Page 130 of Bump and Run

September

Thirty-One

Eliza

Junior takesmy hand and gives it a light, reassuring squeeze.

I glance at him beside me on the couch through my peripheral vision and he rolls his eyes at me.

“Don’t think I didn’t see that, young man,” Bonnie says, pointing a finger at him from the loveseat across the room.

“Mom, we already said no… about thirteen times now,” he says.

“Not that we don’t appreciate the offer…” I add.

“Right,” he nods. “But… no.”

She sighs. “Well, whynot?”

I chuckle at her desperation and everyone else sitting around does, too.

Ty and Grant hold it back the best so they don’t appear rude in her home but I can see the humor dancing in their eyes.

Maggie lets it all out, cackling hard at her little brother’s expense while Nate keeps his head down beside her.

Roy just shakes his head quietly from his chair.

“Because…” Junior says. “I don’t want to move back in with my parents.”

“Well, this isn’t only about you, Junior.” She gestures at me. “This is about Eliza and what she needs.”

“Really, Bonnie. Thank you, but…” I hesitate, trying to think of the best way to say it without offending her. “I have all the support I need near campus. We’ve been getting along great…”

“But it’s far quieter out here,” she argues, her voice sounding more eager and scripted than usual. “You can’t raise a baby by a college campus. It’s too noisy! Especially now that the stadium will surely sell out for every game.”

“It’s fine, Mom,” Junior says. “The condo Ty’s cousin found us is far enough away that noise hasn’t been an issue.”

Bonnie flinches at the word condo. “But what about daycare?” she fires back. “It’s far too expensive nowadays. If the three of you move in here, then I can take care of the baby while you’re in class or at football practice.”

“You live an hour away from campus, Mom,” he points out. “The daily commute would probably cost the same as daycare.”

“I’m taking the fall semester off,” I say. “We don’t have to worry about the daycare situation until spring.”

Grant points at me. “And you absolutely have to be back by then,” he says. “Shakespeare showcase!”

I smile at him. “I won’t miss it.”

“What about you, little brother?” Maggie asks, her cheeks pink with wine. “Will you be gracing us with your amazing stage presence again next semester?”

Junior glares at her. “You’re not going to let me live that down, are you?”

“Never,” she grins.

“No,” he answers. “I’ll be sticking with football.”

Nate leans forward. “Have they chosen a new coach?”

The air shifts and Junior squeezes my hand a little tighter.

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