Page 41 of Faking Ties

I glance at her, and she’s bobbing her head and starts to sing softly, “Mother is mothering, and has the power to control football games. It’s a new power unlocked.” She stops and laughs. “That’s a hit song right there.”

“Uh-huh,” I say sarcastically, but honestly, I’d listen to her sing how to open a shampoo bottle because she’s that damn talented.

“Listen,” she says. “I get that you’re upset and want to be left alone. You can let me out at the next traffic light, and I’ll leave you to it.”

I give her a long look. “Do you really think I’m going to let you out in the middle of nowhere?”

“Well, my security team is right behind us. I can jump into their car, and they can take me home.”

“You don’t want to be with me?”

“You’ve got it backwards,” she says. “You’re the one who doesn’t wantmearound. Your attitude says it all, and honestly? I’m going through too much right now to subject myself to your rudeness.”

“Rudeness?”

“I mean what wouldyoucall an unhealthy way of dealing with disappointment and frustration by lashing out at the people around you?”

I pause. Shit. She’s right. It’s hard to rein in my frustration over a loss on a good day, let alone a day like today.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I’m used to being alone after a loss…”

“Thank you for apologizing.”

I sigh. “The team played like shit, and if this continues, Evren’s going to start cutting people.”

“And you’re worried you’ll be one of them?”

I nod. “Coach hinted that I might be blamed for the bad team dynamics.”

“And? Are you to blame?”

“I don’t know.” Dad would say I am.

“Well then, I’ve got the perfect idea,” she says. “Why don’t we go bowling and invite Jake and Quincy along?”

I glance at her. “Right now?”

“There’s no better time.”

“And why would I invite them?”

“Well, it seems like you all need a plan, but more importantly, you deserve some fun after the shitshow that was today.”

“Who thinks bowling is fun?” I ask, genuinely perplexed by her proposal.

“Oh no, don’t tell me you’re one ofthosepeople.”

“You mean the kind that hates bowling? Yeah, I am. Because it’s boring.”

“Then you must’ve been doing it wrong.”

“How can someone bowl wrong?”

“Easy.” She grins. “Because bowling is supposed to be a drinking game.”

“If you need to drink to make a game fun, then that, by definition, means it’s not fun.”

“Okay, Merriam-Webster Dictionary. How about you try it? For me?”

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