Page 55 of The Way We Win

Rachel stage-whispers into her ear, giving me a teasing glance. “I’ve learned never to trust drinks from Allie, but if you’re worried about driving home, Zane and I’ve got you covered.”

Miss Gina smacks her hand on the edge of the bar as she laughs. “That does it, I’ll have one. You girls keep me young! ”

I hand everyone a beer, but Liv isn’t smiling as she takes a sip.

“I haven’t had enough time with them.” She’s a total perfectionist, and I can see why Mrs. Laverne wanted her to be the coach. “They need to be hitting those kicks, all the way to their noses in a straight line.”

“But you want them to have fun, too, right?” Dylan tilts her dark head up at her sister-in-law.

“They’re not babies, Dylan. If they want to get scholarships or join a college team, they have to be perfect. You think I got on the Golden Girls by being sloppy? Would you have gotten into the American Ballet Academy looking like that?”

“They were a lot of fun to watch,” I carefully add. “The kicks were a little wobbly, but they didn’t miss a single hip-flick.”

“We’re practicing every afternoon next week,” Liv replies.

Rachel and I exchange a glance that saysyikesas we sip our beers. I’m only the third-string coach, thank goodness. I suckat bringing down the hammer, but after this new venture, I’d love to see Liv in a courtroom handing some prosecutor his ass.

“Well, they sounded like perfection to me.” Miss Gina’s kind voice resonates, and she tries another sip of beer… and frowns. “I don’t think I like beer.”

“I’ll take it, Miss G.” Zane walks up, taking the beer from the old lady’s hand. “I’ll mix you up an old fashioned.”

Miss Gina makes a relieved comment, and I sneak a peek past Zane to see if Jack is here. The brothers were all together when we left the stadium.

“Did you see me do my kicks, Aunt Deedee?” Kimmie runs up to our group. “I kicked real good, all the way to my nose like you said. Want to see?”

Now I know he’s here, and my breath tightens in my chest.

“Tomorrow, outside.” Dylan’s tone is firm. “You almost knocked Uncle Lightning’s family jewels out of commission, and we’re trying to get pregnant.”

“You are?” Rachel’s voice goes high.

“You knew that, Rach.” Dylan shakes her head. “Logan’s been asking for a little wide receiver since Liv and Raven popped up with babies.”

“Always wait a year to have babies.” Liv’s mom walks up to where we’re standing. “You’ll have plenty of time for babies, but you’ll never have that first year of marriage again.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Liv carps.

“Obviously, I wasn’t talking about you, Olivia. Hand me a beer please, Allie.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I reach into the cooler behind the small bar in the center of the room.

“I know what you mean, Miss Plum, but you know Logan and I’ve been married two years now.”

“You have?” Her eyebrows rise as I hand her the cold bottle. “Time just keeps on flying, doesn’t it?”

“Where were you tonight?” Liv puts a hand on her hip. “Ithought you were going to come to the game and watch the drill team.”

Ms. Plum takes a long sip of her beer. “I had an emergency D&D meeting this afternoon at the senior center, and it ran long. I asked Garrett to tell you.”

“I didn’t know Dungeons & Dragons had emergency meetings,” Dylan teases. “What happened? Did somebody get stuck in the third dimension?”

“You’re thinking of Quantum Conundrum.” Liv’s mother isn’t fazed one bit.

“Hey, Ms. Plum!” Garrett walks up, giving his mother-in-law a hug and lifting her off her feet. “What are you doing here? I thought you had to do some fire-breathing elf-bard thing or something.”

“Lord have mercy, Garrett Bradford, I’m the elf bard who plays bagpipes and wields the bow and arrow.” She shakes her head, finishing her beer. “I don’t breathe fire. That would be ridiculous.”

Garrett holds up both hands. “My bad.”

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