Page 38 of Scoring Chances
I laugh as they all realize how they all have a part in making this team shine even from behind the scenes.
Kesley works for an online news publication that reports on their season stats and charitable deeds. Libby helped manage the social media for a while.
“So basically,” Kesley says. “Do as we say, not as we do.”
The girls all laugh and I finally relax.
I’m in control. I don’t have to make things easy for him. I’m here for the kids.
“You know what. I think your right,” I say, sitting up a little straighter. “I think it’s time I take back the reins.”
“Atta-girl,” Rina purrs. And the others give snaps of their fingers like I just gave a beautiful poetry reading at an open mic night.
I smile still holding onto my knees. Cole leans back and is now looking up at the sky. His headphones are over his ears. So he must be listening to something nice because he cracks a small grin. It might be the first hint of a smile I’ve seen since meeting him.
“I’ll be back," I say, getting up to go over to him.
I stretch out my towel next to his and take a seat.
He senses me and opens one eye, then startles and pushes his headphones back.
“What are you listening to?”
He reaches for his phone and taps the back button. Then he slides his headphones off and passes them to me.
I grab them and slip them over my ears. He presses play and laugh when I hear the words to I Wish by Skee-Lo. I bop to the familiar sound and when the chorus comes on I sing along. And Cole looks at me surprised but he joins in too.
“You like rap?”
I laugh. “I like all kinds of music. But this one… me and my siblings used to try to out rap each other.”
I slide the headphones off and hand them back to him.
“You did?” he asks surprised. I nod, reminiscing.
“My older brother CJ holds the title for being able to rap every single lyric. Mom hated it. She said we were better off using our brains to memorize scripture or learn algebra. Not to listen to that damn rap music.” I chuckle.
Cole looks out to the ocean lost in thought. “Dad loved rap. He’d have it playing in the garage really loud while he worked on his cars.”
I still, realizing Cole is actually opening up.
“Tell me about him.”
He looks up again. “He was so fun. He’d always come up with games to get us to do things we didn’t want to do. When I realized what he was up to, I didn’t even care that he won. It was worth it to get to play with him. He was a good dancer too.”
“He was?” I smile.
Cole nods. “Yeah, that’s how he and mom met.”
This is the first time I hear any mention of his mom. “What was she like?”
He looks at me and then looks away. “You remind me of her.”
My eyes widen. “I do?”
He leans back and looks at me again. “Not like, how you look. More like how you are. You draw people in. Make them feel seen.”
I smile at that.