Page 15 of Coach Me
Reagan
I said I was sorry!! I swear I’ll make it up to you!
I shove my phone in my back pocket. I should have known something would come up. Reagan has had thingscome up all week. On our sister lunch date, she stood me up because she forgot about some floral arrangements she needed to make for a client. Helping clean out my classroom slipped her mind because she was helping clean out Julie’s apartment.
I get it, those are things she needed to do, but it was the forgetting me part that hurt the most. She didn’t call or text me a heads-up on those changes in plans, so yeah, it made my sour mood a little more bitter. And then she messaged, begging me to meet her at tonight’s game. I caved, thinking I’d at least get some sister time out of it.
She knows it’s like an hour drive here and back to Rowley. She knows I really only came all the way down here to spend time with her.
My phone vibrates in my pocket again. I’m half tempted to ignore it and send Reagan’s apologies to voicemail, but when I see it’s Jensen calling, I answer.
“Hey,” I say with a sigh.
“I’m quitting my job; I miss all the drama! What’s going on?”
At that, I chuckle. I only met Jensen through Callie a couple of months ago, but with us being the same age and sharing a reluctance to give up our self-care of a good mani-pedi, it’s fair to say she’s my only friend who didn’t come from Will or Reagan.
Granted, Callie introduced us which does link back to Will, technically…but that’s a minor detail.
“Ugh, Reagan invited me to the Blues game tonight for sister time and has now bailed on me,” I grumble as I join the first concession line I see. “She’s stood me up three times this week, Jen.”
“What! Did she have any kind of excuse?”
“She did, but not one she told me until after I was already there waiting on her.” I sigh and take a step forward in the line. “I’m being a bad sister…I know she has reasons, but?—”
“You’re not a bad sister, Lucie. You’ve had a really shitty week, and her bailing isn’t cool. Why don’t you come to Winedown? You can vent while you drink! First one’s on the house.”
“Tempting, but I’m already here. I’ll see if I can sneak into the photo outpost with Callie instead of sitting alone.”
I step to the front of the line and hold my phone away from my ear to order a Diet Coke and a hotdog.
Jensen laughs as I bring the phone back to my ear. “Dinner of champions.”
“Hey, it beats your dinner which is usually an energy drink and a protein bar.”
Jensen snorts again. “You got me there. Alright, well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me. I’ll see you tomorrow for sure.”
I hum as the guy hands over my stuff, and I mouth a “thank you” to him before stepping over to the nearest bench.
“I’m used to being stood up at this point, so I’m not going to hold my breath.”
“Girl, you know I’d rather die than miss my nail appointment. You’re the bonus.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I smile, even though she can’t see me. It’s nice having Jensen as my bonus, even if she does work herself to the bone.
After saying bye, my stomach growls. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until the teenager handed over my hotdog.
It could be a nostalgia thing or maybe it’s just that I’velearned to love them, considering we practically grew up on concession food, but there’s no better hotdog in my opinion.
With my first big bite, I hear Callie. “Hey, Lucie!”
I can only wave at her and her usual game-day shadow. Miles trails along behind her and part of me wonders if he remembers me from the coffee shop. Not that it would really matter, it doesn’t change anything.
I’m still chewing when she and Miles reach me because I apparently took a much bigger bite than I thought. “Hey, I have a huge favor to ask.”
I hold my finger up as I try to chew faster while also not choking.
Miles giggles. “Good job chewing with your mouth closed. Sometimes my dad gets upset when I don’t.”
