Page 14 of Quarterback Crush
“A smart player?” I croaked out in a feeble voice. “What does that mean?”
“The quarterback has to be able to lead his team, read the play, be aware of what’s happening on the field. He has to make decisions and direct his team. And he needs athletic ability, he’s got to have the arm strength, but also the accuracy.”
“Oliver has all that?” I asked in wide-eyed wonder.
“He has an incredible football IQ. Reads the game better than any quarterback I can remember. James Hastings, he was good back in Lizzie’s day, but I’d rate Oliver over him.”
“So, you’d say he’s an excellent quarterback?” I was no longer writing anything down, pretty sure I’d remember Dad’s words of praise forever.
“Absolutely. I’m guessing he has plenty of college options? Guess your mother will know.”
The mention of Mom made me close my notebook. Being a teacher, Mom might overhear about Oliver and me dating before I had a chance to tell her. “Thanks Dad. I think I can work with this,” I said, quickly getting up.
“Make sure you let me have a read of it,” he said cheerily.
I nodded, but departed like a hurricane, guilty that there would be no essay. I retreated to my room, trying to figure out the best time to tell Mom about this new development in my life. Preferably sooner rather than later because it might be awkward if she heard about it from someone else.
There were advantages to having Mom on the teaching staff at school. All of the teachers were nice to me and I assumed it was because they were friends with Mom. But on the downside, Mom got to hear all the gossip. No drama escaped her ears. And some kids blamed you if she gave them a low or failing grade.
From my bedroom window, I saw the lights of Mom’s car arriving home. Coming from her yoga class, I figured she’d be in a calm and relaxed state of mind. Perfect for telling her about my first boyfriend.
Giving her a few minutes to hang her coat and put her bag away, I made my way into the kitchen in a casual way, pretending I needed a drink.
“Do you want me to heat up your dinner?” I asked. “Dad made nachos, they’re real good.”
Mom looked a little startled at my offer. “I might shower first,” she said. “How was cheer practice?”
“Yeah, good,” I said, carefully pouring water into a glass. It had been a good training session because for the second day in a row Savannah hadn’t been there and Coach Foster said she had the flu which meant it had nothing to do with breaking up with Oliver. Realizing it was now or never, I blurted out, “Uhh, something exciting has happened.”
“Has it?” Mom bent down and opened the oven door and peeped in at her meal.
“Yeah...” I sucked in a sharp breath. “Um, I have a date for Saturday night.”
Mom let the oven door close and stood up tall, her eyebrows raising in curiosity. “A date?” She was immediately interested. “Oooh, how exciting!” I nodded vigorously. “Well,” Mom urged, “don’t keep me hanging, tell me who with?”
My throat tightened and it felt like I was trying to swallow a lump of coal.
“Is it Simon McAllister?” Mom probed. “I don’t know why you didn’t go to Homecoming with him. He’s a nice boy.” To Mom,nice boylikely equated totop student.She probably hadn’t noticed Simon’s fashion sense—or lack of it.
“It was too last minute,” I said in my defense. “I’d already organized to go with the girls.” Sammy, Paige, Evie and I had all gone together, none of us having dates. “And no, it’s not Simon.” A smirk was creeping onto my face, and unable to hold back the rush of adrenaline, gushed, “It’s Oliver, Oliver Blackwell. Oliver asked me out!”
There was no denying the utter shock on Mom’s face as it contorted like someone in a cheesy cereal advertisement, eyes widening, eyebrows rising and mouth gaping. A pang of hurt hit my heart as it seemed my mother could not fathom the thought of Oliver Blackwell asking me out.
Her voice fluttered in disbelief. “Oliver? Oliver Blackwell? But...isn’t he...doesn’t he go out with Savannah?”
“They broke up,” I said, mimicking an authoritative teacher voice. “And he asked me out.”
Mom was flabbergasted. “I didn’t know you talked to him.”
“I am on the cheer squad,” I stated. “I practically see him everyday. And remember, he gave me his Owls flag.” And not giving her a chance to respond, I carried on. “So, it’s okay? I’m not sure where we’re going, but I’ll let you know.”
Mom blinked. “I have to admit I’m a bit surprised,” she said. “Oliver’s a senior.”
I’d already anticipated that she’d bring that up. “Remember when Lizzie dated Zack Wilson? She went to his senior prom when she was a junior.”
Unable to dispute that, Mom nodded in a slow, deliberate way. “Yes. That’s true, but...”
“I really like Oliver,” I jumped in, grinning widely in case she was about to crush all my hopes and dreams.
