Page 72 of Bending Under Pressure

“She shouldn’t have a problem with it. If she does, let me know, and I’ll talk to her.” That’s the last thing I want to happen.

But I nod and tell Mrs. Elsie my order when she returns to our table. For the rest of the time, spent as Dad tells me all about his new family. Apparently, Tonya is a saint and Carly is an angel. Tonya does volunteer work, helps with any activities Carly is involved in, which is a lot, and somehow manages to be the perfect housewife while working a full-time job. It seems like Dad obviously cares about them and admires them. I just wonder if he speaks the same way to them about me.

By the end of lunch, he’s in high spirits, and I’m still all over the place. I’m beyond ready for us to play tennis. Dad’s phone beeps as we walk to his car. Inside, I get that bad feeling again while he texts whoever it is.

“Sorry, Haley. I need to get back. Rain check on the game?”

“Yeah, sure. Can you drop me off at the courts anyway?”

“Of course.”

Mrs. Elsie’s isn’t too far from the courts, big surprise. Dad drops me off and leaves with a promise to come back soon for our match. I plop onto a bench after he drives off; I pull out the invitation he made sure I kept. A freaking wedding. I fold it up, drop it into my tennis bag, and pull out my racquet as well as a few balls. Then, I text Keelan.

Me: Ever play tennis?

Keelan: A few time

s with Jess and Cameron. She killed us.

Me: Haha! Want to play with me?

Keelan: Yeah. Give me a few and I’ll meet you there. Or do you need me to pick you up?

Me: Already here.

I begin rallying with the wall. Ten minutes later when Keelan arrives, I’m no closer to figuring out how I feel. We begin an easy-flow rally and I’m impressed with Keelan’s skill. He can at least hit the ball back to me.

“What happened with your dad, Hales?” he asks, his voice carrying across the court.

“I thought you might not have remembered.”

“Need more time before you vent to me?”

I grunt as I return the ball a bit too hard and fast for Keelan to hit it back to me. “He’s getting married to her and asked me to come. Something came up, so we only had lunch; we were supposed to play.”

“Did y’all used to play a lot?”

“He’s the one who taught me how to play. Why are you avoiding the fact that he’s marrying her?” He misses another ball, so I serve with the last ball I have in my shorts.

“I don’t know what to say.”

Well, I guess that’s a good answer. We rally for a bit before I miss his out of bounds ball. We take a small break to pick up the balls before starting again.

“Are you going to the wedding? When is it?” Keelan asks.

“Yes. Next month.” I pause, standing upright as an idea hits me. Keelan’s return bounces right past me. “Will you go with me?”

“What? Seriously?”

“I can’t go by myself and it’s not like I can ask my mom to go with me. Please?”

Keelan hesitates. Can’t say I blame him. Who wants to go to a wedding? Not us, obviously.

“How far is it?”

“Two hours give or take,” I reply.

“I’ll ask my mom.”

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