Page 43 of The Golden Goalie

“Anyway, thanks for everything, Rico. I really appreciate it.”

He gives me that soft smile again. “You’re welcome. See you soon.” I watch him walk away and wonder how it is that he’s still single.

“He’d make a mighty fine daddy.”

I jump and whirl around at the voice near my ear. “Mrs. Randolph, what have I told you about sneaking up on me?”

She waves me off. “You should ask that man to date you.”

I shake my head. “That’s not how it works.”

“Isn’t it these days?” she asks with a frown. “You know feminism and all that.”

I roll my eyes. “Well, I mean yes. I could ask him if I wanted to, but I don’t want to.”

“Because you’re not right in the head?” she asks.

“What? No. How am I not right in the head?”

“Because there’s a tall, muscular, gorgeous young man that is obviously interested in you. He makes a lot of money and can provide for you. I mean let’s be honest—you could do a lot worse than having to look at that face for the rest of your life.”

I suddenly wish Sebastian was here, so he could razz Rico over that remark. “Well, as much as you’d like to marry me off to the first guy you see, I’m not looking to get into a relationship. I’m trying to get my life back on track from the mess I've made of it. I’m pregnant, not in a relationship with anybody. I’ve made a mess of my close relationships. I barely passed two of myclasses last semester because I wasn’t organized and disciplined enough.” I blow out a breath. “I have a lot of growing up to do.”

“Yes, you do.” I nod at her words, unsurprised. She turns her chair to face me and pushes up her glasses. “Because you’re still young. You haven’t even graduated college yet. You’re going to mess up, Amber. That’s life. We all have.”

I shake my head. “No, I made really big mistakes.”

“Pshaw,” she says waving her hand. “Are you going to get back together with the idiot that turned you away when you told him you were pregnant?”

I blink at her bold question. “No.”

“Are you going to have sex with the next guy that wants to date you before you get into a serious relationship?”

I stare, because I can’t even with her. “No!”

“Are you strung out on drugs?”

“What? No.”

“Are you homeless?”

“No.”

“Do you have a job?”

“Obviously,” I say, pointing around us.

“Do you have family that loves you?”

I blink. “Yes.”

“Then, I think you’re doing pretty good, Child. You’re too hard on yourself. Stop looking around and seeing all your failures; look for the good instead. Because when you start actively looking for the good, you will see it all around you.”

I blink back tears. “That was really deep. I didn’t know you had it in you,” I say trying to lighten the mood.

“I spent a lot of years seeing only the bad, Child. I missed all the years of good. Don’t do that to yourself; don’t do what I did.”

I want to ask her about her life, but I can tell the conversation is over. “Thank you,” I say softly. She nods but continuesworking. I stand up and stretch just as two students come up to the counter needing help finding a book. “I’ll show you.”

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