Page 43 of How We Fooled

He grins. “Yeah, maybe.”

The score was three to two, so his solo home run definitely helped.

A loud noise comes from his side, and he drops his head against the wall where he’s rested on his bed. “Oh no.”

“What?”

“Eli!” I hear a few guys yell as they come running into the room and jump on the bed.

The phone jolts around with his movement. All I can see and hear is the commotion of it all, but I can’t tell what’s going on.

“Is this her?” I hear someone ask as the phone is yanked out of his hand, and a guy comes on the screen.

“Sup. I’m Seth,” the guy says, looking into the phone. “This is Nate, Jack, and Kaden.” He shows them all to me. “We’re here to steal our boy. We knew he was full of shit, saying he didn’t feel good, and was coming up here to talk to you.”

They show me Eli, who’s sitting with his head rested back, still looking up to the ceiling in annoyance, which makes me laugh. These guys are obviously a handful.

He tosses the phone back to Eli, who faces it toward him so I can see him again.

“See what I mean?” he deadpans.

“You talking shit about us?” I hear one of them yell out, making me laugh out loud.

“Yes, fool, I am,” he responds, then rolls his eyes at me playfully.

I know he’s half kidding. He’s talked about how much he likes playing with this team and these guys, but I can see how they can be a little much for him though at times since he’s more of an old soul.

“Come on. We’re heading out, and Coach says you have to come too,” I hear one of them say.

He sighs and looks at me. “I got to go. Congratulations again.”

“Thanks. Have fun.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Oh, it will be a blast,” he says sarcastically.

I blow him a kiss, and he does the same, which only gets him more shit from the guys.

After we hang up, I’m still giggling. It’s amazing how he can make me so happy.

I was a nervous wreck all weekend as I waited until Monday for my interview. Add in the anxiety that Eli’s games caused, especially when they made it to the championship game, winning three to one, and my stomach was in knots the past two days.

Today is a new day though. My interview is at eleven, and Eli comes home at two. It’s crazy just how excited I am to see him. He’s only been gone for five days, but it feels like an eternity.

I enter the Leighton River school district office, wearing my most professional outfit of dress slacks and a nice top, feeling like I’m ready to face anything and everything as I repeat in my head, Have confidence. You deserve this job. You’re ready for this job.

I’m greeted by an older woman, who gives me a genuine smile as I enter the office.

She stands and holds out her hand to me. “You must be Liza.”

I’m kind of taken aback by her knowing who I am before I even say anything. The few times I went to the Stockton school district, nobody knew or gave a damn who I was. In a town of over three hundred thousand though, I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. The amount of people coming in and out of that office all day long must be staggering compared to this place.

“That’s me,” I respond, trying to sound as confident as possible.

“I’m Elaine. It’s so nice to meet you. Come on back. Mrs. Epperson is expecting you.” She motions for me to step through their half-wall entrance and follow her to an office in the back.

A woman in a floral dress stands from her desk as we enter. “Liza,” she says warmly as she holds her hand out to me, and we shake.

“Hello, Mrs. Epperson. It’s so nice to meet you.”

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