Page 326 of Well Played

“I’d invite you to my room, but I’m sharing it with your brother.”

“Yes, and Grace is sharing mine.” She kissed him good night. “Maybe next time.”

“I need you to ride on the bus with the team,” her father said. “Your mom has a checkup with the oncologist, and I’d like to be there for it. I’ll drive up behind you afterwards.”

Kay looked up from glazing the donuts she’d just pulled from the fryer. “Sure. Do you have someone who’ll be there for the guys?”

“Yeah, Grace said she thought she could convince Walker if he gets back in time. If not, someone will handle it.” He took a deep breath. “I just…”

Kay set down the icing and went to her father. She wrapped her arms about him from behind and laid her head on his back. “Mom’s going to be okay. She’s done everything the doctors told her to do. You can’t worry.”

“You’re going to get me all sticky,” he complained.

“Yeah, like you’re not going to get into my donuts and get yourself all sticky.” She released him and went back to work. “If the worst happens, we’ll deal with it. But I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.” She smiled, though she was worried too. It was difficult not to worry. Her mom had beaten breast cancer one time. She had to believe that whatever else happened, she’d beat it again if it came back.

Kay looked up when Walker got on the bus with Gracie. He smiled wearily at her as he took the seat in front of her.

“Hey,” he said, his voice husky with fatigue.

“Hey yourself, I thought you were still on the road.”

“I got in this morning.”

“And you’re going back out with us, Walker. That’s ridiculous. We could have found someone to be the male chaperone.”

“I wanted to come.” He yawned. “I just didn’t realize I’d be getting off one bus and onto another.”

“Why don’t you try to sleep while we ride? We’ll stop in about two hours for lunch and a break.”

He nodded and moved his duffle around to double as his pillow. “Sounds good. Wake me a few minutes before we get there.”

“I thought the idea was to get Walker and Kay together on the bus,” Jimmy complained. “He’s asleep and Kay won’t let anyone wake him.”

“He just finished a three-game week. He got off the bus this morning and barely had time to shower and repacked before we had to meet you guys. I feel kinda guilty about pushing him to chaperone.”

“But what about the plan?” Jimmy demanded.

“Shh, keep your voice down. We don’t want you-know-who to figure out what we’re up to…”

“What are you two up to?” Kay asked, surprising them at the back of the bus.

“Um,” Jimmy froze.

Grace smiled. “Oh, we’ve got a few signals we’re working on for the tournament.”

“Isn’t that cheating?” Kay asked.

“Not exactly…” Gracie said.

Jimmy nodded his head. “No signals allowed.”

“If you get caught, you will forfeit the game.” Kay shook her head. “I don’t think it’s worth it.”

Jimmy agreed, “No cheating.”

Gracie sighed. “Fine, no signals. I still don’t see how it’s cheating.”

“It’s in the rules,” Kay said as she walked away.

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