Page 96 of Made Better Together

I’m confused. She’s never described her parents that way? Unlike my mom…

“I remember you saying they let you make your own decisions. But not this one?”

She bites her lip. ”No, you’re right. They do. I just…” She stares down at her cup for a few seconds after her unfinished sentence. “I hate making decisions. Maybe…I’m projecting that.”

“What do you hate about them?” It’s hard for me to understand, since she doesn’t lack confidence overall.

“They just stress me out. Like, what if I make the wrong one? That’s where my head meanders. Then I procrastinate.”

Ah, I’m pretty sure this is connected to her Type-B comment yesterday.

“Well, the only person you need to satisfy on this subject is you, right? It’s your future. What do you want?”

My question is rhetorical, but she answers literally.

“I want to keep playing, go pro, for sure.”

“There you go. You know that saying, ‘You can do anything, but you can’t do everything.’ You’re a living example right now.”

She half-heartedly chuckles. “True.”

Buzz. Fuck, my phone.

“Sorry, let me see who it is.”

I look at the name on the caller ID. It’s Del?

“It’s your dad?” I look at Eden, questioning. He couldn’t know we’re together, right?

She looks stunned, and then when the phone buzzes again, I answer it.

“Hi, Del.”

“Hi, Connor. You got a second?” Not really, but I can’t exactly tell him why.

“What’s going on?”

“Cutting to the chase…Scotty got into a car accident, and he’s out for the season.”

“Oh shit. Is he going to be okay?” The backup kicker doesn’t travel with the team, so it must have happened here in Orlando.

“Yes, by next season. In the meantime, we have a spot for a placekicker on the practice squad, to back up Jeremy.”

“Okay.” My eyes peer back at Eden, and I mouth, “Not about us.”

“Most of the practice squad doesn’t have normal jobs, as you probably know. It’s too much to handle with the daily obligations at the facility. So I’m not sure what it would mean for your internship, if it comes together.”

Wait. If what comes together?

“What do you mean?”

“Sorry, I’m rushing this. I’d…we’d like you to come try out for the practice squad, for a potential spot as our backup placekicker.”

Holy fuck.

“What?” I gasp out. Eden stills, watching me intently again.

“I know it’s unexpected. You’d almost certainly never play in a real game. But it would be a step closer to being an NFL kicker.”