I covered my mouth with my hand and tried to stifle the laugh.
Time was ticking down, and the score was still tied 1-1.
“Let’s go, ladies!” Wraith shouted.
I saw Waylay glance our way, caught the tiny smile on her face, and I felt the tingles again. She had a cheering section waiting to celebrate with her, and it meant something to her.
“You’re doing an amazing job with her,” Mom said.
“Really?”
“Look at that smile. Look at how she keeps glancing over here, reassuring herself that we’re all still here. Say what you will about Tina, but giving you her daughter was the best choice she’s ever made.”
My eyes clouded with tears. “Thanks, Mom,” I whispered.
She looped her arm through mine, then tensed. “She has the ball again!”
Wraith’s granddaughter had gotten tangled up with two defenders and sent the ball sailing to Waylay’s feet.
“Go!” we shouted as one, the crowd coming to its feet.
Mom and I clung to each other as Waylay dribbled around the last defender between her and the goal.
“Oh my God, I’m going to be sick.”
“Let ’er rip, Waylay,” Mom shrieked.
So she did. I held my breath as we watched the ball sail in slow motion toward the goal.
The crowd was screaming. I could hear Stef over everyone yelling, “Get it in the net thing!”
The goalie dove for it.
But the ball spiraled just past her fingertips into the back of the net.
I screamed along with Mom as we jumped up and down together.
“That’s my granddaughter!” Mom screeched.
“Fuck yeah!” Wraith bellowed.
“You’re damn right,” Liza shouted.
Sloane and Stef were hugging each other.
The ref blew the final whistle. “That’s game!”
Waylay stood stock-still, staring at the ball in the back of the net as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just done. And then she turned. Her teammates raced to her, shrieking and giggling. But she was looking beyond them. She was looking at me. And then she was running.
And so was I. I caught her when she jumped into my arms and swung her around.
“You did it!”
“Did you see? Did you see what I did, Aunt Naomi?”
“I saw, honey. I’m so proud of you!”
“Can we get ice cream, and can I swear when I watch football with Knox?”
“Yes and I guess so.”
She hugged me tight around the neck and whispered, “This is the best day of my life.”
I was trying to blink back tears when someone pulled her from my arms. It was Knox, and he was settling Waylay on his shoulders as the rest of the players and parents gathered around to congratulate her. Knox shot me one of his rare, full-on grins that made me dizzy.
“Sloane and I have talked, and you’re forgiven,” Stef said, slinging his arm around me.
“As long as we’re invited for ice cream,” Sloane added.
“And included in your life,” Stef insisted.
I pulled them both in for a hard hug, and over their shoulders, I saw Dad clap Knox on the back.
THIRTY-FOUR
THE GROOM
Naomi
I threaded the stem of the earring through my lobe and leaned back to admire the effect.
“What do you think?” I asked Waylay, who was sprawled across my bed on her stomach, chin pillowed in her hands.
She studied the earrings. “Better,” she decided. “They sparkle like Honky Tonk on your shirt and they stand out more when you toss your hair.”
“I don’t toss my hair,” I said, ruffling hers. My niece was more and more willing to tolerate affection from me these days.
“Oh, yes, you do. Whenever you catch Knox looking at you, you’re all…” She paused to shake out her blonde hair and bat her eyes.
“I do not!”
“Do so.”
“I’m the adult and I’m in charge and I say I don’t,” I insisted, flopping down on the bed next to her.
“You also get this mushy face whenever he walks into a room or you get a text from him.”
“Oh, is it like the mushy face you make whenever someone says Mr. Michaels’s name?” I teased.
Waylay’s face transformed into what could aptly be described as mushy.
“Ha! See! That is a mushy face,” I said, pointing accusingly at her.
“You wish,” she scoffed, still smiling. “Can I use some of your hair spray since you messed up my hair?”
“Sure,” I said.