Page 79 of A Game as Old as Time

She had blurted out the first thing that came to her mind. Well, the second thing. She grabbed her soda and took a sip for support. There was something that kept bringing her back to his green eyes, even as the screen continued to dance in front of them.

What is it about him tonight?

She took a deep breath, trying to collect herself after the near slip-up.

I mean…

Hailey waited until he was distracted by another carhop. This youngboy was waving so hard to him that he nearly fell to the pavement.

He really never gets time alone.

She was starting to understand how much pressure this town put on Gunner and the rest of the football players. The way that man spoke earlier, it was like the town needed them to win every game or the world would end. It just seemed unfair to her that they were turning to Gunner for answers at this time.

He needs his space.

“So,” he said, adjusting closer to her after the boy left, “I have to ask. Where did you learn to sing?”

Oh boy.

Her hands gripped the armrests.

“I mean, I’ve been working on the musicals for the last few years,” he continued. “You, though, you’re amazing. No way you learned how to do that in some performing arts school.”

She looked out the passenger window, unsure what to say.

“I’m sorry,” he continued lamely. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

Just tell him it was your school.

She exhaled shakily, readjusted her legs, searched in the darkness outside the window for courage.

“It was…” she said slowly and quietly. “It was my mom.”

What are you doing?

“My mom taught me how to sing.” The seat squeaked as he twisted more fully toward her. “She was the one who put me in the Performing Arts Academy in California, too, when I was young.”

Why did I tell him that?

Her converse sneakers were bouncing against the floor, and she stiffened her legs to stop the movement. The images she had held tight began to run free in her head.

“Wow.” His voice was soft. “She must have been talented as well, if she taught you to sing.”

She was so talented.

Hailey swallowed hard; the memories of her mother moving about onstage, glowing and graceful, outperformed the movie they were watching.

“She was.” Hailey had not spoken to anyone outside the family about her mother since she had died, but for some reason, tonight, she felt like she needed to talk. “She actually performed on Broadway in New York when she was younger.”

Gunner’s mouth dropped open.

“When we moved to California before she got sick---” Hailey cleared her throat. “She performed in the Broadway Theatre District, and she was…she was amazing.”

Just stop talking.

She could feel a tear welling in her eye. She grabbed her soda again.

“I see.” Gunner played briefly with the steering wheel in front of him. “I’m sorry about your mom.” She stiffened. The straw remained against her lip, but she didn’t drink. “I’m sure it was tough on your family. She sounds like a wonderful woman.”

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