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“That I made you fall.”
“Not your fault. It’s forgotten. I’m fine and there’s no reason he should know. Now, do you have any questions?”
She sighs. “I just want to go to bed.”
“I get it. But at least let me wash out your clothes.”
“I threw them away.”
“Those shorts are really cute on you. It would be a waste to get rid of them.” I hold my hand out. “Please let me do this for you.”
She hesitates, then puts the box down, walks into the bathroom, and comes out with her trash can, looking more than a little embarrassed.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of.” I reach in and get her shorts and underwear in a way that I hope shows her it’s not disgusting, but just a fact of life. “Some peroxide and a little soaking will have these looking as good as new.” I turn and head out the door. “Get some sleep. You know where I am if you need anything.”
Once I’m at the bottom of the stairs, I hear my name being called. I look up and Darla’s door is cracked just enough so I can see her face.
“Thanks,” she says, the word coming out with zero inflection and little emotion, like it’s the hardest word she’s ever had to say to anyone ever.
But that’s not the point. The point is, she said it.
“Anytime.”
Her door slams shut before she can see the magnificent smile spread across my face.
Chapter Thirty-eight
Asher
Allie tugs on my shirt, pulling me back behind the school concession stand. “She’ll see you.”
I’m more than a little surprised she even wanted to come with me considering what day it is. Today would have been Christopher’s tenth birthday. I know she knows it. She’s been quieter than normal. More introspective. And she’s spent most of the day by herself. But now she’s here. Formydaughter. God, how I love this woman.
I take a step behind the small building and wipe my sweaty palms on my pants. “Looks like she’s up next for the free kick.”
“She’s doing great. Much better than I anticipated after Christian alluded to her ‘sucking but not sucking as much as some of the other girls’.”
“Alluded?” I raise a brow.
“Well, not so much alluded as told me outright.”
I peek out. “He thinks she sucks? That’s a shitty thing to say.”
“He didn’t say it to her. I flat out asked him if she was any good. He said she ‘doesn’t totally suck’ and is probably decent enough to make the team. But he said it in the nicest way possible.”
A shout comes from across the field. “Yes! Way to go, Bug!”
I look over to see that Darla has made her first free kick and Christian is celebrating. I watch intently as she makes two of the next four attempts. Christian celebrates each successful kick. I turn to Allie. “Why am I so goddamn jealous of a thirteen-year-old boy right now?”
“Because you want to be the one down there cheering for her.”
“How is she okay having him there but not me?”
“She probably thinks you’ll embarrass her.”
I motion to Christian. “More than that?”
“Friends cheering on friends is different than a parent cheering for a child.”