Page 77 of The Fake
“Thanks.” This conversation is trippy. Is this my life right now?
“Alright, I gotta go. Flying to Texas tomorrow to do an event with Tiger Woods at a college down there.”
“No way, really?”
He chuckles. “Watch a bunch of kids with stars in their eyes as Tiger talks about his success and then he leaves and I get to try and tamper their expectations. Everyone thinks they’re the next Tiger Woods and I get to break it to them that they’re not. I assure you it sounds more glamorous than it is.”
When I get off the phone with Lincoln, I text Heath. He has his college visit tomorrow so I wish him luck and then tell him to give Mom the phone so I can call her, hoping my good mood isn’t about to come crashing down.
“Hi, honey,” she answers on the first ring.
“Hey, Mom, how are you?”
“Oh, we’re fine. How are things at Valley? Your brother tells me you got a job.”
“Yeah, I did. Should be able to start sending some money again to help out with Heath’s hockey stuff.” I take a breath and add, “And whatever else you guys need. How’s your job hunt coming?”
“I talked to an old colleague who might have a substitute job coming open. Their fifth-grade teacher is going on maternity leave starting in December.”
She doesn’t mention how her last interview went so I guess that’s my answer on if she got that job. “That’s great, Mom. Heath told me about his NMU visit. Are you going with him?”
“Uncle Doug is taking him.”
I tread carefully. I never know if it’s better to push or leave it be, but this is one of those moments I think she needs a push. “I know, but he still wants you there, too, even if he doesn’t say it.” We’re both quiet until I add, “He needs you, Mom.”
She huffs a small laugh. “Your brother won’t even let me drop him off for school unless I park nearly a block away. Besides, your uncle Doug knows what questions to ask regarding hockey and the team.”
Another retort is on the tip of my tongue, but Heath yells something in the background and Mom responds to him, her mouth away from the phone so I can’t quite follow along.
Hopefully, he’s looking for a razor and some deodorant. I say as much and then it becomes a back and forth of me barking orders and Mom passing them along, then Heath grumbles back and Mom and I laugh.
It feels good to be joking and laughing, and it’s the first time since Dad died that I don’t wish for things to be different. I’d still give anything to have him around, have him call me and talk sports, tell me he’s proud of me, hear him and Mom be grossly sweet to one another, plan summer trips to see the Brewers play. I miss all of those things, but this moment feels like progress.
“Tell Heath to call me tomorrow night so I can hear about the trip and promise me you’ll at least think about going with him?”
“I promise,” she says softly.
“Talk to ya later, Mom.”
When I hang up, I drop onto my bed and sleep the entire night. Dreamless, peaceful sleep.
26
Chloe
Nathan comesover Wednesday night as I’m staring at my Ethics homework. We’d planned to go out tonight with his friends to celebrate his new job, but I totally spaced on a test I have tomorrow, and I feel like crying as I look through my notes and can only make sense of a small portion.
Things with the roommates have been going really well since I got back, but the more time I spend with them, the less time I have for myself.
He takes a seat on my bed in front of me, and I shove the textbook away and lean forward so my head rests in his lap. “I’m never going to learn this before tomorrow.”
Long fingers slide over my hair. “Sure you will.” He grabs the textbook. “I took this class last year, I can help.”
I sit up. “I totally forgot you’d already taken this class with Professor Penn. Can you help me with Utilitarianism?”
He flips through the pages until he gets to the chapter where I’ve stuck a piece of paper to hold my spot. He reads through for a moment and then snaps it shut and looks to me. “I’m gonna be real with you. I don’t remember a single thing.”
I groan.
