Page 94 of Anyone But Her

Chapter Eighteen

Luke

It's the last hole. The very last hole of the best golf game of my life. Albert is definitely shining down on me today. It started with the first hole—a freaking hole in one!—and ended with me having the best score I've ever had. I just have to do well on this last hole and I'll win the tournament and tie for having the lowest score ever played on this course.

I'm playing like a pro today. I even heard one of the announcers say that. Lou told me people would be watching me today, seeing if I was good enough to go professional, and so far I've proved that I am.

"This one's for you, Albert," I say as I approach the tee. I take a swing and instantly know it's good. I could feel it. I watch as the ball soars in the air, then lands on the green and rolls until it stops just inches from the hole.

"Holy shit," I mutter. It was almost another hole in one.

Looking over at the crowd I see Taylor waving at me and smiling. When our eyes meet she mouths the words 'you won' and her smile gets even bigger. I've never seen anyone get so excited for me. Albert wasn't someone who'd show excitement. When I did well in a tournament he'd smile and say I did a good job but he didn't wave his hands around and jump up and down like Taylor's doing right now.

Barb is also smiling and waving and Cal is giving me a thumbs up. Lou is sitting there with his arms crossed but is grinning from ear to ear. He's proud of me. They all are. Over the years they've become like family to me, and now that I live with them, I really feel like I am. Except when it comes to Taylor, my secret girlfriend who's acting more like a real girlfriend with the amount of enthusiasm she's showing for my win. But no one seems to notice other than Birdie, who just nudged Taylor and whispered something in her ear, probably telling her to tone it down.

When I get to the green I tap the ball in the hole and the game is over. I won the tournament, and not just any tournament but a major tournament that gets a lot of press.

Sports reporters swarm me as I walk off the green. A young guy with dark hair and the whitest teeth I've ever seen shoves a microphone in front of me and starts asking questions about the game. As I answer, other reporters follow us, shouting out questions.

"When are you going pro?"

"Has anyone approached you for a sponsorship?

"What's your arrangement with WaveField? Are they planning to sponsor you when you go pro?"

"How much longer can you afford to be an amateur?"

The last question is one I get asked all the time but one I don't answer because I really don't know. The truth is, I'm running out of money. Golf is one of the most expensive sports to play but amateurs aren't allowed to be paid for playing golf or winning tournaments or basically doing anything related to golf, which is why I couldn't be shown golfing in the WaveField commercial.

Working the past few years I've saved some money but it's running out fast. Before Albert died, he'd pay me to help him around the house and I'd use that money to help pay for golf, but now, with Albert gone, I'm going to be broke soon.

Back at the clubhouse, Lou greets me with a congratulatory handshake. "You made Albert proud."

It's the best thing Lou could've said to me because today's game wasn't about me. It was for Albert. He was with me for every shot.

Lou leans in and smiles. "The rest of us are proud of you too."

I smile back. "Thanks."

Cal comes up to me. "Awesome job, man. After a game like that you gotta go pro."

"Yeah...eventually."

"You can't keep waiting," Cal says. "Sponsors would've been all over you today if you were a pro. If you keep waiting, they'll lose interest."

"Let him be," Lou says to Cal. "We can talk about that later. For now, let him enjoy his win."

Taylor appears with Birdie right behind her.

"Great game," Taylor says, hiding the excitement she showed earlier.

"Thanks."

"You won!" Birdie fakes her enthusiasm and gives me a hug, playing the role of the girl I'm supposedly dating. I don't like this fake dating thing. It feels wrong.

"You two should go out and celebrate," Lou says to me. "Take her out for dinner tonight. My treat."

He wants me to have dinner with Birdie? I get along with her fine but I don't want to have dinner with her. This charade is getting out of hand.

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