I drive the long, dark road of our driveway and am surprised to see Alec’s car waiting in front of our garage.
He steps out just as my headlights wash the side of his perfectly polished car, its chrome gleaming in the starlight.
I roll down my window. Alec leans in. “I know you have plans and you can tell me to go, but you looked so happy after the game, I just had to see you again.”
“I’m glad.” Alec’s presence, the high of our win, the card in the mail . . . these things lift me again. I open my door, climb out.
“I feel like I’d be a really shitty boyfriend if I didn’t at least try to celebrate with you tonight. Besides, your voice is all low and sexy from all that cheering, so there’s that.” He wraps his arm around the small of my back like a hook, pulling me to his hips. When his lips are on mine, I feel the beginning breath of that rush, that adrenaline that built just before scoring.
“I just got your card.”
“I thought . . . you know, this way you wouldn’t be totally disappointed if your acceptance letter didn’t arrive yet. Yet being the operative word.”
His thoughtfulness swallows me. “Can you hang out?”
He looks around. “Tonight? As in now?”
“Yeah, I kind of feel like staying in.”
“What about your plans?”
I shrug. “Not really in the mood anymore.”
“But you’re in the mood for me?”
“Kinda.” I bite on a smile.
“Consider me honored.”
He gathers my Adidas bag and field hockey stick from my backseat and we meet Mom in the kitchen. She looks gorgeous. Her long blond hair has been blown out into soft waves. She’s wearing a periwinkle blue dress and it makes her skin glow. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Mom wear anything but a dark suit.
“You look nice. Are you going out or coming home?”
“Out.” She urges me with animated eyes. “Well, did you win?”
“We’re the official state champs.”
Mom pulls me into her arms, hugs me tight. “Oh Zephyr! That’s incredible!” She looks to Alec. “Did you go to the game? Was it wonderful?”
“Zephyr scored the winning goal.”
Mom releases her hug, puts me at arm’s length to study me. “You didn’t! Oh, it kills me I wasn’t there to see it. You know that, right?” Mom had to meet with a client at the state prison. The timing of those things is pretty precise.
“Lizzie’s covering it for the paper. She’ll make you feel like you were there.”
Mom pulls me to her again. “I can’t wait. And there’ll be photos too, I hope?”
“Lizzie’s thorough.”
Mom squeezes me, whispers in my ear. “I’m so proud of you, Zephyr.” Then she finally releases me. “I’m meeting up with people from work, but I’ll only be an hour or so.”
I take in her outfit again. And the three new plants on the counter, a bag of potting soil waiting at the laundry room door.
“Where are you kids going to celebrate?”
“Karen’s,” I say, too quickly.
“Oh, that sounds like fun!” Mom can hardly contain her joy, but I don’t think it’s because of my win. Not totally. “Be home by eleven.”
Alec squeezes my hand. “I’ll make sure of it,” he says, so quickly a conspirator in my lie.
“Good. Thank you.” Mom looks around frantically for her purse. I spy her bag on the island chair and hand it to her. “You don’t mind that I’m going out? I could stay if you wanted to do something special.”
“Nope. We’re leaving for Karen’s in, like, five.”
“Okay, good. Great. I want you to enjoy this night, Zephyr. You trained so hard for this.” She turns to Alec, says good-bye.
“It was nice seeing you again, Mrs. Doyle.”
Mom kisses me on the head then, pulls me in for another deep hug.
When she leaves, the house falls quiet. Too quiet. “I’ll be right back,” I tell Alec. I run outside and catch up with her.
“Mom . . . ?”
Mom turns, looking so beautiful. “Yes?”
I want to ask her about Dad. If she told him about the game and why she didn’t warn me. But seeing her smile, the way she looks—confident, happy. “Have fun,” I say instead. Mom winks at me before heading to her car.
I dip back into the house, where Alec’s waiting. I go to him, my lips finding his so quickly. His hands pull my hips to his. Hard. I kiss him harder, for an eternity of minutes. It is an effort to pull away.
“I’m so glad you’re here. This is just what I needed. A night in. Something quiet. No drama.” I kiss him again, quickly this time. “I need to call Lizzie. Let her know I’m bailing on Karen’s.”