Page 28 of Love on the Sidelines

I raise my eyebrow, hoping she’ll continue, but she doesn’t expound. Maybe an ex-boyfriend caused it?

“How is Stu?” I ask, remembering the small boy from her sports class.

She laughs and it sounds like she’s forgotten all her worries.

“Probably preparing to take over the world. Or I would imagine he’s stuck something up his nose that doesn’t include his finger and has to have it extracted by a doctor.”

I laugh just as loud, drawing a little attention from the other passengers. “I put three quarters up my nose once.”

Ava gives me a pained look. “No, really?”

“Yeah, my sister dared me to do it and we ended up in the ER around bedtime when my mother saw they were stuck.”

“How old were you?”

“Thirteen.”

She laughs at that. “I was picturing six or seven. You knew what not to do and you still did it.”

“True, but I figured it would be a science project or something.”

“Not really dissecting frogs,” Ava says with a chuckle.

“I made my science partner do that.”

She laughs. “Me too. I had to have a clothespin pinch my nose so I wouldn’t gag from the smell.”

I try to picture Ava at that age, and I smile. This is the most open she’s been since we’ve reconnected and I like this side of her.

“How are the stitches, speaking of the hospital?”

“Still there. I’m supposed to get them out while we're gone.”

“Again, I’m sorry.”

I wave my hand in the air and say, “It’s okay. My mom is the one I’m worried about.”

Ava’s smile disappears and she looks nervous. She reaches over and touches my arm, which sends a jolt of energy up to my shoulder. “Is she doing any better?”

“She’s not in a coma, but she is going to need to rest and recover. I’m sure once I call her, she’ll miss not being at the tournament.”

There’s a bit of a smile now, but it’s still not much. “Does she go to Emily’s games?”

“Every one. Even through my sister’s cancer treatment, she somehow took Emily to everything and still helped my sister.”

“My grandma came to everything she could, too. It was nice having someone on the sidelines for me.”

“Have you not heard from your parents in a while?” I ask. Her reaction makes me realize I’ve hit a nerve.

She breathes in deeply, letting it out slowly before speaking. “They weren’t the most supportive before they dropped me off at Gran’s. I doubt they’ve given me a second thought since I turned eighteen.”

There’s some light turbulence, and Ava grips the armrest of the seat, looking terrified. I debate for a few moments before reaching over and taking her hand in mine. “It will even out. We’ll be there soon.”

She gives me a small smile before staring straight ahead. I’m wishing we could continue the conversation. It’s like I’m dragging down the wall between us, one brick at a time.

Me: You guys! I just flew on a private jet!

Chloe: No way! That’s amazing. We need details.

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