Page 77 of Waiting for Friday Night

“Shania?” Khris looked at Quinton with renewed interest. “That’s the girl playing on the team, right? I hear she’s your daughter?”

Quinton glared at Khris. “Shania stays out of your story.”

“It’s a great thing to feature. A young girl playing high school football.”

Halle stepped closer to Quinton. “I’m her mother and you’ll have to get my permission to put her picture in your magazine or say her name.”

Khris took in Halle’s stubborn expression and let out an easy chuckle. “Just a thought. I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.”

His dad coughed, “Bullshit.”

Khris frowned and Quinton knew it was time to end this conversation. “Shania should be coming out soon. Let’s head that way. Jeremiah, Dr. Watts, see you tomorrow.”

When they were out of earshot his mom asked, “Is he really here with some magazine?”

Quinton scanned the crowd for Shania. “He is. Don’t worry. I’m good.” He spotted Shania and pointed. “There she is.”

His parents were distracted as Shania ran over. Halle’s hand brushed his arm. “You okay?”

He relaxed. “I’m good. I promise.”

“Just let me know if I need to hit him upside the head or something,” she said with a teasing grin.

Damn, he wished he could kiss her. Instead, her brushed his hand over her arm and nodded. “I’ll let you know. Thank you.”

“I’ve got you,” she said before turning to console Shania, who was still down about the loss.

Quinton watched them and the corner of his mouth lifted. With Halle by his side, he was going to be okay.

Twenty-Four

The next night, Halle sat with Quinton’s family and watched the varsity team try to get a win. Shania had started the game hanging with them, basking in the adoration of her new grandparents, but she’d ditched them during the third quarter to go stand along the railing with her friends. Unlike the JV team the night before, the varsity team was holding their own and might win the game.

Jeremiah walked up the stairs toward the top of the stadium. He spotted them and waved. “Ms. Parker, good to see you.”

“Likewise.” She looked from him to Khris coming up. Halle nodded but didn’t speak.

Quinton’s family stiffened next to her and looked pointedly away from Jeremiah and Khris down to the field.

Jeremiah glanced at Quinton’s parents, noticed they weren’t going to acknowledge either of them and looked back at Halle. “Are you enjoying the game?”

“I am.” Halle pointed to the scoreboard. “Looks like we’ll win tonight.”

Jeremiah pumped his fist. “Let’s hope so. A win tonight means they’ll be more likely to beat Peach Ridge in a few weeks.”

“And we all know that’s the most important game.”

Jeremiah grinned, oblivious to the sarcasm in Halle’s voice. “It is. Well, we’ll head back up to the box. We’re sitting with the mayor.”

“Tell Miriam I said hello.”

“I’ll do that.” He walked away. Khris gave Quinton’s family one more look, but they pointedly kept their eyes averted. After a beat he followed Jeremiah.

As soon as he was gone Laura sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes. “I still can’t believe he has the audacity to pretend like he’s Quinton’s friend.”

Dawn shook her head. She scowled in the direction they’d gone. “I believe it. He always wanted to act like what happened wasn’t a big deal.”

Halle leaned forward to look at Dawn, whose chair was on the opposite side of Laura. “Quinton told me a little about it. That he was the reason he broke his leg and missed out on a scholarship.”

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