Page 59 of Sweet Spot
“Good. You could use another competition to work on playing under pressure.”
He’s in his living room. The computer sets in his lap, phone resting on the couch beside him. His brow’s furrow, legs are kicked up on the coffee table.
We finished our training session fifteen minutes ago, and he’s moved on to checking email while I force him into conversation. He is a willing, if a bit distracted, participant.
“Will you come?”
“Hmm?” He briefly glances at me and nods. “What days? Saturday and Sunday?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll try. I’m supposed to fly out to L.A. to watch Kenton play on Friday. My parents are coming in from New York, so I can’t skip it, but I’ll see if I can get a flight back Saturday.”
He says it casually, as if everyone jets off to amazing sporting events on the regular.
“Fair enough. I’d choose the Stars over me too.”
He sets his phone down on his thigh. “You like soccer?”
“It’s okay. My dad loves sports, so I spent a lot of time fighting over the television with him. Soccer and basketball I didn’t mind so much.”
“You guys ever been to a pro game? Soccer or basketball? Football?”
“No. My dad is pretty much a homebody. Always has been, but especially after the divorce and now that he’s injured—forget about it.”
He nods thoughtfully. “What does he do?”
“He is a roofer, but he’s on leave until they clear him to go back.”
We’re quiet for a moment, him on his computer and me thinking about my dad.
“How long was it after your divorce before you started dating again?”
Lincoln pauses, and his eyes meet mine.
I pull my unicorn scrunchie out of my hair and slide it onto my wrist before combing my fingers through the tangled strands. “It’s just that it’s been years since my parents split, and as far as I know, my dad hasn’t dated at all. I worry about him. When I graduate, he’s going to be all alone, eating frozen dinners and watching the game in his old chair.”
He rubs his jaw and sighs. “That sounds pretty good to me.” I think that’s all he’s going to say, but then he adds, “It was nine months, but to be honest, every date I’ve been on since has been a Gram setup. I am perfectly content to sit in my chair and eat meals by myself.”
“Really? Forever? Isn’t that, I dunno, lonely?”
“I don’t have time to be lonely. Plus, I have months of entertainment to look forward to with you while we get that swing of yours right.” He winks.
“You’ll never be lonely with me around.”
“Definitely not.”
* * *
Thursday night, Keith and I get permission from Professor Teague to do next week’s lab early since Keith is travelling with the boys’ team for a tournament in Texas and won’t be back for our Monday night class. I show up to lab with a Pop-Tart in one hand and an energy drink in the other, still sweaty from weight training. There’s another lab going on, but I find Keith set up in the back.
I fan my sticky shirt away from my body, and Keith gives me a questioning glance.
“Sorry, I came straight from the gym.”
“Your coach lets you eat junk like that?” He motions toward my dinner.
I know he means Potter, but I think of Lincoln. “What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Besides, I had a protein drink on the way over. This is my dessert.”
