Page 14 of Beneath the Stands (Sugarlake 2)

I push his arm off me, standing up and scrunching my nose. “Try to tone down that hero-worship some before you meet

him. I can’t have people thinkin’ I keep company with ass kissers.”

Jeremy laughs. “I’m just happy I’ll have my best girl at my games. I need that sweet ass on the sideline cheering.” He smacks my ass cheek, making me jump. “You gonna wear my number? Or is that like… against the rules?”

“Rules never stopped me before.” I smile. “When does practice even start for y’all? Coach didn’t go over any of that, just gave me my hours.”

“October. But you’ll probably see some of us around before then for conditioning.”

I blink. “I have no idea what that means.”

“Me neither,” Sabrina chimes in.

“Lucky for you, you’ve got a fine as hell, talented, assistant coach to help you study up.” Jeremy’s brows wiggle.

Irritation nags at my gut when I picture Eli’s arrogant face. But under the irritation, a spark simmers, flushing my cheeks and heating my veins.

8

Becca

It’s been days of monotonous classes and grueling basketball lessons. Somewhere in the middle of all that, Eli and I have come to an unspoken truce. One where I don’t antagonize him half to death, and he doesn’t piss me off just by breathing. I’m not sure it will last, but I’m going to roll with it as long as I can.

On Sunday, I gave in to the urge to check on Momma, but she didn’t answer. I haven’t talked to my folks since I got to Florida and Papa cut me off, but it’s not for lack of trying on my part. I should write them off completely like they seem to have done with me, but I’ve got a soft spot for Momma and I always will. I can’t just leave her in the snake pit without making sure she’s not bit.

I tried to tell her once—about Papa sleeping with the twenty-two-year-old youth leader. I was just trying to help, and I thought she deserved to know. In my mind, if Papa had the nerve to pretend he was a man of God who upheld his vows, then Momma deserved to know she married a viper.

I expected tears, and maybe sympathy that my eyes had to see what they did, being that I was just a thirteen-year-old girl. Instead, she told me it was high time I learned that all men are liars. That love was a fairy tale told to children, and fairy tales don’t exist. She told me to never disrespect her again by bringing it up.

I lost a lot that day. Respect for both my folks and my faith in God. If I couldn’t trust my folks’ love, how could I trust a man up in the sky who supposedly loved me the most?

Up until that point, I spent every day of my life loving God more than anything. I prayed every night at supper and then again by my bed. I looked at my folks’ marriage with hearts in my stupid eyes, and soaked up Papa’s sermons like a sponge. So when Momma sent me to the church, and I walked in on Sally Sanderson spread out on Papa’s desk while he rutted on top of her, shock froze my heart and dropped my stomach to the floor. They were so lost in their sin they didn’t even hear me at the door.

I still don’t think he realizes I know. But I do. I’ll never forget the grief of learning the man I thought raised me didn’t exist.

Love is a fairy tale.

I’m sitting in the stands of Waycor Arena when Momma’s name lights up my phone. Half of me doesn’t want to answer. Especially since she didn’t reach out to make sure I was okay after Papa cut me off. But the other side of me—the one that prods my insides to make sure she’s okay—gives in and picks up the phone.

“Hi, Momma,” I answer just as Eli strolls onto the court. He’s dressed down today, in black basketball shorts and a white undershirt that pulls tight across his chest and abs. Good Lord. He sets down his gym bag and smiles, making his way over. I muster up a half-grin, too pissed off he’s still affecting me to give him a full one.

“Rebecca Jean.” Momma’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “I waited a good long time before makin’ this phone call, thinkin’ maybe you would come to your senses and smooth things over with your father.”

“Momma, it’s amazin’ how you can defend him. Why do I need to be the one to smooth things over? I didn’t do anything wrong.”

She scoffs. “He said you’d say that.”

“God forbid you realize Papa’s word ain’t the gospel,” I snark.

“You watch your mouth, young lady. Now, I want you to stop this nonsense and tell me you’ll be comin’ home at the end of the school year.”

Irritation boils in my stomach, rising up my throat and coating my words. “I would, Momma, but you and Papa always taught me lyin’ was a sin, and I don’t wanna end up burnin’ in the fiery pits of Hell just to appease y’all.”

Eli’s eavesdropping, and not even trying to hide it. He runs his hand over his mouth, clearly stifling his smile. I beam back at him, unable to stop myself, my heart quickening while Momma’s voice screeches in the background.

“One day, you’re gonna need to grow up, Rebecca. It’s shameful the way you act.”

Her words slice through my moment of happiness.

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