The Sidelined Wife(29)

"Cody loves it, so I'll love it."

Knowing her, she would get the box seats where they would be waited on hand and foot. "He would love that."

"Then it's settled. Do you think he would like box seats?"

What did I tell you? "Who wouldn't?"

"Would you like to come too, love?"

"Uh, I think it would be good if only the two of you went." That was true. Really, it was.

"I think you're right. We will have a grand time."

The fact that she said grand made that questionable. Cody wasn't used to grand times.

~*~

Saturday I found myself driving a reluctant Cody into the city. He was  tired from the late night at the away game and getting up early to serve  pancakes at the fundraiser this morning. It didn't help that he was  cranky with me for setting up the visit with his grandma, and he hadn't  gotten any playing time last night. The game was a nail biter, and the  Panthers only won by a field goal. Neil was a no-show again. That made  Cody going to see Gelaire even more important. He needed those family  connections, whether he saw the value in them or not. Someday he would  be grateful. I hoped.

"You have to be at least a little excited about the game tonight." I  glanced at my son slouched in the passenger seat. I wasn't brave enough  to let him drive in downtown Chicago yet. Not sure I ever would be.

He stared out the window and shrugged.

"Come on, box seats. And you know Grandma will want to buy you a new jersey and probably anything they're selling there."

"I'm missing a party at Rory's tonight."

More reasons for me to be happy he was going to be at his grandma's.  "There will be other parties. And if you want you can have her over to  watch a movie or something next weekend." You better believe I would be  out there the entire time.

"Maybe."

"Cody, this is a good thing."

"Her house smells weird and she listens to old music."

"It smells like lavender, which is nice. And if you ask, she would  probably turn off the music or let you choose. She loves and misses  you."

"Is Dad going to be there?" I heard both the hope and resentment in his voice.

"I don't know. How would you feel if he was?"

His only answer was to shrug and throw in his earbuds.

I reached over and patted his leg and shouted, "I love you."

I saw a hint of a smile.

The rest of our drive was quiet. It gave me too much time to worry about  my date. I hadn't gone to the pancake breakfast this morning because I  feared people would be able to tell by the look on my face that I had a  date with the coach.

And, last night at the game, something weird happened. A few of the  other moms crowded around me like we were back in high school. They  linked arms with me and everything. To top it off, they still had perky  cheerleader voices. And get this. Their names were Kerry, Karen, and  Katrina. It was very Stepford-wife-ish. They invited me to their book  club and asked if maybe I could post about it on my blog and Facebook  page. They said it could be, like, a "thing" I do. Then they went on to  give me false flattery about how funny I was and how they loved my  posts. I felt like they wanted to assimilate me. More like use me. It  was nicer than the mean moms who'd slighted me last week. Last night  they made sure to give me those fake who-do-you-think-you-are smiles.                       
       
           



       

I didn't even recognize my life anymore. I used to be one of those moms  that played in the background. I helped out whenever I could, but I was  never in charge of anything. I had friends, but never a large circle. My  closest friends were always family, especially Avery.

But now I had this large following and people that were vying for my  attention in both positive and negative ways. Did I mention I had a date  with my son's coach? I didn't even know what I was going to wear, other  than something casual, per Reed's instructions. I kept thinking I might  back out. But then I would think about my phone conversations with Reed  during the week and how much he was looking forward to it.

I also had some creepy messages to deal with from random men on Facebook  after I'd put up my new picture. One guy offered to be my love slave.  What? Ew. I had been doing a lot of blocking people this week.

But one perk was that Autumn Moone was going to have her publisher send  me and my sisters-in-law advanced copies of A Black Night in November. A  full month before it released in December. Avery and I might have  squealed over it. Delanie acted mildly excited about it, as in she  mentioned that it was nice I had asked for a copy for each of us. I  still wished I knew who sent Autumn Moone that original post. I felt  like it was too gutsy to ask Autumn. She obviously valued her anonymity.  I couldn't say I blamed her.

Saturday traffic wasn't horrible, and before I knew it, I was dropping  off my son at Gelaire's Greystone. By the look on Cody's face, you would  have thought I was dropping him off at prison. His grimace said, shoot  me now.

"It's only one night, and maybe if you're lucky you'll meet someone famous tonight sitting in the box seats with you."

His face scrunched the way it always did when he wasn't buying what I was trying to sell.

"If you smile and pretend like you enjoy your time, I may be willing to bribe you with that new video game you've been wanting."

His lip twitched. "The deluxe version?"

"For that, your grandma better think that you love every second of being with her."

"Will you pick me up early tomorrow?"

"Does that mean we have a deal?" I held out my hand for him to shake on it.

He was quick to take it. He'd been wanting that game for several weeks  now. I'd been saving it for a moment like this. I had learned a few  tricks over the years, and I was not above bribing him.

"I love you. I'll miss you." I held his hand tight. "Be a good boy," I teased.

He rolled his eyes.

"Oh, and don't let grandma drink at the game. She might start talking  about your grandpa-probably about things you don't need or want to  know."

Cody's eyebrows shot up to his tousled hair.

"I'm sure she'll be fine."

The question was, would I?





Chapter Twenty-Six


What was I doing? What was I doing? Having a panic attack, that's what.

I hadn't had a first date in almost twenty years. And twenty years ago,  if someone told me I would be going out with Reed Cassidy, I would have  died of laughter-after asking them if they were high. The worst part was  I couldn't even ask anybody for advice. I mean, what did casual really  mean? Like, shorts and a t-shirt, or jeans? I texted Reed and he said  yes, but added that I might want to bring a jacket. So yes to shorts or  yes to jeans? Shorts meant making sure my legs were extra smooth. But  was that showing off too much leg? Not like he would be touching them.  Or would he? Was he going to touch me? What did he expect?

Almost everything I owned was strewn across my bed. I had tried on at  least ten outfits and hated every one. I felt like vomiting. How was I  going to eat? I don't remember feeling this way before dates. Excited,  sure, but this was more like terror.

I ended up in some tan shorts, a white t-shirt topped with a jean  jacket, and some canvas shoes. My hair had a mind of its own. Curls were  everywhere. I even poked my eye with my mascara wand.

Maybe this is a bad idea, I texted once my eye quit watering from being jabbed.

I'll be there in twenty minutes. He wasn't giving me an out.

Remember, just text me when you get here and don't pull up if you see anyone.

Do you see how ridiculous this was? I was suddenly back in high school  trying to sneak around with Mark Stein, the resident bad boy. That  lasted all of one time when I learned the hard way his reputation was  deserved. First and only time I ever used pepper spray. Oh my gosh, I  didn't even have any of that stuff. But Reed wouldn't try anything,  would he? I mean, they do background checks on teachers. Not to say  that's ever stopped anything from happening, judging by the news reports  about teachers being arrested. So, basically, I should stay home in my  bubble.                       
       
           



       

Relax, Sam. We're going to have a great time. Reed texted back.

I took a deep breath and tried to apply the rest of my makeup without  injuring myself. It was only dinner, I kept trying to comfort myself.  And this was Reed. We would laugh about it someday. Yes. Those were good  thoughts.

I think I peed five times in that twenty minutes out of nerves. I must  have applied deodorant three times. I stared in the mirror for a good  ten. Which brought my attention to a crime against humanity.

I pulled out my phone and posted on my Facebook page, I think there  should be a law of nature that states pimples and wrinkles are not  allowed to exist on the same face. Can I get an amen?