Page 4 of His Team

“Now, talk to me, honey. What’s going on?” Mrs. Jemma says as she takes the seat beside me.

I peek over at Mr. Perry. I didn’t know he would be a part of this conversation. I almost change my mind and ask to return some other time.

Taking a deep breath, I let it all spill out. “I don’t know what happened. I tried to get into college with everyone else. I didn’t think they would leave me behind. I just feel like things are falling apart.

“Mama says I can go to a community college and then apply again next year, but that’s a whole year that Cam will find new friends and create an all-new life without me,” I explain.

“I’m so sorry things didn’t work out. We tried to pull strings to get you in. Right, Kyle, honey?”

I chew on my lip and my palms become sweaty. Mr. Perry looks up from his paper. His eyes lock with mine before he looks back down.

“Your father and I did all we could. I think I exhausted my favors trying to accommodate my son’s needs. I wasn’t able to push the subject when it came to your acceptance,” he says.

I know right away some of that is a lie. My father doesn’t want me running behind Cameron like some lost puppy, so I know he didn’t do all he could to help me.

I can understand that Mr. Perry has done a lot for Caleb. Which leaves me with nothing to say. I can’t argue that Caleb’s needs are more important than mine.

“All senior year we worked on me being a part of Caleb’s support team. I just thought …”

“I think Caleb has enough support. Too many people trying to be helpful could expose him in the end. I spoke with your father.

“He brought to my attention that you’re not really sure you even want to go to college. Why not focus on your future and where you’re going to end up? If things are meant to be between you and Cam, you two will be together,” Mr. Perry says before he downs his glass of juice and stands to walk out.

I sit with my mouth hanging open. I don’t know what changed. Everyone used to talk about me and Cam getting married someday. Then my daddy and Mr. Perry started to act as if that were the worst thing that could happen.

“Don’t mind him,” Mrs. Jemma whispers and reaches to pat my hand. “He’s a little grumpy because he’s worried about the boys and their first day. It’s going to take some time for everyone to get used to all the change.”

“Yeah, I guess so. I sure have a lot to get used to,” I murmur.

“Now you listen to me. You and my son were meant to be together. You may not be going to school with Cam and Cal, but they won’t be in class twenty-four seven.

“What you need to do, honey, is make yourself a permanent fixture on that campus. When Cam isn’t in class, you need to be there. You go to any and all the games you can.

“Don’t forget you’re a woman and you have assets. You use everything you have to make sure you get what you want at the end of the next four years. If he has a little fun in between—” She shrugs and looks at me pointedly.

Then she holds her hands up. “All of this is what you have to look forward to if you can hold on. Your mama and I are in your corner. We’ll do all we can to make sure things work out like we always dreamed.

“In fact, we don’t leave for Spain until next week. How about I throw a little get-together this weekend and you can make sure to remind Cam of what he has right here at home. It’s not like he left the state, darlin’. We have this under control.”

I swipe the tears from under my eyes and give a wobbly smile. She does make some valid points. They could have picked that school in Michigan.

“Yeah, that will be perfect,” I say and nod.

“Great, that’s a plan.”

Maribel

I look around at all these people surrounding me as I sit slouched down in my seat. None of them are like me. I already know I’m out of place.

I picked this school intentionally. Someplace to get far away from my real world. I fucked up. I jumped out of the pan into the fire and now I need time to work out a plan.

For fourteen years, I didn’t see my father. I knew nothing about him. Just his name and that he and my mother broke up when I was one year old.

Mom never told me more than that about him. Not even when I tried to ask, and I did ask a lot. I wanted to know my dad.

However, she wouldn’t say a word about him. It was like he didn’t exist. I dealt with it until I was about to turn fifteen. Mom and I had talked about myquincefor so long.

It was supposed to be the biggest party ever. I had notebooks filled with plans and ideas. I spent months searching for the perfect dress.

---