Page 118 of Overtime
I turn toward the window, hoping to hide the heat blooming in my face. “It’s not the first time.”
“See?”
I can’t possibly explain to her how she’s seeing something that isn’t there. Aran made it very clear that he wants us to be friends and nothing more. And then I shot that down, so now we’re nothing at all.
Rather than that, I say, “My point is, you really don’t have to fret about how I look. As long as I’m as healthy as my ovaries let me be, it’s fine.”
“Fine. No more talking about your weight.”
The way I whip toward her makes me dizzy. “For real?”
Mom grips the steering wheel tighter but nods. “Yes.”
“What about complaining about my career choice?”
“That’s different.” Her stern frown is back. “Can you guarantee you’ll always be able to support yourself with books?”
“Can you guarantee you’ll always have a job as a teacher?”
“What kind of logic is that?”
I laugh. “Nothing in life is ever guaranteed. But I can tell you that there are many, many people making hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars publishing, so… it may be tight sometimes, but I want to pursue what I love. What I’m good at.”
Even though she keeps her attention on the road, she does several double takes. “Excuse me? Millions?”
“And hundreds of thousands.”
“But millions?”
I nudge her. “What, do you like books now?”
“Oh, yes. Big fan.” I start to laugh, but she cuts me off when she says, “I’ve already preordered your book. You’ll sign it for me, right?”
First my mouth opens. Then my chin starts trembling.
“Y-You did?”
Mom huffs. “How could I not? You talk about it all the time.”
“I, uh—I didn’t think you were paying attention.”
“I listen to every word you say, Maddie. And I scan every inch of you every time I see you to make sure there’s not a scratch on you. Because you’re my baby daughter, and I have to worry over you for your dad’s share too.”
“Great.” I sniffle. “Now I’m crying.”
Since we’re at a red light, she reaches over and wipes my cheek with her thumb. Smiling softly, she says, “So, where are you living now, and why did you move?”
With a shaky breath, I explain the whole story, not just how to get there. And for the first time in as far as I remember, my mom and I have a conversation. A good one. And we don’t even shout again.
CHAPTER 35
ARAN
Thwack. Chug. Thwack. Chug.
That’s been the pattern for the last hour. I throw a dart, hit anywhere between bullseye and the wall, and take a big swig from a beer glass I keep getting refilled.
After sitting at my secret spot for a few hours, I hauled my ass to practice and killed it. Just like I killed it during the last game after Edwards almost blew it. But since Coach doesn’t want to bend and neither do I, the varsity guys have started taking sides. The so-called Team Coach—which is really Team Edwards, in my opinion—versus the Team Captain. So now we have some weird mutiny on our hands. When people started getting in each other’s grills, Assistant Coach Thomas and others from the staff sent us home.
