Page 64 of The First Play

“Before you go, just do me a favor, all right?” I stay by the table while Mrs. Erling crosses her arms and looks between me and Sienna. “Don’t lie to us again. If you want to go away for a romantic night together… okay, so I probably would have said no, but the point is… don’t lie to me. I hate it. I want to be able to trust you both, so please, next time… just tell us what you’re up to, okay?”

My smile looks no doubt pained as I nod and then softly mutter, “I doubt there’s going to be a next time if my parents have anything to say about it.”

“Well, you’re nearly a big college boy, so their say is going to lose some power soon enough.” She winks at me, and I can’t help grinning back.

“Thank you.” I nod, then turn to Sienna. “Wish me luck.”

“Luck.” Her smile is sweet as she snuggles against my side. I wrap my arm around her and kiss the top of her head.

“I’ll call you after, okay?”

“Okay.” Her voice is soft, her blue eyes kind of sad when I go to pull away.

Taking her face, I cup those pretty cheeks and assure her once more. “Everything’s going to be good. We’ll make this work, okay?”

“Yeah.” Her lips pull into a smile, and I kiss her, right there in front of her parents.

They don’t seem to mind. I check their faces just before walking out the door and wish I could have grown up in a house like this one.

No yelling.

No pressure.

Just quiet conversation and bucketloads of acceptance.

If only.

CHAPTER 25

ZANDER

I’ve been inside Mom’s house for all of one second when Dad starts yelling at me.

“What the hell were you thinking? Going off for a night with your girlfriend like you’re on your fucking honeymoon? What is wrong with you? You’re only eighteen! For fuck’s sake, Zander!”

“Brett, stop yelling.” Mom rolls her eyes, coming up behind him and glaring at me.

“I’m allowed to yell about this, Elise. If there is one time I can bawl my kid out, it’s now. Come on! Twenty minutes ago, we were in full agreement.”

“We are in agreement!” she bites back. “I just don’t think yelling about it is going to help!”

“Fine, you want to deal with him? Go ahead! But look where your helicopter parenting has gotten us so far. You can’t coddle him!”

“I’m not coddling anybody! I’m just trying to talk like a mature adult! Something you’re failing to do with all your shouting!” She screams the words, and now I’m rolling my eyes as I brush past their argument and head up to my room.

They thunder up behind me, and I feel my shoulders bristle when I walk into my room and spot my open laptop on the desk with my email up on the screen.

“Were you checking my email?” I spin to glare at Dad.

“I was just seeing if you’d heard back from any other colleges. We’re in crisis mode here, Zander! Brighton is a no-go, and we need to look at your options.”

“This is my room. My space.Mycomputer. And what the hell do you mean, Brighton is a no-go? They want me.”

“And they want some other guy too! A quarterback they say has been performing better this season. A quarterback they’re going to give all their time and attention to. Your ass will be sitting on that bench. No game time. No opportunities to show future scouts how good you are. All you’ll be able to do is sit there praying the other guy gets injured!”

“Brett, that’s awful.” Mom glares at him, then shoots me a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry, baby.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, pinching the bridge of my nose while my insides flail. “How do you know all this stuff?”

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