Page 99 of In It to Win It

About halfway through the first period, my phone pings. I plugged it in to charge earlier, and I lean way over to grab it from the end table. Mom.

Hi honey. Haven’t heard from you. I hope you’re okay. I know this was surprising news and I want to talk more about it. I’ll always be your mom and I’ll always love you—nothing changes that. Text me or call me when you’re ready.

Tears spring to my eyes.

I do love my mom, and her message is . . . perfect. Not angry, not pushy, not passive-aggressive guilt-inducing. She’s been the best mom in the world. Whatever has happened between her and Dad, and her and Shirley, doesn’t change that . . . she’s right.

I message her back.

I’m not quite ready to talk . . . but I will be.

I’ve lost my focus on the game and to my disappointment, Vancouver has scored. Damn.

Oh right, I don’t really care who wins this game.

My phone pings again. Expecting it to be Mom, I blink seeing it’s Lacey.

Hey, where you been, girlfriend?

She’s texted me a few times over the long weekend, and I haven’t replied.

I’m a bad friend, sorry. I’ve been busy.

Whatcha up to?

Hmmm. What do I tell her?

I don’t reply right away, watching as JP and Number 76—who is that?—get a two-on-one against Vancouver and JP shoots at the net . . . and misses. The crowd roars its disappointment and I express a loud “Bah!”

I’ve been at JP’s most of the weekend.

Oh. Is he on a road trip?

I hesitate before typing the two letters and hitting send.

No.

What is going on?????

Then another text from her arrives.

Is Byron okay?

I smile.

Yes he’s fine.

OMG!

Then my phone rings. I roll my eyes. Should have known.

“Hi,” I answer.

I’m greeted with a small screech.

“Calm down, Lace.”

“What is going on?”

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