Page 51 of Delay of Game
“So, that’s the parking lot we’re looking for?” I asked, unsure if I should trust the GPS or the six-year-old.
“Yes.” She nodded, then wavered. “Maybe.”
I turned left and held up the passes Gloria handed me on the way out the door.
“Mr. Tacky!” Mila’s pompoms rustled in delight.
An older man with a comb-over manning the parking lot entrance bent down, his head half in the car. “Mila! I’m glad to see you, even if you’re in the wrong parking lot. And who’s your new friend?”
He backed up from the window, turning a kindly smile in my direction.
“Gracie Evans. I’m a friend of the fam?—”
“She’s my teacher, Mr. Tacky. I’m in kindergarten.” Mila cut me off without hesitation.
“Kindergarten? That can’t be right? You’re a little sprite, too small for school.”
Mila squealed from the backseat. “I’m six, Mr. Tacky! Of course I’m in kindergarten!”
“Well, nice to meet you, Ms. Gracie Evans. Any friend of Mila is a friend of mine.” Mr. Tacky held out a hand.
“Nice to meet you, too.” I shook his hand and took back the passes. “But we’re in the wrong parking lot?”
“Afraid so.” He nodded his head apologetically. “Let me move a few cones so you can sneak over to the boxed seat parking without going back into traffic.”
He scurried away from the car, removing a set of cones and waving us through. I eased the car through the opening, waving to Mr. Tacky and pulling into an empty space. I opened the back seat, and Mila bounded out, straightening her peacock blue cheerleading skirt and fluffing her pompoms.
“So, what now?” I asked, craning my head up toward the top of the stadium.
She pointed to a peacock blue tent with the words “Lionel’s Tailgate” emblazoned on the canopy.
“There!” She grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the tailgate across the parking lot.
Rob left hours before I arrived, which shouldn’t have shocked me but did disappoint me. Gloria, with help from Mila, gaveme an extensive breakdown of the responsibilities and rules of attending a Norwalk Breakers game before she’d let us out the door. And walking up to Lionel’s Tailgate, I realized I should have paid a little more attention.
My history with tailgates included rusted-out grills and tall boys. Hastily thrown together events that culminated in nosebleed seats in the upper decks. Nothing that came close to the full-service bar and an array of delicate appetizers under the tent.
Mila let go of my hand, swiping a cookie from a tray of desserts before I could stop her.
“Mila, my love,” a friendly brunette with wide brown eyes called. She crouched down and opened her arms.
Mila raced into the hug. “Cassie!”
The waifish blonde standing next to her sank to the ground, wrapping an arm around both of them.
“Cece!” Mila nuzzled her hair.
Cassie’s eyes wandered past Mila and locked with mine. A playful smile formed on her lips. “Want to introduce us to your new friend?”
“Oh, right.” Mila untangled herself from the women and straightened. “This is Ms. Evans.”
My stomach tightened at the introduction. They belonged here in their form-fitting Breakers’ gear and picture-perfect smiles. The exact type of women who would be cheering on a football player from the sidelines. I tugged at the oversized jersey.
“Gracie, it’s so nice to meet you,” Cassie said with a smile so genuine some of my nerves fluttered away.
“Gloria let us know you’d be coming,” Cece added. “She asked us to show you the ropes.”
“Usually, Lena is our welcoming committee chair, but she stayed home with the baby this game.” Cassie wrapped an arm around my waist, guiding me toward the bar.
