Page 2 of Puck with Karma
I’m not sure if it is the please at the end that does it, or what, but she lets out a big sigh.
“Okay, Abigail. But,” she continues before I have a chance to celebrate, even if only in my head. “It will be at a college close to home.”
“Okay,” I rush to agree.
“And,” she raises her voice at me to make sure I’m listening. “Once you’re done with school, you will be dating a boy with a good social standing. You will marry him.”
I don’t say anything to that. Instead, I just nod. I have no idea why she is even talking to me about something like this. I’m only sixteen. I have two more years of high school, then four in college. That’s six years total. Anything could happen over such a long period of time.
“I’m glad that’s settled then.” Mom pats me on the leg before standing up. “I’ll be at the club for lunch. Call if you need anything.”
“I will, mom.”
I watch her until she is out of the room before turning back toward the large TV we have in the even larger living room. The movie doesn’t hold the same appeal all of a sudden.
With one clear idea in my head, I am about to turn on the hockey channel. That’s when there’s loud banging against the French doors leading to the backyard.
“Jesus, you guys scared me to death,” I tell Riley and Hannah when I open the door to let them in.
“We ran into your mom,” Hannah informs me. She throws her head back and speaks in a perfectly posh voice. “She said we are allowed to walk to the back of the house and surprise you. But we have to take our shoes off so we don’t stain the white area rugs.”
We stare at each other for a few seconds before all three of us burst into laughter at the same time.
“That does sound like something my mother would say,” I have to agree.
“We wanted to watch the game with you,” Riley tells me, her shyness taking over. She almost blushes when she says it.
“That’s awesome. I was just about to turn it on.”
I get us all settled on my mother’s couch, snacks and drinks on the coffee table in front of us, before we get ready to watch my brother play hockey.
This has become a sort of a ritual for us, watching Brandon play. He is in the pros now, and I am so jealous of not being able to attend any of his games in person.
“Your brother is really cute.” I almost get whiplash when Riley says that. My eyes feel like they’re about to bulge out of my head.
“Bran?” I squeak. Her face gets red when she sees the surprise on mine.
“Yeah, I think he’s adorable with all that shaggy hair, when it gets all sweaty under the helmet.”
“They’re all hot,” Hannah agrees. “And I’m mad at your entire family.”
“Why are you mad at my family?” I snort out.
“Because,” she stomps her foot. “It’s their fault we can’t be cool and hang out with professional hockey players. Your brother would hook us up.”
“My brother is in his twenties, Hannah,” I remind her. “These guys are way too old for us.”
“I just meant to go watch the games. But I see where your mind is going.”
I grab a piece of candy and chuck it at her head. That turns into a full on war when she throws a cracker at me. Riley tries to stay out of it but not for long.
We are laughing way too hard, and that’s how we don’t pay attention to the glass full of cranberry juice that’s on the edge of the coffee table. When Hannah grabs a decorative pillow from behind her, it catches the glass. We watch with horror in oureyes as the glass titters from side to side until it finally crashes to the floor. On my mother’s white area rug.
The rest of the day should be fun.
Chapter 2
Xander
