Most everyone has already left the locker room, but Damon, myself, and Pace—our star running back—stayed late to work on a few new plays.
I say goodbye to them and then stop in Coach’s office.
“Liked what I was seeing out there, Mackenzie. You boys want to try that razzle-dazzle play during a game?”
“If a situation arises when you think it would work, sure.”
“You know we haven’t talked about your recruitment since the season started. There’s sure lot of interest in you.”
“I know. Damon and I are having dinner tonight with our parents to discuss which colleges we’ll do official visits at. But I’m guessing it will be Oklahoma, Auburn, Ohio State, Georgia, and of course, Nebraska. In fact, we’re going up to Lincoln this weekend. We’ve already had an unofficial visit, but since we’ll be there for the game anyway, we’ll consider it official from a recruitment standpoint.”
“Stanford is really interested in you. You considered it at all? You’d be getting a hell of an education there.”
“They already have a standout receiver, so it doesn’t really work for us.”
“Chase, I know that your and Damon’s friendship is special, but you can go to different colleges and stay friends. You need to think of yourself. Which colleges produce top quarterbacks consistently.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Coach. I’d better get home.”
I head out to the parking lot, finding Lacey sitting on the tailgate of my truck, her car parked next to it.
“Hey, what’s up?” I ask her.
I heard all about her cheer competition over lunch, and we’re not supposed to get together tonight, so I’m not sure why she’s here. Maybe cheer practice went late or something.
She smiles at me, pulls out her phone, and holds it up to my face. On it, there’s a photo of Dani and me kissing at the country club before dinner on Saturday night. “This is what’s up.”
“Dani was wishing me a happy birthday.”
“With her tongue?” she says, and I realize she’s pissed. “And just what other parts did she use to do so?”
“I don’t know what to say to you, Lacey. We’re not in a relationship for a reason.”
“And is she that reason?”
I don’t reply, but I don’t have to because she hops off the tailgate and starts pacing in front of me.
“I’ve never been able to figure it out. Why you date me but are never with other girls from our school even though you could be. I mean, I know you and Damon go out and hang out with girls. I’m sure you’ve made out with some of them, but I never got the impression you were sleeping with them. Have you been? Have I just been blind to it? Am I the only girl you’re sleeping with, Chase? Or not?”
I swallow hard and try to control my temper, but it’s hard to do when it’s anything to do with Dani. “I don’t sleep around, Lacey. And I’m always the wingman.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Am. I. The. Only. Girl. You have slept with in the past week?”
“No, you’re not.”
“Which means you are sleeping with Dani.”
I just stare at her, not sure what she expects me to say.
“What am I supposed to do about Homecoming, Chase? Are you going to ask me?”
“I was planning to, yes.”
“God,” she says. “I remember that day so clearly. How it was so cool when Hunter Lansford asked Dani to Homecoming. And so early. Like, no one asks that early. I knew he must have really liked her. But then you got in a fight with him. I thought it was because you were standing up for your friend, but you were jealous, weren’t you?” I don’t get a chance to reply because she keeps going. “No, that wouldn’t be right. You were hooking up with that senior. Dance team captain. What was her name?” She snaps her fingers and points at me. “I know—Kelsey Jennings.”
“Does it matter? That was, like, two years ago. And Homecoming isn’t until mid-October this year. That’s, like, five or six weeks away. No one will start asking until a few weeks before.”
“That’s because boys don’t have to buy dresses.” She pouts. “God, Chase. We’re supposed to go together. Quarterback, cheer captain. I’ll be up for queen.”
“Somehow, I don’t think you’ll have trouble finding a date, if that’s what you want.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Are you or are you not planning on asking me to Homecoming?”
“I was planning to,” I say again.
“And now, you’re not?” she smarts back.
I bury my face in my hands and rub my fingers up and down my forehead. “I need to go home, Lacey.”
“Fine,” she says. “We’re through, okay?”
“Okay,” I say and then get in my car.
I stay up late, waiting for Dani to call me but she doesn’t. Just like she didn’t last night. I want to call her. Or text her. Check on her and tell her what happened, but we agreed she would call me.
So, I wait.
