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The team we play is much better than the exhibition game. We have to play together and get on the same page. I hit eight three pointers, a school record.
After the game, Lettie says she’s not feeling well and wants to go home. So, I tuck her into bed and drive to the drugstore to get some of that pink stuff, Sprite, and crackers. When I get back, she looks like she’s been crying.
Wiping the hair away from her face, I ask, “Does it hurt that bad?”
Her body heaves like she’s going to throw up.
“I’m staying. I’ll call Coach.” At first, she says, no, but I continue, “Under no circumstances am I leaving you tonight. None.” She doesn’t have the energy to argue with me.
I braid her hair, keeping it off her neck, and blow cool air over her skin, so that she’s not hot. If she vomits, it won’t get in her hair.
“Is that better?” I ask.
She moves her head up and down with her hand between her cheek and the pillow. I get up and turn on the air conditioning. Fall weather in Kentucky can be anything from eighties to fifties. It was in the seventies today, but when I’m sick, being hot makes me feel nauseated.
I change her into a yellow cami and slip into bed beside her, lightly rubbing her back until she falls asleep, wondering how I can get out of things this week so I can take care of her.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
LETTIE
Sick. Sick. Sick.
My stomach.
My mind.
My heart.
Mr. Greathouse asked if I wanted to get a chili dog in the VIP area during half-time of Dane’s first game, I didn’t expect to be sucker punched. He waited until my mouth was full and cheese dripped from the corners of my mouth to deliver it.
As he stood two feet from me, he looked at me with an unreadable expression. “Lettie, I love you like you’re my own daughter. We’ve done a lot for you over the years, so I’m asking you to return the favor.” He placed his hands over his nose for a second, and my eyebrows drew to the center.
Where’s he going with this?
“Since Dane and you have become a couple, he’s acting out of character—missing assignments, missing anything he thinks he can do without like study hall, weightlifting, physical therapy on his knee, and his coach says he’s making it on time to practice by seconds. Do you want to be the reason Dane doesn’t make it to the NBA?”
With a knee-jerk reaction, I blurted out, “Of course not.”
He put a finger over his lips in an effort for me to be quiet. “It’s too much for him right now. He can’t balance a girlfriend, singing gigs, class, sponsorship obligations, and all of the tasks that being a star college athlete entails. There aren’t enough hours in the day.”
“Mr. Greathouse, what do you want me to do? Be his tutor so that would kill two birds with one stone?” I threw the chili dog in the trash, wiped my mouth, and crossed my arms over my waist.
“I’m asking you to do what’s best for Dane. You love him, and he loves you; that won’t change. Go back to being best friends.”
My lungs squeezed, and my pulse raced at the mere idea. When Dane and I became a couple, all I could think of was losing our friendship and how awful that would be. I never imagined that our newfound status would jeopardize his dreams. My hand flew over my mouth. I can’t lose Dane. He’ll never forgive me if I break it off. The weight of his father’s request is bone crushing. It’s so fucking heavy.
“I love him.” The words came out scratchy as tears filled my eyes.
“I know you do. That’s why I know you’ll do what is best for him.”
When I looked into his eyes, I saw the desperation and fear for his son’s future. I don’t agree. Actually, I don’t remember if I said anything. Maybe I nodded. I bawled my eyes out in the bathroom stall.
When I went back out, I told them the chili dog must have been bad, and I threw up. That was the only reason my eyes would be red and bulging. The rest of the game was a blur.
But this morning, when I woke up to my good morning text, I knew what I had to do. His dad was right. Dane’s putting our relationship above everything else.
Dane: Morning. Did you know you’re beautiful even when you’re sick? I’ve contacted my professors and told them I couldn’t be in class today. I’m at the grocery store buying ginger.
