure they can be adults,” Betsy shouts, and I elbow her this time.

“I mean, if Ben would rather not work with me, I’ll gladly retract my offer,” Alondra says with a bit of a huff.

I’m playing a game. I know I am, because Ben will pick me over Alondra, and I’m slightly ashamed of my behavior. Slightly.

Ben grabs the bottom of the microphone and turns it toward him, staring at me. “I’m good with Gillian.” His million-dollar smile lands on me, and my heart pinches in my chest.

Alondra yanks the microphone back to her, and Ben releases it. “Okay then. Gillian is in charge. If it all becomes too much, you’ll let me know?”

I stare blankly at her and don’t answer.

“That’s enough for tonight,” she says.

“What about the girls’ cross country?” another parent shouts.

Alondra appears flustered, looking through her notecards as if she’s lost track of where this meeting was supposed to go. Her ability to go with the flow is nonexistent.

“We’ll get to that at the next meeting. Good night, everyone.” She takes her notecards and heads to the chair behind the podium that has her messenger bag on it.

“Go Wildcats!” Betsy shouts when Alondra doesn’t end the meeting like she always does.

I bite down my laugh until we get into the hallway.

“Tori better watch her back,” Betsy whispers as we walk down the hallway.

“Why would she push for me to do it? What did I ever do to her?” I thought Tori liked me, but now I’m not so sure. Calling me out like that in front of everyone as a slacker.

“Whatever her reason, it didn’t take you long to agree.” Her eyebrows rise.

“Alondra insulted me.”

“She insults everyone. I think maybe it’s something more?” Betsy looks behind us. “And here he comes.”

“What?”

“Hey, ladies,” Ben says, walking alongside us. “These booster meetings are pretty entertaining. I might become a regular.”

“You mean you’re not used to two women fighting over you?” Betsy asks.

I elbow her. It’s a surprise we aren’t both nursing bruised ribs after these meetings.

Ben stretches his arm in front of me, never losing his stride. “Ben Noughton.”

Betsy giggles as she shakes his hand. “I know. I’m Betsy.”

“Ben, Betsy moved here after you left. She’s Drew’s mom, Clayton’s best friend.”

“Nice to meet you. Drew is very enthusiastic. Great kid.”

I’m not sure how much Ben has really been around the boys or if he’s only going to coach varsity. Since Clayton and Drew are freshmen they’ll be on the junior varsity team.

“Have you seen your shrine?” Betsy signals to the Ben Noughton glass case.

He stops. “Holy shit.” Stepping forward, he inspects it further. “Is that my athletic tape?”

---