Page 35 of The Golden Goalie

“I want to talk to you, Amber,” Cal says, walking next to us.

“Okay. Talk.”

“I mean not right here. Can we go somewhere to talk?”

“No. I’m going home after I walk Mrs. Randolph to her car.”

“That’s perfect. I’ll follow you home, and we can talk there.”

I ignore him as we finish the walk to Mrs. Randolph’s car. “Want me to hit him with my purse?” she asks again rather loudly.

“I can hear you,” Cal complains.

“Good. You were supposed to,” she says before turning to me. “Want me to send him on his way?”

“Still can hear you,” Cal mutters.

“Thanks, but I’ve got it,” I tell her. After she’s in her car, I turn and walk towards my car.

“Come on, Amber. I just want to talk.”

“There’s nothing to talk about, Cal.”

“I decided it’s okay that you’re pregnant.”

I don’t even bother dignifying that comment with a response. I toss my bag in the backseat and climb into the driver’s seat. I try to close my door, but he stops it with his big hand. I put the key in the ignition and try to start the engine. It doesn’t eventurn over.No.I try again. And again. Suddenly, Cal is leaning over me. “Yo, Babe, I think your battery is dead.”

“Cal, if you don’t back up and get out of my personal space, I will kick you so hard, you won’t be able to walk for a week.” I’ve had it!

He has the audacity to laugh. “Violence. I love it.” I grit my teeth and close my eyes as I lean against the head rest. Frustrated tears wet the back of my eyelids, but I refuse to let them fall. “Come on, I’ll give you a ride home.”

“No,” I say automatically.

“Come on, Babe. Stop being stubborn.”

Whatever patience I had left seeps out.

Chapter 16

Amber

“Don’t call me Babe!” I practically yell at him.

“Sheesh! Are you having your period? You’re so worked up for no reason.” I squeeze my eyes shut. I don’t even bother explaining to him that I don’t even have a period while I’m pregnant. “I don’t even want you in my car.” He disappears, and I bite my tongue to keep from calling him back. Because as much as I don’t want to ride with him, I don’t want to be in this parking lot at night all alone. But I can’t bring myself to do it, so I open the Uber app instead. After a nerve-wracking twenty-five minutes, I finally get in the backseat of my ride and do my best not to fall asleep on the way home. When I finally get home, I thank my driver and drag myself inside. After unlocking the door, I’m surprised to see the lights still all on. “Mom?”

“I’m in the kitchen, Love.”

“You would not believe the day I had,” I say, kicking off my shoes and dropping my bag. “Cal would not leave me alone. He kept trying to bring me home, but I wouldn’t let him. And then my car broke down, and he was going to give me a ride; but then he didn’t. And then he left me there. I had to catch an Uber, and I was scared I was going to die in the middle of the dark parking lot in the—” My words come to a crashing halt as I step into the kitchen. I stare at the big guy sitting at the table with my mom.

Rico’s eyes lock with mine. “Who’s Cal?”

I look between him and my mom and then back to him. “What are you doing here?”

Before he can answer, I see the pizza on the table. “Pizza! Oh my goodness.” I throw the lid back and stare down at it, suddenly more hungry than I’ve ever been in my entire life. I snag a piece and take a huge bite, and my eyes nearly roll back in my head. When I open my eyes, both Rico and my mom are staring at me. “What?” I ask, licking sauce off my finger.

“Honey, are you okay?” my mom asks in concern.

“I haven’t eaten anything since this morning, and I know how terrible that is.”

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