Page 91 of Penalty Shot

Provoked by her older sister’s exclamation, Naomi presses her lips to release a raspberry with impressive trajectory. We’re both splattered in green saliva.

“Nay-Nay!” we both squeal, only to instigate all forms of giggles.

She does a raspberry again. Needless to say, feeding time will be followed by a bath. Lily and Naomi are both sleeping over in the guest bedroom, because tonight we’re making up for long overdue quality time.

When they’re done with work, Ma and Sienna will be picking up some curry from our favorite spot. There will be face masks and Netflix K-dramas and popcorn mixed with M&M’S in our near future.

Later that evening, while mixing M&M’S in our second bowl of popcorn and before we watch the third episode ofGlory,a psychological revenge story based in Korea, Ma makes her announcement.

“Sienna and I decided to take the London trip in December.”

“That’s awesome!” Lily and I respond at the same time.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go with your mom?” Sienna asks me with soft eyes and a squeeze of the shoulder.

I assure her with a hug. “I’m glad you’re going. There are usually lots of holiday productions in December. I’ll be busy.”

Sienna has always been a fantastic coworker and friend. Lately, I’ve noticed how much time Ma and her spend together. It was a great comfort, throughout my past few months in Cleveland, to know Ma wasn’t alone.

“Since we’re on the topic of vacations,” Lily states, “Elise is still on the fence about going to Vancouver with Randall.”

“What’s there to think about? Vancouver is beautiful and his dad and brothers live there,” Ma insists. “I’m a fan of meeting the family. I knowI’veappreciated getting to know Randall.”

“You mean when he volunteers to mow our lawn.”

“The key word is volunteer. He’s an industrious young man. Besides, he says mowing is part of his fitness regimen. Who am I to deny him his hockey training?”

I roll my eyes, although I’m secretly pleased that Randall is so willing to impress my mother.

“I’m sure your neighbors aren’t complaining,” Sienna says with a snicker. “Everyone just happens to be having a drink on their front porch when he’s mowing shirtless.”

“Stop objectifying my man!” I state indignantly.

“Right, that’sherjob. Elise has exclusive rights to objectification,” Lily pipes in. With an exaggerated sigh, she claims, “Hockey players are truly their own sexy species, aren’t they?”

“Is that what you call Gordon? A member of a sexy species?” I joke back.

Although Lily insists they are taking it slow, I see how much Gordon holds on to her every word.

“We aren’t talking about Gordon,” Lily says and sticks her tongue out. We are thirteen again.

“Well, why haven’t you agreed to accompany him to Vancouver?” Sienna inquires.

“I want to. Just that…” I gather my thoughts, trying to verbally articulate what I haven’t fully acknowledged. I’m so used to chasing one gig after another, I’m unmoored when there’s no project in front of me. It stings that my last project marks my failure as a playwright.

“I’m feeling insecure about everything. I mean, how will he introduce me? Hey, Dad! This is my unemployed girlfriend tagging along because she has no immediate prospects in theateror teaching. Oh, and her play has turned into a lightning rod for Shakespeare criticism, but she’s so shitty with social media she’s not even included in the debateabouther play.”

No one speaks for a second, merely watching me take a handful of gooey popcorn to stuff into my mouth.

“Or he could say, this is my girlfriend who I love very much,” Ma says gently.

“It’s true. He’s crazy about you.” Lily playfully nudges my shoulder while she grabs a handful of popcorn.

As if Randall knows we’re talking about him, he sends a text.

Randall:I didn’t want to go to bed without saying goodnight. I’m meeting the guys at the gym at six in the morning. Heading to bed.

I’ve got the front-row seat to the summer training of a hockey player, which includes a lot of running and weight training and protein shakes. Not complaining because he’s even more ripped now than ever.